Sermon Illustrations
General
Topic: JohnMiracles of the Fourth Gospel
| 2:1-11 | Turning water to wine | Nature of eternal life |
| 4:46-54 | Healing the nobleman’s son | Condition of eternal life—faith |
| 5:1-9 | Healing the infirm man at Bethesda | Power to live the life |
| 6:1-14 | The feeding of the 5,000 (also in Mt. 14:13-21; Mk. 6:32-44; Lk. 9:10-17) | Food for the life |
| 6:15-21 | Walking on the sea, (also in Mt. 14:22-36; Mk. 6:45-56) | Guidance for the life |
| 9:1-41 | Sight restored | Light for the life |
| 11:1-44 | Raising of Lazarus | Victory of the life over death |
| 21:1-14 | The catch of fish | Full fellowship of the life |
Discourses in John’s gospel
Twelve discourses are unique to this gospel:
1. 3:1-21 On spiritual regeneration
2. 4:4-26 On eternal life
3. 5:19-47 On the Source of eternal life and its witness
4. 6:26-59 On the true Bread of Life
5. 7:14-29 On the Source of truth
6. 8:12-20 On the Light of the world
7. 8:21-30 On the true Object of faith
8. 8:31-59 On spiritual freedom
9. 10:1-21 On the Good Shepherd
10. 10:22-38 On the unity of the Godhead
11. 12:20-36 On the world’s Redeemer
12. Upper room teaching:
- 13:21-14:31 — On the approaching separation
- 15:1-27 — On the union with Christ
- 16:1-33 — On the Holy Spirit and the future
These discourses fall into two categories:
1. Christ’s public instruction, ch. 1-12, presenting Himself to the world as the ultimate reality
2. Christ’s private teaching, ch. 13-16, disclosing Himself to His own as the eternal sufficiency
