THE ANALYSIS OF JOHN.
The plan of John is much more systematic, clear
and simple than those of the other three Evangelists. It will be a help
in a connected study of this part of Holy Scripture to have an analysis.
I am indebted to Dr. Schaff for the outlines of the following plan,
though I have modified and condensed the view he gives in his History
of the Apostolic Church. I have marked by a star those sections which
are not found in the other Gospels.
*I. THE PROLOGUE.
1:1-18.
(1) The Word in Relation to God. 1:1, 2.
(2) The Word in Relation to the World. 1:3-5.
(3) The Word in Relation to John the Baptist
and the Jews. 1:6-13.
(4) The Word Made Flesh. 1:14-18.
II. MANIFESTATION OF THE
WORD IN LIFE AND WORK.
1:19 to 12:50.
*(1) John bearing witness of and pointing to the
Lamb of God. 1:19-37.
*(2) Gathering of the First Disciples. 1:38-51.
*(3) The First Miracle. 2:1-11. First sojourn in
Capernaum. 2:12. First Passover at Jerusalem. 2:13.
*(4) First Cleansing of the Temple. 2:14-25.
*(5) Conversation with Nicodemus and the New Birth.
3:1-21.
*(6) Labors of Christ in Judea. The Testimony of
John the Baptist. 3:22-36.
*(7) Labors in Samaria. At Jacob's Well. The Samaritan
Woman. 4:1-42.
(8) Public Teaching in Galilee. 4:43-45.
Compare Matt. 4:17; Mark 1:14; Luke 4:14.
*(9) Nobleman's Son at Capernaum Healed. 4:46-54.
*(10) Second Journey to Jerusalem to a Feast supposed
to be the Passover; The Healing at the Pool of Bethesda. 5:1-18. The
Beginning of the Enmity of the Jews that finally led to the Crucifixion.
The discourse of Christ on his Relation to the Father. 5:19-47.
*(11) The Feeding of the Five Thousand and the
Stilling of the Tempest. 6:1-21.
*(12) The discourse on the Bread of Life. 6:22-71.
*(13) Third Visit to Jerusalem, at the Feast of
Tabernacles. The Discourse at the Temple. The Increase of Hostility.
Attempt to Seize the Lord. 7:1-52.
*(14) The Woman taken in Adultery. 7:53 to 8:11.
*(15) Discourse on the Light of the World. The
Children of God and the Children of the Evil One. Attempt to Stone Jesus.
8:12-59.
*(16) The Healing of the Man Born Blind, on a Sabbath;
His Testimony of the Pharisees. 9:1-41. [xxii]
*(17) The Good Shepherd, the Sheepfold and the
Sheep. 10:1-21.
*(18) Discourse at the Feast of Dedication in Solomon's
Porch. 10:22-39.
*(19) Departure to the Country beyond the Jordan.
10:40-42.
*(20) The Resurrection of Lazarus at Bethany, and
its effect in increasing the Enmity of the Jews. The Counsel of Caiaphas.
11:1-53.
*(21) Jesus retires to Ephraim. 11:54-57.
(22) The Anointing by Mary at Bethany at
the Feast. 12:1-8.
(23) The Counsel of the Chief Priests. 12:9-11.
(24) The Entry into Jerusalem as a King.
12:12-19. Compare Matt. 21:1-17; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:29-44.
*(25) The Visit of the Greeks to Jesus. Discourse
on the Grain of Wheat that must die to bear Fruit. The Voice from Heaven.
12:20-50.
It will be observed that, thus far, most of the
matter is peculiar to John. The same is true of the discourses to the
disciples which now follow.
III. CHRIST MANIFESTED
TO HIS DISCIPLES. The
time is during the last Passover week. The place is Jerusalem. 13:1
to 17:26.
*(1) Jesus washes the feet of his Disciples at
the Passover Meal. 13:1-20.
(2) He Announces the Traitor and Judas departs.
13:21-30.
*(3) The New Commandment of Love. (The Lord's Supper
supposed to be Instituted.) 13:31-35.
(4) Peter's Denial Predicted. 13:36-38.
*(5) The Farewell Discourses to the Disciples.
The House of Many Mansions. The Father in the Son. The Conditions of
Enjoying the Divine Presence. Promise of Answer to Prayer. Benediction
of Peace. 14:1-33.
*(6) The Promise of the Comforter. The Work of
the Spirit. 15:1-27.
*(7) The True Vine and the Branches. The Spirit
and the World. 16:1-33.
*(8) The Prayer for the Apostles; for Believers
in all ages; for the Unity of the Church. 17:1-26.
IV. CHRIST LIFTED
UP; ON THE CROSS.
FROM THE TOMB. 18:1 to 20:31.
(1) Passage of the Kedron and the Betrayal.
18:1-11.
(2) Jesus before the High Priest. 18:12-24.
(3) Peter's Denial. 18:15-27.
(4) Jesus before Pilate the Roman Governor.
18:28 to 19:16.
(5) The Crucifixion. 19:17-37.
(6) The Burial of Christ. 19:38-42.
(7) The Resurrection. Mary Magdalene, John
and Peter at the empty tomb. 20:1-10.
(8) Christ appears to Mary Magdalene on
the first Lord's day. 20:11-18.
*(9) Christ appears to the Apostles. Thomas not
present. 20:19-23.
*(10) Christ appears to all the Apostles, Thomas
included, on the second Lord's day. 20:26-29.
*(11) The object of John's Gospel. Written in order
to cause men to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. 20:30,
31. [xxiii]
* THE APPENDIX
AND EPILOGUE. 21:1-25.
While the other Gospels allude to the appearance
of the risen Lord in Galilee the incidents of this chapter are narrated
only by John.
(1) Christ appears to Seven Disciples on
the shores of the Sea of Galilee. The third time he had revealed himself
to his Apostles. 21:1-14.
(2) The Dialogue with Simon Peter. His Restoration.
21:15-22.
(3) The intimation concerning John tarrying
until he came. 21:21-23.
(4) The attestation to the authorship of
the Gospel. 21:24, 25.
An examination of the stars prefixed to the sections
peculiar to John will show how far his history is independent of the
other Gospels. Up to the beginning of the eighteenth chapter only five
incidents are named, I believe, which are narrated by the other writers.
The accounts of the trial, crucifixion, burial, resurrection, and appearances,
are more nearly parallel, but the last chapter is, again, entirely new
matter. These facts serve to show how much of the Savior's words and
life would have been lost to the world if the Fourth Gospel had never
been written. They also demonstrate the infinite resources from whence
the Gospel historians drew their accounts; resources so vast, that after
three historians wrote the life of the Redeemer, a fourth was still
able to write another history, in full harmony with what was already
written, but composed almost entirely of new matter, not less important
or interesting than what had already been narrated. [xxiv]
[NTC3 xxii-xxiv]
|
