BIBLE BOOK GUIDE
John
21 chapters
The Word became flesh in Jesus Christ to reveal the Father, so that everyone who believes may have eternal life and walk in the light.
John
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Why this book was written
John wrote this Gospel so that readers "may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God," and that through believing they "may have life in his name" (John 20:31). The audience, dispersed churches grappling with incipient Gnosticism and Jewish-Christian tensions, needed a clear portrait of Jesus' divinity, the sufficiency of His saving work, and the calling to abide in Him.
Structure
- 1–4The Word Made Flesh and Early Signs
- 5–10Seven Signs Revealing the Son and Salvation
- 11–12The Climax of Unbelief and the Hour of Glory
- 13–17The Upper Room and Farewell Discourse
- 18–21Passion, Resurrection, and Commission
Major themes
The Word Made Flesh
John opens by declaring that the Word was with God from the beginning and became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:1, 14), forming the book's foundation and revealing Jesus' divine nature and redemptive mission.
Faith and Eternal Life
John repeatedly emphasizes that whoever believes in the Son has eternal life (John 3:16, 5:24, 20:31); the whole book is written that readers may believe and have life.
Light and Darkness
Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12, 9:5); those who follow Him will not walk in darkness. The contrast between light and darkness runs through the book, symbolizing belief versus unbelief and obedience versus rebellion.
Love and Service
Jesus washes the disciples' feet (John 13) and gives a new commandment to love one another (John 13:34–35); love marks discipleship and flows from Christ's own self-giving love.
The Holy Spirit and the Paraclete
Jesus promises to send the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit (John 14:16–17, 16:7–13), who will guide disciples into truth, glorify Christ, and continue Christ's presence and work in the world.
The Cross and Glorification through Resurrection
John presents Jesus' death as the moment of His glorification (John 12:23–24, 17:1–5); the cross and resurrection are tightly woven together, displaying God's love and victory.
How it points to Christ
John presents Christ as the eternal Son who became flesh, the Father's only-begotten Son (John 3:16). He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29), the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep (John 10:11), the true Vine who sustains His disciples' life (John 15:1–5), and the Resurrection and the Life itself (John 11:25). The seven miraculous 'signs' and seven 'I Am' declarations (John 6:35, 8:12, 10:7–11, 11:25, 14:6, 15:1, 15:5) progressively reveal Christ's identity and mission, culminating in the atoning cross and the third-day resurrection, so that believers may have eternal life through faith (John 20:30–31).
Key verses
- 1:1Affirms the eternal, divine nature of the Word, anchoring John's Christology from the outset.
- 3:16The Gospel in a nutshell—God's love, the way of faith, the promise of eternal life.
- 6:35Jesus' self-disclosure as the Bread of Life, presenting Himself as the sole sustainer of spiritual life.
- 10:10–11The Good Shepherd gives abundant life and lays down His life, revealing the richness of salvation and Christ's self-sacrifice.
- 14:6Jesus as the exclusive way to the Father—the singular path to God.
- 15:5The Vine-Branches metaphor teaches the necessity of abiding in Christ for fruitful discipleship.
- 17:3Defines eternal life as relational knowledge of the only true God and Jesus Christ.
- 20:31John's stated purpose: belief that leads to life, the explicit aim of the entire Gospel.
Films & series on John
Each has a guide: scripture sources, where it departs from the Bible, discussion questions, and where to watch

The Gospel of John
Film · 2003
A word for word depiction of the life of Jesus Christ from the Good News Translation Bible as recorded in the Gospel of John.

The Chosen
Series · 2019
The life of Christ through the eyes of those who encountered him.

The King of Kings
Film · 2025
Charles Dickens tells his young son Walter the greatest story ever told, and what begins as a bedtime tale becomes a life-changing journey. Through vivid imagination, the boy walks alongside Jesus, witnessing His miracles, facing His trials, and understanding His ultimate sacrifice.

The Passion of the Christ
Film · 2004
A graphic portrayal of the last twelve hours of Jesus of Nazareth's life.
Reflections on John
People in this book
Questions for reflection
- ·The verb 'believe' (pisteuō) appears nearly a hundred times in John. Which kind of faith described in John (John 1:12, 3:16, 20:31) most closely matches your current trust in Jesus?
- ·Jesus says, 'I am the light of the world' (John 8:12). What areas of darkness in your life need to be brought into this light?
- ·Jesus washes the disciples' feet at the Last Supper (John 13:1–17). How can you practically follow Christ in a posture of serving rather than being served today?
- ·Jesus promises that the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, will be with disciples forever (John 14:16–17). How are you relying on the Spirit's guidance in your daily prayer and life?
- ·John 20:30–31 states the purpose of the book. If you take this verse as a check on your spiritual journey, what aspect of 'belief' and 'life' most needs renewing in you?
Want to read John start to finish? Open the reader for parallel Chinese/English text and ask anything as you go.
Start reading JohnJohn
Chapter 11
1Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister Martha.
2And it was that Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.
3The sisters therefore sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
4But when Jesus heard it, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified thereby.
5Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
6When therefore he heard that he was sick, he abode at that time two days in the place where he was.
7Then after this he saith to the disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.
8The disciples say unto him, Rabbi, the Jews were but now seeking to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?
9Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If a man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
10But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because the light is not in him.
11These things spake he: and after this he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus is fallen asleep; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
12The disciples therefore said unto him, Lord, if he is fallen asleep, he will recover.
13Now Jesus had spoken of his death: but they thought that he spake of taking rest in sleep.
14Then Jesus therefore said unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
15And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.
16Thomas therefore, who is called Didymus, said unto his fellow-disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.
17So when Jesus came, he found that he had been in the tomb four days already.
18Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off;
19and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother.
20Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary still sat in the house.
21Martha therefore said unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
22And even now I know that, whatsoever thou shalt ask of God, God will give thee.
23Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
24Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
25Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on me, though he die, yet shall he live;
26and whosoever liveth and believeth on me shall never die. Believest thou this?
27She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I have believed that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, even he that cometh into the world.
28And when she had said this, she went away, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Teacher is here, and calleth thee.
29And she, when she heard it, arose quickly, and went unto him.
30(Now Jesus was not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met him.)
31The Jews then who were with her in the house, and were consoling her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up quickly and went out, followed her, supposing that she was going unto the tomb to weep there.
32Mary therefore, when she came where Jesus was, and saw him, fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
33When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping who came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
34and said, Where have ye laid him? They say unto him, Lord, come and see.
35Jesus wept.
36The Jews therefore said, Behold how he loved him!
37But some of them said, Could not this man, who opened the eyes of him that was blind, have caused that this man also should not die?
38Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone lay against it.
39Jesus saith, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time the body decayeth; for he hath been dead four days.
40Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou believedst, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
41So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou heardest me.
42And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the multitude that standeth around I said it, that they may believe that thou didst send me.
43And when he had thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
44He that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave-clothes; and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
45Many therefore of the Jews, who came to Mary and beheld that which he did, believed on him.
46But some of them went away to the Pharisees, and told them the things which Jesus had done.
47The chief priests therefore and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many signs.
48If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.
49But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,
50nor do ye take account that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
51Now this he said not of himself: but, being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation;
52and not for the nation only, but that he might also gather together into one the children of God that are scattered abroad.
53So from that day forth they took counsel that they might put him to death.
54Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews, but departed thence into the country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim; and there he tarried with the disciples.
55Now the passover of the Jews was at hand: and many went up to Jerusalem out of the country before the passover, to purify themselves.
56They sought therefore for Jesus, and spake one with another, as they stood in the temple, What think ye? That he will not come to the feast?
57Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given commandment, that, if any man knew where he was, he should show it, that they might take him.
