John 1-11: a Pentecostal Commentary

By Dr. Matthew N. O. Sadiku

Every serious student of the Bible desires to understand the text, discover the biblical principles, and apply the truths to his/her life. This commentary is designed to help students, pastors, and Bible teachers understand the gospel of John in a simple manner. Working from the popular New International Version (NIV), the author provides helpful commentary on the text verse by verse.

This verse-by-verse commentary is different from others in two respects. First, it is brief, while some commentaries are unnecessarily wordy and verbose. Second, it is Pentecostal in outlook. This implies that we generally adhere to the doctrine of biblical inerrancy and adopt a literalist approach to the interpretation of the Bible.

The fourth gospel has been called the gospel of belief. It is different from the other three gospels. Johns gospel is a profound witness to Christ as the Son of God. Yet it is easy to readthe reason new Christians are asked to begin reading the Bible by starting with John. John is the deepest gospel of all; it brings us closer to Jesus than any other. Those who study it reap great rewards.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Jun 30, 2015
• ISBN: 9781490761121

Dr. Matthew N. O. Sadiku

Matthew N. O. Sadiku is a professor emeritus at Prairie View A & M University, Prairie View, Texas. He is a man of many talents with a broad experience in writing, publishing, education, theology, counseling, and engineering. He is the author of over 1,000 professional articles and over 100 books including Secrets of Successful Marriages, Enemies of Your Marriage, and commentaries on all the books of the New Testament Bible. His books are used worldwide, and some of them have been translated into Korean, Chinese, Italian, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. Janet O. Sadiku studied nursing science from 1975 to 1980 at the University of Ife, now known as Obafemi Awolowo University. She has worked as a nurse, educator, and church minister in Nigeria, United Kingdom, and Canada. She is presently retired with her husband in West Palm Beach, FL.

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Copyright 2015 Dr. Matthew N. O. Sadiku.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

Unless otherwise stated, scripture quotations are from the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible, used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are from the New King James Version.

Scripture quotations marked TLB are from The Living Bible.

Scripture quotations marked RSV are from the Revised Standard Version.

ISBN: 978-1-4907-6111-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4907-6113-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4907-6112-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015908960

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CONTENTS

Preface

Abbreviations

Introduction

1 The Prologue: The Word Of God

2 The Witness Of John The Baptist

3 The First Disciples Of Jesus

4 A Wedding At Cana

5 Clearing The Temple

6 Nicodemus Visits Jesus

7 The Last Witness Of John The Baptist

8 Jesus And The Samaritan Woman

9 The Ripened Harvest

10 Healing At The Pool Of Bethesda

11 Jesus Claims To Be God’s Son

12 Witnesses To Jesus

13 Feeding The Five Thousand

14 Jesus, The Bread Of Life – Part 1

15 Jesus The Breadof Life – Part 2

16 Hard Sayings

17 Jesus At The Festival

18 Christ’s Heavenly Claims

19 Jesus’ Self-Witness

20 God’s True Children

21 Jesus Confronts His Enemies

22 Jesus Heals A Man Born Blind – Part 1

23 Jesus Heals A Man Born Blind – Part 2

24 The Good Shepherd

25 The Unbelief Of The Jews

26 The Death Of Lazarus

27 Jesus Comforts Mary And Martha

28 Jesus Raises Lazarus

Selected Bibliography

To

Matthew and Kehinde Shope

PREFACE

Earnest Christians are hungry for information that makes their Bible come alive. The Christian life can be described as getting to know God better each day. Every Christian should regularly—daily—read the Word of God. We should find time for quiet or personal devotions. The reason we have so many bad days is that we do not spend time with God. We must spend time with God if we want His blessings on our lives and to hear from Him.

For over 20 years I have been using commentaries in my devotions. The blessings derived from the commentaries are overwhelming. I am writing this commentary to share some of those blessings and lessons I have learned over the years.

This commentary provides verse-by-verse exposition and application on the gospel of John. It is different from others in two respects. First, it is brief while some commentaries are wordy and verbose. This commentary does not delve into critical and exegetical details. Therefore, the limits of this commentary forbid that we consider all the views concerning any issue, but an attempt will be made to provide a brief, sound, yet scholarly view. Second, it is Pentecostal in outlook. This implies that we generally adhere to the doctrine of biblical inerrancy and adopt a literalist approach to the interpretation of the Bible. Pentecostal doctrines include speaking in tongues, gifts of the Holy Spirit, signs and wonders, divine inspiration, divine healing, to mention but a few. The early church was basically Pentecostal in nature, i.e. it exercised considerable freedom is using the gifts of the Holy Spirit in her life and worship. Although this book is written from a Pentecostal perspective, I draw ideas from scholars from all denominations and hope that the book serve all Christians.

It is not easy to write a commentary on any book in the Bible. In order to provide a readable text, this commentary is based on the New International Version (NIV) translation. The commentary is for laymen, pastors, teachers, and all students of the Word. It is designed to enrich your quiet time or personal study by making the commentary clear and simple. With your Bible in one hand and this commentary in the other, you will be able to unpack the deep truths of God’s Word. It is my prayer that this commentary brings you both delight and insight in understanding the Word of God.

I owe a great deal to all who have written on the gospel of John before me. It is my pleasure and honor to thank Dr. Richard Olowomeye and Nnamdi Oguejiofor for reviewing the manuscript. I owe special thanks to my wife for her support and prayer.

ABBREVIATIONS

INTRODUCTION

The gospel of John has been regarded as the profoundest book in the world. It has found an iconic place in the NT. John 3:16 is the most-quoted verse in the NT. It is written on a sign, a pin, a T-shirt, or a car’s bumper sticker.

The first three books of the NT—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—are known as the synoptics because each of them gives us biographical synopsis or overview of the life and ministry of Jesus while on earth. The Synoptic gospels provide a comprehensive view of the life and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. Unlike the synoptics, John does not record Jesus’ birth, baptism, temptation, transfiguration, exorcisms, narrative parables, or list of apostles. However, John provides a large amount of material not recorded in the synoptics. This includes Christ’s incarnation, His turning water into wine, His dialogue with Nicodemus, His discussion with the Samaritan woman at the well, the resurrection of Lazarus, the washing of the disciples’ feet, and Jesus’ high priestly prayer. Thus, the gospel of John contains many things the synoptics omit, while omitting many things they contain. One may say that what is implicit in Mark, Matthew, Mark, and Luke becomes explicit in John.

Before we start on our journey through this profound gospel, we should first consider some preliminary matters—authorship, the recipient, and the message—that warrant attention on this gospel.

Authorship

The gospel of John does not name its author. However, internal evidence points to the fact that the author was a Jew, who actually lived in Palestine; he was an eyewitness and an apostle. No one but John fits the description of the beloved disciple, who is considered the author of the gospel according to 21:24.

John was the younger of the two sons of Zebedee—James and John. The mother of James and John was Salome, who may have been the sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus. This would make John a cousin of Jesus and explain why the apostle is asked to take care of Mary after Jesus is gone. Along with Peter and James, John was part of the inner circle of the Twelve. Paul regards him as one of the pillars (Galatians 2:9). He was the last surviving apostle.

Recipient

The gospel of John does not tell us when and where it was written. According to church tradition, John wrote from Ephesus. After writing the gospel, John was exiled by the Roman government to the island of Patmos, where he wrote the book of Revelation. While in exile, the Johannine community began to fall apart. On his return from exile, he wrote the three epistles (1-3 John) from Ephesus. John, the son of thunder turned evangelist, possibly wrote the gospel around AD 85-90.

Message

The message of John is simply summarized at the end of gospel: Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name (John 20:30,31). John’s main purpose is to narrate the story of Jesus for faith. He chose seven signs/miracles to demonstrate Jesus’ identity as the Son of God:¹

• Jesus turns water into wine at Cana’s wedding (2:1-11)

• Jesus heals the son of the royal official (4:46-54)

• Jesus heals the sick at the pool at Bethesda (5:1-15)

• Jesus feeds the five thousand (6:5-14)

• Jesus walks on water (6:16-21)

• Jesus heals a man born blind (9:1-41)

• Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead (11:1-44)

The gospel contains many themes woven together with Jesus as the point of reference for each theme. As Warren Wiersbe wrote, These pages are filled with images such as the Lamb, the Door, the Shepherd, the new birth, the light and darkness, the Water of Life, bread, blindness, seeds, and dozens more.² John also includes in his gospel seven I am sayings of our Lord:³

• I am the bread of life (6:35)

• I am the light of the world (8:12; 9:5)

• I am the gate for the sheep (10:9)

• I am the good shepherd (10:11)

• I am the resurrection and the life (11:25)

• I am the way, the truth, and the life (14:6)

• I am the true vine (15:1).

When Jesus used these I am sayings, He was affirming His deity.

NOTES

¹.   Bruce B. Barton. et al., Life Application Bible Commentary: John (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1993), pp. xviii-xix.

².   Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Alive: A New Testament Study – John 1-12 (Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries, 2005), p. 7.

³.   Elmer Towns, John: Believe and Live (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2002), p. xv.

Image54903.jpg

Map locating Ephesus.

Source: http://www.ccel.org/bible/phillips/CN092MAPS1.htm

CHAPTER 1

THE PROLOGUE:

THE WORD OF GOD

John 1:1-18

In the Beginning

Verses 1-5: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome] it.

The first 18 verses of John are known as the Prologue. It is the only material that proceeds the launching of Jesus’ ministry. The Prologue here is an introduction as well as a summary of the Gospel of John.

1 In the beginning refers to the beginning of the universe, the beginning of all things, as mentioned in Genesis 1:1. While echoing the opening words of the OT, John says three profound truths in this verse.

First, the Word was in the beginning. The Word already existed from the timeless beginning. John presents Christ as the embodiment of the Word (logos, Greek). He alone describes Christ as the Word and does that six times in his writings (John 1:1, 14; 1 John 1:1; Revelation 19:13). The English term Word is an inadequate translation of the Greek term logos. Logos means a collection of words or ideas. "Alternatively, logos can refer to outward expression, hence ‘speech’ or ‘message’, which is why ‘Word’ is still thought by many to be the most appropriate term."¹ It may also refer to the eternal principle of order in the universe.

Second, the Word was with God. This will be fully developed in verse 2. Third, the Word was God—God’s own Self. The Word shared the nature and being of God. When all things began, the Word already existed. Jesus already existed before the earth and the heavens were created. Although Jesus became like us, He never ceased to be God.

2 The verse simply repeats part of verse 1. The Word was in the Father’s presence. To be with God means that Jesus is distinct and separate. There is a relationship between them. The Word was with God in the timeless beginning. Jesus said, Before Abraham was, I am (8:58). He is eternal; He has neither a beginning nor an end. The false teachers (such as the Mormons and the Jehovah Witnesses) would have us believe that Jesus is not coequal, coeternal or coexistent with the Father.

3 Both positively and negatively, the verse insists that the Word served as God’s Agent in the creation of all things; God is the Creator, while His Word is the agent. Positively,  Through him all things were made. Negatively, without him nothing was made that has been made. All things were created by Christ and for Him. Without Him, nothing came to be.

4 Christ is described as life. The Son shares the self-existent life with the Father and is able to impart life to others. He not only has life and gives life, He is life. Christ is also light because He appears as such in His glory. In fact, life and light are essentially the same and cannot be separated. In the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, the glory of God is perfectly disclosed. There has never been any spiritual life or light enjoyed by men and woman, outside of Christ.

5 The light, referred to in the previous verse, shines in the darkness and darkness cannot overcome it. Where light goes, darkness disappears. This is true of ordinary light. A small electric lamp dispels a roomful of darkness. The spiritual illumination dispels darkness of sin and unbelief. Although light and darkness are opposites, they are not opposites of equal power. The Jews made futile attempts to extinguish the light, Jesus Christ. Jesus is light, while Satan is the power of darkness (Luke 22:53). Satan works hard to keep people in darkness because light means eternal life and heaven.

John the Baptist

Verses 6-8: There was a man sent from God whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. ⁸ He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

6 As a good illustration of a ray of light still shining in the darkness, the evangelist abruptly introduces John the Baptist. He follows the synoptic Gospels by beginning the public ministry of Jesus with the witness of John the Baptist. Jesus does not begin His ministry in a vacuum but in an environment created by his cousin, John.

John was a man sent from God to be the forerunner and herald of the Messiah. An angel of the Lord announced John’s birth and public ministry to his father, Zacharias, and his mother, Elizabeth (Luke 1:8-17). John is regarded as a prophet (Matthew 21:26). He is known as the Baptist because his main purpose was to baptize people in preparation for the coming Messiah. Through this ministry, he bears witness to Jesus.

7 Although John the Baptist is an important figure, the greatest man who ever lived up this point (Matthew 11:11; Luke 7:28), he was a man with one mission—to testify about the light. A full account of John’s witness is presented in verses 19 to 34 and later in 3:27-30. The main purpose of the witness is that through him all may believe. Witnesses such as John are agents of belief, while Christ Himself is the object of belief.

8 To dismiss any false exaltation of John, the evangelist says that John was not the light. He only came as a witness to the light. He was the first in a line of witnesses that stretches through the centuries to this day.² Like John, Christian ministers and even lay believers are witnesses. Like Jesus, John was sent as a messenger, but the similarity ends there. Jesus later refers Himself as the light (3:19), while John is referred to as the lamp (5:35). John stands in the shadow of Christ; the former is a witness to the latter.

Rejected, but Also Received

Verses 9-13: The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

9 The true light was coming into the world, bringing light for all to share. The light shines in darkness and is everywhere present illuminating everyone. Though the light shines, it is not comprehended. As Roger Fredrikson said, No man is destitute of the illumination of this light, for God has revealed something of Himself to all men. This is the common light of nature.³ Jesus is the exclusive revelation of God to mankind. He is the reality to which John the Baptist points.

10 Verses 10 and 11 summarizes the story of Jesus Christ—the story of rejection. The true Light was rejected by