Topical Bible: John: Testifies to the Messiahship of Jesus

◄ John: Testifies to the Messiahship of Jesus ►

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The Gospel of John stands as a profound testament to the Messiahship of Jesus Christ, offering a unique perspective among the four Gospels. Written by the Apostle John, the "disciple whom Jesus loved" (John 13:23), this Gospel emphasizes the divine nature and mission of Jesus, presenting Him as the eternal Word made flesh (John 1:14).

The Prologue: The Word Became Flesh

The opening verses of John set the stage for understanding Jesus as the Messiah. John 1:1-3 declares, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made." This passage establishes Jesus' preexistence and divine nature, affirming His role in creation and His identity as God.

John the Baptist's Testimony

John the Baptist plays a crucial role in testifying to Jesus' Messiahship. In John 1:29 , he proclaims, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" This declaration identifies Jesus as the sacrificial Lamb, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah's redemptive work. John the Baptist further testifies, "I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God" (John 1:34), affirming Jesus' divine sonship.

Signs and Miracles

The Gospel of John records several signs and miracles that testify to Jesus' Messiahship. These include turning water into wine at Cana (John 2:1-11), healing the official's son (John 4:46-54), and feeding the five thousand (John 6:1-14). Each miracle serves as a sign pointing to Jesus' divine authority and His fulfillment of messianic expectations.

The "I Am" Statements

John's Gospel uniquely records Jesus' "I Am" statements, which reveal His identity and mission. In John 8:58 , Jesus declares, "Truly, truly, I tell you, before Abraham was born, I am!" This statement echoes God's self-identification in Exodus 3:14, asserting Jesus' eternal existence and divine nature. Other "I Am" statements, such as "I am the bread of life" (John 6:35) and "I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25), further affirm His role as the promised Messiah.

The Purpose of John's Gospel

John explicitly states the purpose of his Gospel in John 20:31 : "But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name." This purpose underscores the Gospel's focus on presenting evidence for Jesus' Messiahship and inviting readers to faith in Him.

The Testimony of the Father and the Spirit

Throughout the Gospel, the Father and the Holy Spirit testify to Jesus' identity as the Messiah. At Jesus' baptism, the Spirit descends like a dove, and the Father's voice declares, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17, paralleled in John 1:32-34). The Spirit's role in guiding believers into all truth (John 16:13) further affirms Jesus' messianic mission.

The Crucifixion and Resurrection

The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus are central to His messianic mission. John 19:30 records Jesus' final words on the cross, "It is finished," signifying the completion of His redemptive work. The resurrection, witnessed by Mary Magdalene and the disciples (John 20:1-18), serves as the ultimate confirmation of Jesus' victory over sin and death, affirming His identity as the Messiah.

The Testimony of the Disciples

The disciples' transformation and testimony further validate Jesus' Messiahship. After the resurrection, Thomas confesses, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28), acknowledging Jesus' divine nature. The disciples' willingness to suffer and die for their faith in Jesus underscores their conviction that He is indeed the promised Messiah.

Nave's Topical Index

Matthew 3:11,12
I indeed baptize you with water to repentance. but he that comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
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Mark 1:7,8
And preached, saying, There comes one mightier than I after me, the lace of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.
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Luke 3:16,17
John answered, saying to them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I comes, the lace of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
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John 1:15,26-36
John bore witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spoke, He that comes after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
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John 3:23-36
And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
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John 5:32,33
There is another that bears witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesses of me is true.
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John 10:41
And many resorted to him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spoke of this man were true.
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Acts 13:25
And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think you that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there comes one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.
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Library

The Life of Jesus Christ in Its Historical Connexion
... Miracles deemed an essential Sign of Messiahship. Section 91. ... John points to Jesus
as the Suffering Messiah, and testifies to his Higher Dignity. ...
/.../neander/the life of jesus christ in its historical connexion/

Jesus Rejected in Jerusalem.
... be willing that He should fashion the Messiahship as He ... John was but a mirror reflecting
what was already in ... that there is that in Him which testifies to His ...
/.../xix jesus rejected in jerusalem.htm

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath Day and Defends his Act.
... Or we may regard Jesus as asserting that the Father testifies to the Son's divinity ...
[John had witnessed the truth concerning the Messiahship of Jesus ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxxvii jesus heals on the.htm

Christ in the Synagogue at Capernaum. (John, vi. )
... would work new wonders to confirm his Messiahship, and gratify ... (The voice of God,
which testifies of the ... his Blood."His own Explanation of this (John, vi., 53 ...
/.../section 178 christ in the.htm

The Gospel of Matthew
... in those of Andrew and Peter and John and James ... historian; (2) that he himself elsewhere
testifies that Papias ... the tenets of the Jews the Messiahship of Christ ...
/.../drummond/introduction to the new testament/the gospel of matthew.htm

Genuineness of the Gospel Narratives.
... It testifies to the existence of our four gospels ... John, on the contrary, notices
his visits to ... with the unbelieving Jews respecting his Messiahship, and his ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter ii genuineness of the.htm

The Gospels in General
... answer objections that are brought against the Messiahship of Christ. ... of the apostles,
John 17:20; I John 1: 3 ... 6. Finally the Holy Spirit testifies in the heart ...
/.../drummond/introduction to the new testament/the gospels in general.htm

Acts XX
... This was the design of John's ministry. ... I am convinced in reference to his Messiahship,
and have ... me there, (23) except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xx.htm