Introduction of the Book of John – Commentary and Explanation Bible Study

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When I open the book of John, I always feel something different compared to the other Gospels. It’s like walking into a familiar room but finding the light is softer, deeper, kind of mysterious but also comforting. Some folks say the Gospel of John is the simplest in words but the deepest in meaning, and I think that is really true. Matthew, Mark, Luke – they give us the stories, the parables, the miracles – but John, ah John, he goes beneath the skin. He wants us not only to know Jesus walked the earth, but to feel the heartbeat of God Himself through Jesus.

Now before we start diving in, let me just say, John’s gospel is one of those books that you can read ten times, fifty times, maybe a hundred, and still catch something new. It’s like a well that never runs dry. I remember once I was reading the first chapter at night, only the sound of a ceiling fan above me, and suddenly the phrase “the Word became flesh” hit me so strong that I had to put the Bible down and breathe. It wasn’t just words. It was life. That’s what John does. He doesn’t just tell you the facts, he pulls you into the mystery and makes you wrestle with glory.

Why Did John Write This Gospel?

John tells us near the end of the book exactly why he wrote it: “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name.” (John 20:31). That’s his purpose, plain and clear. He isn’t just writing history, he’s aiming at your heart.

Think of it this way: Matthew shows us Jesus as King, Mark as Servant, Luke as Man, but John—John shows us Jesus as God. Not just a teacher, not just a prophet, not just a healer, but God wrapped in human flesh. That’s why the book starts not with Bethlehem, or shepherds, or mangers, but way back before creation itself: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

That verse alone could fill a lifetime of study. In fact, some theologians spent whole books just unpacking those few words. And yet a child can memorize it and feel its power. That’s the beauty of John.

The Style of John’s Writing

It’s funny—John uses very simple Greek in his writing (if you look at the original language). He repeats words like “light,” “life,” “love,” “truth.” It’s almost like a rhythm, a song. And yet in that simplicity is such depth that philosophers and scholars scratch their heads.

I remember when I first read John as a teenager, the words didn’t feel complicated. I thought, “Oh, this is easier than Romans.” But as I grew older, I realized that behind those simple phrases there is an ocean of meaning. Like when Jesus says, “I am the bread of life.” It sounds so ordinary. Bread? Everyone eats bread. But wait—he’s not talking about food for your stomach, he’s talking about food for your soul. And you realize He is saying, “Without Me, you’ll starve spiritually.”

John has seven “I Am” statements of Jesus. Each one is like a window showing us a new part of who He is. I am the Light of the world. I am the Good Shepherd. I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. These are not small claims. They’re massive, world-shaking.

The Personal Touch of John

Now, here’s something I love: John calls himself “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” Some people think that sounds proud, but honestly I think it’s the opposite. It’s humble. He’s not naming himself, he’s simply identifying himself by the greatest truth about his life: that Jesus loved him. Isn’t that what every believer should say? My identity isn’t my job, my failures, or my successes. It’s this: Jesus loves me.

And John’s perspective feels personal. He was there at the Last Supper leaning on Jesus’ chest. He was at the foot of the cross when Jesus gave him the care of Mary. He outran Peter to the empty tomb. His memories come through in the pages, like when someone tells you a story from their childhood. Not just facts, but feelings.

Themes in the Gospel of John

If I had to list some of the big themes in John, here’s what comes to mind:

• Jesus as the Son of God. Not just a wise man, but God Himself.

• Belief and faith. John repeats over and over the importance of believing.

• Eternal life. Not just life after death, but a quality of life starting now.

• Signs and miracles. John doesn’t call them miracles but “signs.” They point to something greater.

• Light and darkness. The world is in darkness, but Jesus is the Light.

• Love. Especially in the later chapters, Jesus’ love is at the center.

I think each of these themes could be a whole series of studies by themselves.

The Uniqueness of John Compared to Other Gospels

About 90% of what John writes isn’t in the other Gospels. Think about that! That’s why if you only read Matthew, Mark, and Luke, you miss so much. John gives us the wedding at Cana where Jesus turns water into wine. He gives us Nicodemus and the famous “born again” conversation. He gives us the woman at the well. The raising of Lazarus. The washing of feet. And of course, some of the longest, most beautiful prayers of Jesus in chapter 17.

Sometimes when I read John, I think: what would we have lost if John hadn’t written this? So much.

My Own Reflection

Can I be honest here? Sometimes I struggle with belief. Not in the sense of rejecting God, but in the everyday doubts, the wondering, the fog that comes when life hits hard. And when I open John, I often feel Jesus speaking directly to that struggle. Like Thomas, who doubted until he touched the wounds. Or like Martha, who wept for her brother and Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” Those words meet me in my weakness.

And maybe that’s why John wrote it—to meet us where we doubt, where we long, where we hunger.