Author : Keith Sharp
The writer of the fourth gospel account, though not expressly named in the book, so plainly identifies himself as to leave no reasonable doubt of his identity. The author was an eye witness of the events he describes (1:14; 19:35; 21:24). He is the disciple, one of the twelve apostles, “whom Jesus loved” and “who also leaned on his breast at the supper” (21:20-24; cf. 13:21-25). Since he was so close to the Lord, he appears to be one of the inner three disciples to whom Jesus appeared on the mount of transfiguration: Peter, James or John (Matthew 17:1-2). But the writer plainly distinguishes himself from Peter (1:41-42; 13:6,8; etc.). James had been dead many years before this book was penned (Acts 12:1-2). Ancient writers uniformly, from the early second century on, name John as the author. Without doubt, the apostle John wrote the fourth account of Christ.
John was a son of Zebedee and brother of the apostle James, and they were all rather well-to-do fishermen by trade, having hired servants (Mark 1:19-20). Jesus called James and John “Sons of Thunder” (Mark 3:17). They wanted to call down fire from heaven to destroy a Samaritan village that rejected them (Luke 9:54). They had carnal ambition for rule and thought the kingdom would be of an earthly nature (Matthew 20:20-24; Mark 10:35-41).
John was intensely loyal to Christ. He followed Jesus into the high priest’s palace after the Lord’s arrest (18:15) and was present at the crucifixion (19:25-27). It was to John Jesus entrusted the care of His mother (Ibid). When Mary Magdalene brought word of the empty tomb, he outran Peter to the sepulcher, and, seeing the evidence of the resurrection, believed (20:1-9). He was a witness of the raised Lord, eminently qualified to testify (1 John 1:1-3).
After Pentecost, John often accompanied Peter (Acts 3:1; 4:19; 8:14). He was in Jerusalem when Paul and Barnabas came there about the question of circumcision (Acts 15:6) and was a pillar in the church (Galatians 2:9).
Ancient, uninspired writers say John later went to Ephesus, from whence he was exiled to the island of Patmos in the latter part of the first century, where he wrote the book of Revelation (Revelation 1:9). These writers aver that, after his release from Patmos, he returned to Ephesus, where, in the last decade of the first century, he wrote the fourth gospel account and then First, Second and Third John.
Years of following Christ mellowed John, so that he became known as the apostle of love (cf. 13:34-35; 15:12).
“And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” (20:30-31).
John is the gospel of belief. It was written to convince people to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Though the noun “faith” is never found in the book, the verb “believe” occurs ninety-nine times. John records both disobedient faith, which will not save (8:31-44; 12:42-43), and obedient faith, which will (3:16; 8:31-32).
John records seven claims of Jesus, the seven “I Ams” (6:35; 8:12,58; 9:5; 10:7-9,11,14; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1-8). They all pertain to His divine nature. To prove the seven claims, John records seven miracles Jesus wrought (2:1-11; 4:46-54; 5:1-9; 6:1-14 16-21; 9:1-12; 11:1-46). The ultimate proof is the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (cf. 20:1-9,19-29; 21:24).
John is the gospel of conflict. As Jesus, the light of the world, came in conflict with the darkness of Satan, manifested in the rulers of the Jews, they ultimately killed Him. Darkness seemed to have triumphed. But Jesus came forth from the grave victorious!
