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Themes In the Gospel of John - Sabbath School Quarterly.
Introduction
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The four Gospels present major events in Jesus’ life. What He did, where He went, and the aim of His mission and miracles were recorded for our growth and learning. To paint a cohesive picture of Christ’s life, we often blend the four descriptions into a single portrait. In this quarter, we will focus largely on the Gospel of John, one of the most treasured books in the New Testament. In this book, we gain new and distinctive insights into Jesus’ life—insights not shared in Matthew, Mark, or Luke.
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John is a favorite Gospel for many because it weaves a unique tapestry that reveals Jesus. The other three are commonly called the Synoptic Gospels, meaning they “see together” or have a similar perspective, but John’s is set apart by his overall portrayal of Christ. In John’s book, Jesus performs fewer miracles but has longer speeches. He describes Himself with a series of “I am” statements not found in the Synoptics (as you read through John, see how many you can find). Additionally, this Gospel describes the timeframe of Jesus’ ministry in more detail, recounts three different Passover celebrations, and highlights other Jewish feasts we don’t find in the other Gospels (7:2; 10:22). John mentions the first cleansing of the temple at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry while the Synoptics describe the second one, toward the end of His ministry (John 2:10; cf. Matt. 21:12; Mark 11:15; Luke 19:45). These are but a few of the traits that make John unique.
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No Gospel directly identifies its author. This doesn’t mean they were intended to be anonymous, however—Theophilus (Luke 1:3) would certainly have known the author of the Gospel dedicated to him. Matthew’s Gospel contains details that emphasize Matthew’s character. John 21:23 indicates that the author was a disciple of Christ as well as a well-known person about whom rumors might circulate. While his name is not openly stated, it’s safe to assume that the first readers would have known it well.
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For modern readers, these bits of information alone don’t identify the authors with any certainty, so we turn to history to find more clues. In the early copies of the manuscripts, titles were used for all four Gospels: “The Gospel according to...” Very early on, the names Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were linked to their respective Gospels. The broad acceptance of these titles indicates that the four names were likely linked as soon as the four Gospels began circulating widely.
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That said, scholars have questioned who wrote John’s Gospel. In summary, their argument is that because John is so different from the Synoptics, it must have been written by someone who wasn’t part of the Twelve. Similarly, they argue that references to John as the author didn’t appear before mid-second century and therefore any traditional views (i.e., that John, brother of James, wrote the fourth Gospel) must be erroneous. So, is there evidence identifying this disciple as John the Apostle?
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First, as previously noted, the Gospel indicates that the author was an eyewitness and a disciple (John 21:23, 24). Additionally, the author is described as the one “whom Jesus loved” and who leaned on Jesus’ breast at the supper recorded in chapter 13 (vv. 23–25). This gathering was an intimate group, not the broader selection of people who followed Jesus. The only two disciples named here are Peter and Judas, both of whom were part of the Twelve. Taking all this into account, the one “whom Jesus loved,” the author, must therefore have been among the Twelve.
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Second, this book indicates that the author was close with Peter (13:24; 20:2; 21:7). The other Gospels reveal that Peter, James, and John formed a tight group of three among the other disciples (Matt. 17:1; Mark 5:37; Luke 8:51). We know that James was the first of the Twelve to be martyred (Acts 12:2), which left John and Peter as the remaining two in close association. The fourth Gospel mentions Peter by name alongside the beloved disciple, which, when combined with our knowledge from the other New Testament books, implies that John was the beloved disciple and therefore the author.
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Third, the early Christian church’s testimony is that John the Apostle authored the fourth Gospel. Christian writers from the second century such as Polycarp, a leader in the early church who knew John personally, and Irenaeus, a later church leader and theologian who knew Polycarp, supported this conclusion.
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At any rate, engaging with this Gospel takes us back to the close circle that followed Jesus beginning at His identification as the Messiah. We gain an insider’s view from one who was intimately connected with Jesus. We hear his reflections on Christ after a lifetime of service and contemplation. May your study of John’s Gospel draw you into that close circle of disciples and reveal Christ anew.
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Sabbath September 28, 2024
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Sabbath School: Adults and children: 9:30 - 10:30 am.
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Worship Service: Worship Service, 11:00 am.
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Luncheon: Next church potluck will be on October 19th.
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Sunset on Friday: 6:57 pm; Sunset on Saturday: 6:55 pm
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Sabbath Duties:
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Sermon: Pr. Harold Alomia - WDYM: Salvation II
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Praise Team: Keli Rigsby, Esther Duffy, Mathew Whitt, Mercy Omwanza, Heidi Bauer
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Offering: Washington Youth: Education
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Children's Story: Esther Duffy
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Deacons: Jeff Leggott, Mark Hann, Ethan Prince & Greg Kuo
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Greeters: Patrice Christensen, Kathy Dufur & Claudia Vasquez
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- Ron Case & Betty Case
- Tom Barnett (Surgery)
- Yvette Olson
- Our community
- Unspoken Requests
- Special Prayer: If you would like a special prayer, please contact one of the pastors or church elders.
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New Church Directory is coming up!
Please help us put together our NEW ​KSDA directory! Follow these 4 easy steps:
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- Fill out the info form on our website.
- Watch your email for an invitation from Jonathan Wirtz to join the directory.
- Accept the invitation and log in to the online directory.
- View the other members in the directory, send messages, adjust what info is visible on your account.
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Attention parents! The new school year is upon us and our young people are away from home, possibly for the first time and need our prayers and encouragement. Please contact Kathy Dufur at kdcatnigel@gmail.com or contact the church office with your student's name, mailing address and birthdate. The church will be sending them cookie boxes this school year as well as encouragement cards to let them know they are missed but not forgotten.
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The Sabbath school quarterlies are available at the church credenza. Please take one per family.
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Our next potluck will be on October 19th. Please don't forget to bring a delicious dish to share.
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Hello parents! We are excited to invite all children to participate in our children’s Christmas choir. Here's how it will work: rehearsals will take place between Sabbath school and church (10:30-11:00 am) in the fellowship hall every Sabbath leading up to the Christmas Program. If you have any questions or would like more information on how to get involved, please contact Rosie Alomia at (269) 252-3299.
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Would you like to visit places where the Apostle Paul preached? Then why not join the 2025 PSAA History Tour to Greece?
Dates: March 19-28, 2025. Tour includes Athens and the Islands of Rhodes, Mykonos, and Santorini plus the cities of Ephesus and Delphi. This tour is open to all. Call Mr. Munson for more details and prices. 426-273-0364. Email hmunson@psaa.org or howardmunson144@gmail.com
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Happenings:
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Ladies, you are welcome to join the women's ministry Sabbath School at 9:30 am in the training room.
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If you would like to help with this important ministry, please contact Jeff Hudspeth or the church office.
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Outreach Meal Preparation
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We need volunteers to help prepare meals, and deliver, to the Safe Parking Shelter in Kirkland. Mondays at 5:00 pm in the church kitchen. If you are interested in participating, please contact Luciane Sarli at admin@ksda.org or 425-822-7922.
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Announcement Info: If you ever have an announcement to add to the bulletin, bulletin board, or to present from the pulpit, please get approval from the office by noon on Thursday or speak directly to a pastor. Thank you!
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Shut-Ins: In an effort to provide better care for our members, we are asking your help in locating members of the Kirkland church who are not able to come to Sabbath services. We do not always know when someone is ill or disabled. Our pastors and elders would love to visit with these valuable members.
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Information Changes: If your address and/or phone ever change, please make that indication on your tithe envelope or on a pew card so the information gets to the Treasurer; they will not know it by your check alone. Thank you.
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School New
Have you wanted to get involved in some community service but need ideas how? Well this is your opportunity. KSDA School and Puget Sound Adventist Academy is looking to fill the following coaching positions starting this fall season:
KSDA - Assistant Soccer Coach
KSDA - D1 Volleyball Coaches
PSAA - JV Coaches
If you are interested, have a referral, or would like more information, please contact our Athletic Director, Camden Armstrong at carmstrong@psaa.org or call the main office at (425) 822-5774.
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Conference News!
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Join the Pentecost 2025 movement, where Seventh-day Adventists across North America will host 3,000 proclamation events in 2025, with a dedicated call to prayer for a second Pentecost and outpouring of the Holy Spirit! The North Pacific Union, along with its conferences and institutions, will unite in strategic prayer efforts this October and July, seeking revival and renewal!
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We have a few more spots available for our upcoming event! We are thrilled to announce our third weeklong Emotional Freedom Retreat program, scheduled for October 6-13, 2024. The Washington Conference Health Ministries recognizes the importance of holistic healing, and we're offering this transformative program at an affordable cost of $900.00.
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Deadline to register August 7, 2024.
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Health Ministries Prayer Line
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Book: With God at Dawn by Ellen G. White
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Time: 6:30 am to 7:00 am Every Friday
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Our Mission
The mission of the Kirkland Seventh-day Adventist Church is to lovingly invite everyone in our area to clearly understand, accept, and experience with us the truly wonderful good news of Jesus Christ in order to improve our lives today and be ready for the soon return of Jesus, the only real hope for this world.
To read the full details of our Mission and Vision, Click Here*
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Contact Information
6400 108th Ave. NE, Kirkland, WA 98033
425.822.7922
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Office Hours:
Mon-Th 8:00am-3:00pm
Fri 8:00am-12:00pm
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