What does John’s gospel teach us about God’s plan for creation? We discuss in this episode.

Music:
“Kid Kodi”
Blue Dot Sessions
http://www.sessions.blue

Show Notes

Episode #44 – New Creation Theology – New Creation in John – The Gospel of John

Prologue (John 1:1–18)

• John’s prologue is like the thesis statement (i.e., it sets the stage) for the rest of the Gospel. 
• The “Word” = Jesus
  • Greek logos (λόγος)
    • A term present in Greek philosophy (e.g., Stoic, Pythagorean, Philo of Alexandria) 
    • Used by Philo and John with language reminiscent of Hebrew wisdom literature. 
  • Was responsible for creation, and therefore, new creation. 
    • “In the beginning” (John 1:1; Gen 1:1)
    • “All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being.” (John 1:3)
    • “What came into being in him was life” (John 1:3–4)
    • “…the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” (John 1:4–5) 
    • “…the world came into being through him” (John 1:10)
  • “And the Word became flesh and lived among us” (John 1:14)
    • “Lived among us” – tabernacled among us 
      • Connects us back to the temple theme in Genesis 1. 
  • God’s words created the original heaven and earth, the original temple, God has now spoken through Jesus, the Word of God, to create a new heavens and a new earth, a new temple for God to dwell with his creation. 

Jesus as the Temple (John 2:13–25)

• “‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’” (John 2:19)

Heaven vs. Earth

• John makes a distinction between things of heaven and things of the world. Jesus, and his teaching, is from heaven (i.e., they come from God Himself) (John 3:12; 31–36; 6:22–59; 17; 18:33–38).
• “‘My kingdom is not from this world.’’ (John 18:36) 

Going to Prepare a Place (John 14:1–14) 

• Jesus says that he is going to prepare a place for his followers, but he does not say where that place is ultimately going to be located. 
• The place is referred to as “my Father’s house” (John 14:2). 
  • What would a Jew think of when they heard the phrase God’s house? The temple! God’s house was the temple. 
  • Who is John presenting as the new or living temple of God? Jesus! 
    • Jesus says that when he returns, his people will be taken into him, and be forever with him (John 14:3). 
    • Jesus says that he is “‘…the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” (John 14:6)
  • What has Jesus come to bring? New creation. To make the world God’s temple once again. 
  • The temple was located in Jerusalem, the city of God. In Revelation 21, John will speak of the “new Jerusalem” coming down from heaven to earth.