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Objective

In this lesson we’ll discover how John carefully selected specific signs and teachings to help us understand what true faith in Jesus Christ looks like and how it transforms our lives.

Key Verse

John 20:31: 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.

Introduction

We’ve already seen that John wrote a very different Gospel from Matthew, Mark, and Luke. While the other Gospel writers included many parables, genealogies, and detailed accounts of Jesus’ travels, John takes a different approach. He doesn’t try to tell us everything that Jesus did—in fact, he specifically tells us that Jesus did many other things that aren’t recorded in his book. Instead, John carefully selects certain events and teachings that will help us understand one central truth: who Jesus Christ really is and what it means to believe in Him.

John organizes his Gospel like a master teacher building a case. Each story he includes, each miracle he describes, each conversation he records—they all work together to help us see Jesus more clearly. John wants us to move beyond simply knowing facts about Jesus to actually trusting Him with our lives. This is why he wrote his Gospel, and this is what makes it so powerful for us today.

In this lesson, we’ll focus on four important aspects of John’s Gospel that reveal the depth of who Christ is:

• The beginning of Jesus’ public ministry in John 2
• The seven “I AM” statements that reveal Christ’s divine nature
• The seven signs that demonstrate Christ’s power and purpose
• The intimate teaching Jesus gave His disciples in John 13-16

The Beginning of Jesus’ Public Ministry

The first chapter of John establishes who Christ is—the eternal Word who became flesh to dwell among us. We also learn why He came to earth—to reveal the Father and make a way for us to become children of God. Now in chapter 2, John shows us how Jesus began His public ministry with two very different but equally important actions.

First, Jesus performed His first miracle at a wedding celebration in Cana of Galilee. When the wedding party ran out of wine—a social disaster that would have brought great shame to the host family—Jesus quietly intervened. He transformed ordinary water into the finest wine, revealing His power over the physical world and His compassion for human needs.

John 2:11: What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

Just days later, Jesus traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. There He found the temple courts filled with merchants and money changers who had turned His Father’s house into a marketplace. With righteous anger, Jesus made a whip of cords and drove them all out, overturning their tables and scattering their coins.

John 2:15-16: So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!”

These two events at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry reveal two important aspects of His work on earth. First, He came to bring us abundant life—to meet our deepest needs and transform the ordinary into something extraordinary. Second, He came to purify worship and restore true righteousness—to cleanse us from sin and make us holy temples where God’s Spirit can dwell. (Notebook Moment: How do you see these two aspects of Jesus’ ministry—bringing abundant life and purifying from sin—at work in your own spiritual journey?)

John 10:10: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Throughout His ministry, Jesus would continue to demonstrate both of these aspects. He would heal the sick and feed the hungry, showing His desire to give us fullness of life. He would also confront hypocrisy and call people to repentance, showing His commitment to truth and holiness. Both aspects are essential to understanding who Jesus is and what He offers us.

The Seven “I AM” Statements

One of the most remarkable features of John’s Gospel is the way Jesus repeatedly uses the phrase “I AM” to describe Himself. To understand the significance of this, we need to remember a crucial moment in Israel’s history. When God appeared to Moses at the burning bush and commissioned him to lead Israel out of Egypt, Moses asked God for His name.

Exodus 3:13-14: Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.'”

This name—I AM—reveals that God is self-existent and self-sufficient. He depends on nothing and no one else for His existence. He simply IS. The Jewish people understood this was the most sacred name of God, so holy that they wouldn’t even pronounce it aloud. So when Jesus used this same “I AM” language to describe Himself, His listeners understood exactly what He was claiming. He was declaring Himself to be God in human flesh.

John records seven specific “I AM” statements that Jesus made, each one revealing a different aspect of His divine nature and His relationship with us:

➤ “I AM the Bread of Life” (6:35, 41, 48, 51) – Jesus tells us that He alone can satisfy our deepest spiritual hunger. Just as bread sustains physical life, Jesus sustains spiritual life. Without Him, our souls remain empty and starving.

➤ “I AM the Light of the World” (8:12) – Jesus declares that He brings truth and understanding to a world darkened by sin. Those who follow Him will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.

➤ “I AM the Door of the Sheep” (10:7, 9) – Jesus explains that He is the only entrance into God’s kingdom. There is no other way to enter into salvation except through Him.

➤ “I AM the Good Shepherd” (10:11, 14) – Jesus reveals His tender care for His people. Unlike hired hands who run away when danger comes, Jesus laid down His life for His sheep.

➤ “I AM the Resurrection and the Life” (11:25) – Jesus proclaims His power over death itself. Those who believe in Him will live even though they die, and whoever lives by believing in Him will never die spiritually.

➤ “I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (14:6) – Jesus states the exclusive nature of salvation. No one comes to the Father except through Him. He doesn’t just show the way—He IS the way.

➤ “I AM the True Vine” (15:1, 5) – Jesus teaches about the vital connection between Himself and His followers. Just as branches cannot bear fruit unless they remain connected to the vine, we cannot bear spiritual fruit unless we remain in Christ.

Each of these statements would have been shocking to Jesus’ original audience. He wasn’t claiming to know about bread, light, or truth—He was claiming to BE these things. This is either the height of blasphemy or the most important truth ever spoken. John wants us to see that Jesus is indeed who He claimed to be: God Himself, come to save us.

The Seven Signs

John tells us something very important about his purpose in writing this Gospel. He explains that Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples that aren’t recorded in his book. But the ones he has written down were specifically chosen for a purpose—so that we might believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing we might have life in His name.

John doesn’t use the typical word for “miracles.” Instead, he calls them “signs” because they point beyond themselves to reveal deeper truths about who Jesus is. Just as a road sign points you to your destination, these signs point us to faith in Christ. John carefully selects seven signs that progressively reveal Jesus’ divine power and authority:

➤ Water Turned to Wine (John 2:1-12) – This first sign shows Jesus’ power over the natural world and His ability to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. It also reveals that the new life He brings is better than anything that came before.

➤ The Nobleman’s Son Healed (John 4:46-54) – Jesus heals a royal official’s son without even being physically present, demonstrating that His power isn’t limited by distance or space. Faith in His word alone brings healing.

➤ The Lame Man at Bethesda (John 5:1-18) – After thirty-eight years of paralysis, a man walks at Jesus’ command. This sign shows that Jesus has authority over chronic, hopeless conditions and that His power doesn’t depend on our strength or ability.

➤ Feeding the Five Thousand (John 6:1-14) – With five small loaves and two fish, Jesus feeds a multitude. This sign reveals Him as the provider who can satisfy every need, pointing to His identity as the Bread of Life. (Notebook Moment: Which of these signs speaks most powerfully to you about Jesus’ ability to meet the needs in your life? Why?)

➤ Walking on Water (John 6:15-21) – Jesus walks across the stormy Sea of Galilee to reach His frightened disciples. This sign shows His authority over the forces of nature and His ability to come to us in our moments of greatest fear.

➤ The Man Born Blind (John 9:1-41) – Jesus gives sight to someone who had never seen, creating what was missing from birth. This sign demonstrates that Jesus is the Light of the World who can open both physical and spiritual eyes.

➤ Raising Lazarus from the Dead (John 11:17-45) – In the most powerful of all the signs, Jesus calls a man back to life after four days in the tomb. This proves His claim to be the Resurrection and the Life, holding power over death itself.

Notice how these signs build on each other. They move from meeting a social need at a wedding to conquering death itself. Each one reveals more of Christ’s glory and calls us to deeper faith. John wants us to see that Jesus isn’t just a teacher or prophet—He is the Son of God with power over every aspect of creation.

Jesus Teaches in the Upper Room

Before Jesus went to the cross, He spent precious time alone with His disciples in the Upper Room, preparing them for what was about to happen. John devotes five chapters (13-17) to this single evening—more space than he gives to any other event except the crucifixion itself. This tells us how important these final teachings are for understanding what it means to follow Christ.

➤ Chapter 13: The Lesson of Service

The evening begins with Jesus doing something shocking. He takes off His outer garment, wraps a towel around His waist, and begins to wash His disciples’ feet—the job of the lowest servant. Peter protests, but Jesus insists. Through this powerful act, Jesus teaches us that greatness in His kingdom comes through serving others.

John 13:14-15: Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

This wasn’t just about clean feet. Jesus was showing His disciples—and us—that following Him means laying aside our pride and position to serve others in love. True spiritual authority comes not from demanding service but from giving it.

➤ Chapter 14: The Promise of the Spirit

After demonstrating servant love, Jesus begins to prepare His disciples for His departure. He knows they’re troubled and afraid, so He gives them tremendous promises to strengthen their faith. He tells them about the home He’s preparing for them in His Father’s house.

John 14:1-3: Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

But Jesus doesn’t just promise a future home—He promises a present Helper. He tells them about the Holy Spirit who will come to live within them, teaching them and reminding them of everything Jesus has said.

John 14:16-17: And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

John 14:26: But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

➤ Chapter 15: The Living Connection

Using the vivid image of a grapevine, Jesus teaches His disciples about the essential nature of remaining connected to Him. Just as a branch cannot survive or bear fruit if it’s cut off from the vine, we cannot live the Christian life in our own strength.

John 15:4-5: Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

What does it mean to “remain” or “abide” in Christ? Jesus makes it clear—it means living in obedience to His commands, particularly His command to love one another. This isn’t about earning salvation through good works, but about maintaining a living relationship with Christ through faithful obedience. (Notebook Moment: What are some practical ways you can “remain” in Christ throughout your daily life? What tends to disconnect you from that vital relationship?)

➤ Chapter 16: The Work of the Spirit

Jesus continues teaching about the Holy Spirit, explaining in greater detail how the Spirit will work in the world and in the lives of believers. He tells them that it’s actually better for them that He goes away, because then the Spirit will come.

John 16:7: But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

The Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. For believers, the Spirit will guide us into all truth, bringing glory to Christ by taking what belongs to Him and making it known to us.

John 16:13-14: But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.

This promise was fulfilled in a remarkable way. The same disciples who were confused and afraid that night would soon boldly proclaim the gospel throughout the known world. The Holy Spirit would remind them of Jesus’ teachings, reveal new truths, and empower them for ministry. We see this transformation clearly in the book of Acts and throughout the New Testament letters.

Conclusion

After teaching His disciples these profound truths, Jesus turned to pray to His Father. John 17 gives us the extraordinary privilege of listening in on this intimate conversation between the Son and the Father. In this prayer, we see Jesus’ complete faithfulness to His mission.

Jesus was faithful to the work the Father gave Him: “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do” (17:4). He didn’t leave anything undone or cut corners when things got difficult.

Jesus was faithful to God’s Word: “I have given them your word and the world has hated them” (17:14). He spoke truth even when it made Him unpopular, never compromising the message to gain acceptance.

Jesus was faithful to reveal God’s name: “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world” (17:6). He showed us exactly what the Father is like—full of grace and truth.

This example of faithfulness challenges us to examine our own lives. Are we faithful to the work God has given us? Do we remain true to His Word even when it’s unpopular? Are we revealing His character to those around us?

John’s Gospel shows us that believing in Jesus is more than intellectual agreement with facts about Him. True faith transforms us from the inside out. It connects us to Christ like branches to a vine. It fills us with the Holy Spirit who guides us into truth. It compels us to serve others with humble love. And it gives us the certain hope of eternal life with Him.

The seven “I AM” statements reveal that Jesus is everything we need. The seven signs prove that He has power to meet every need. The intimate teachings show us how to live in relationship with Him. All of this points to John’s purpose—that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing we might have life in His name.

This is the message that changed the world two thousand years ago, and it still has the same power today. Jesus Christ, the eternal Word who became flesh, offers us abundant and eternal life through faith in Him. The question John leaves us with is simple but profound: Will you believe?

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