Lesson 4 of 4
John’s distinct voice
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Study objective: Notice what is distinctive in John’s Gospel.
Reading: John 2:13–22Mark 11:15–18John 6:35John 11:25–26
John 2:13–22 WEB
13The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14He found in the temple those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, and the changers of money sitting. 15He made a whip of cords and drove all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the changers’ money and overthrew their tables. 16To those who sold the doves, he said, “Take these things out of here! Don’t make my Father’s house a marketplace!” 17His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will eat me up.” 18The Jews therefore answered him, “What sign do you show us, seeing that you do these things?” 19Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20The Jews therefore said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple! Will you raise it up in three days?” 21But he spoke of the temple of his body. 22When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.
Mark 11:15–18 WEB
15They came to Jerusalem, and Jesus entered into the temple and began to throw out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and overthrew the money changers’ tables and the seats of those who sold the doves. 16He would not allow anyone to carry a container through the temple. 17He taught, saying to them, “Isn’t it written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers!” 18The chief priests and the scribes heard it, and sought how they might destroy him. For they feared him, because all the multitude was astonished at his teaching.
John 6:35 WEB
35Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will not be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
John 11:25–26 WEB
25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies. 26Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Background and context
John places the clearing of the temple near the start of Jesus’ ministry; Mark, Matthew and Luke place it in the last week. Readers explain this as two events, or as John arranging his account by theme. John also records long discourses and “I am” sayings not found in the other Gospels.
Observe
- John 2 places the temple clearing early; Mark 11 places it after the entry into Jerusalem.
- John records Jesus saying, “I am the bread of life” (6:35).
- And “I am the resurrection and the life” (11:25).
- John explains the meaning of events in long conversations.
Words, people and events to notice
- “I am” sayings
- Sayings in John where Jesus describes himself with an image: bread, light, gate, shepherd, resurrection, way, vine. John 6:35John 8:12John 10:11John 14:6John 15:5
Understand
- How would you explain the different placement of the temple clearing?
- What do the “I am” sayings show about how John presents Jesus?
- Why might John choose different material from the other Gospels?
Connect
- John 21:25
John says much more could have been written.
Reflect
- Which “I am” saying means most to you?
- How does John’s voice add to the other three?
Key takeaways
Editorial summary, not Scripture.
- John complements the Synoptic Gospels with a distinct perspective.
- Where order differs, faithful readers offer more than one explanation.
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