Review: The Big Picture 2 (John 1-12)

(Note: This week, after reading 12 chapters in John, we are going to do another review. Because we have already reviewed chapters 1-6, one might expect that we would only review chapters 7-12. However, this week we are actually going to review chapters 1-12 with a quick flyover. As I have mentioned before, part of what I hope to accomplish during this study is to get the "Big Picture". Once we have a picture of the forest, we will be better able to appreciate the trees. Although this is a review, we will also cover some new ground as well.)

As we have already noted, the opening prologue of John starts in eternity past and it hearkens back to the first chapter of Genesis with the phrase, "In the beginning…" Then we quickly move from eternity past to the Incarnation.

After John's prologue, chapters 1-12 is an overview of Christ's three years of public ministry. The first miracle Jesus performed was turning water into wine at a wedding in Cana (John 2:11). This verse alone should put to rest all of the apocryphal stories from the Gnostic Gospels that claim Jesus performed miracles as a child. The Bible is largely silent about Christ's childhood.

Although there is nothing in John's Gospel about the childhood of Christ, there is a brief vignette in Luke's Gospel about Jesus at the age of 12, and it is the only Biblical account we have of Christ's childhood. It is also significant that we find Him in the Temple.

Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress." And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. -- Luke 2:41-52

Roughly eighteen-years later, we find Christ in the temple once again, this time not as a child, but as Israel's Messiah who had come to cleanse the temple (Malachi 3:1). Jesus, God incarnate, came and tabernacled among us, this time not in a tent, or a temple, but in the flesh (John 1:14). But more on that in a moment.

It is interesting to note that the only other prophet to transform water was Moses -- and he transformed water into blood as a sign of judgment. In contrast, Christ transformed water into wine as a sign of grace.

For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. -- John 1:16-17

The Law came through Moses. Although the Law is good, it is unable to save and brings death. But grace and truth came through Christ. Christ affirms the righteous standard of the Law (Matthew 5:17-18), and with the truth of the Law and its demands, He also brings saving grace and the forgiveness that we desperately need (Romans 3:20, Galatians 3:10-14).

Seven Signs

Although these were not the only miracles performed by Christ, there are seven signs highlighted in John's Gospel:

• Water to wine (John 2:1-12)
• Healed Nobleman's son (John 4:46-54)
• Healed a paralytic on the Sabbath (John 5:1-17)
• Fed 5,000 (John 6:1-14)
• Walked on Water and calmed the storm (John 6:15-21)
• Healed a blind man on the Sabbath (John 9:1-41)
• Raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:17-45)

Notice there seems to be an escalation in the miracles recorded by John, with the most dramatic miracle being the very public act of Raising Lazarus from the dead.

In addition to these miraculous signs, Jesus made some weighty claims that pointed us back to the Old Testament as well. John's Gospel demonstrates how the powerful imagery of the Old Testament foreshadowed Christ. So far we have seen that Jesus is:

• God and Creator (John 1:1-3, 14)
• The true Lamb of God (John 1:29)
• Jacobs ladder (Gen 28:12, John 1:51)
• The true temple (John 2:19-21)
• Salvation in the wilderness (Num 21:7-9, John 3:14)
• The Light of Truth (Psalm 119:105, Prov 6:23, John 1:4-9, 3:19, John 8:12)
• Living Water (Jeremiah 2:12-13, John 4:10, John 7:37-39)
• The true Bread from Heaven (John 6:33-35)
• The Good Shepherd (Psalm 23, John 10:1-16)

Jesus also made several "I AM" statements, thus affirming His divinity (there will be more I AM statements to come in later chapters).

• I AM the bread of life (John 6:35)
• I AM the light of the world (John 8:12)
• Before Abraham was, I AM (John 8:58)
• I AM the door of the sheep (John 10:7)
• I AM the Good Shepherd (John 10:11)
• I AM the resurrection and the life (John 11:25)

Through the Veil

Getting back to the temple, although some scholar's will disagree on this point, a plain reading of Scripture indicates that Christ cleansed the temple twice, once at the beginning of His public ministry, and once at the end of His ministry; the same week of His crucifixion. If that is the case (and I believe it is), this would indicate that Christ book-ended His public ministry by the cleansing of the temple at the beginning and at the end of His public ministry, indicating completion. Furthermore, with His death, the veil in the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51), indicating that the days of temple sacrifice were over -- the true lamb and the true temple had come. The veil that separated man from the holiest place in the temple, the very presence of God in the Holy of Holies (Exodus 26:33, Leviticus 16:2), was torn in two at the death of Christ.

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, -- Hebrews 10:19-20

Because of the death and resurrection of Christ, we have been clothed in His righteousness and made priests with full access to God. Consequently, God's presence is no longer to be found in a temple made with hands, but rather, He dwells in each believer by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. The people of God are now His temple and dwelling place.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. -- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. -- 1 Peter 2:4-5