Believe in Jesus the Son of God in the Gospel of John

Bible Reading Plans, Get to know the Bible

As we read through the Gospel of John reading plan, we see a focus to believe in Jesus the Son of God. As you will see below, the relationship between Jesus and his Father was very important, not just for Jesus himself, but for all who believe.

Unless otherwise stated the Scripture References are taken from the English Standard Version. While referring to lots of different versions in my study, I generally use the ESV Women’s Study Bible.

Introduction to the Gospel of John

Jesus in the Gospel of John – The Son of God

The introduction to Jesus in the Gospel of John is very different to that in the other three Gospels. We have no genealogies, and no nativity story. John’s focus is not on where Jesus came from humanly speaking, but as the Son of God. So John goes back to the beginning of creation and identifies Jesus as being the Word that was with God, and is God.

The early chapters record conversations between Jesus and Nicodemus, and Jesus and a Woman at a well, in which Jesus reveals his identity as the Son of God. Jesus also identifies himself through ‘I am’ statements: I am the bread of life’ and ‘I am The good Shepherd’. The first twelve chapters also give the readers signs of Jesus’ identity as the Son of God.

Changing water into wine
Healing the Official’s Son in Capernaum
Healing the Paralytic at Bethesda
Feeding the Five Thousand
Walking on Water
Healing of a Man born blind
Raising of Lazarus

The word ‘Father’ is used much more frequently in John’s Gospel compared to the others; appearing 114 times compared to 72 in Matthew, 17 in Mark and 48 times in Luke’s Gospel.

Jesus does this to show his relationship to God and that we can have that relationship too.

So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. John 5:19

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. John 15:9

In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. John 16:26-27

John tells us that it was Jesus calling God his Father and claiming to be the Son of God that brought the hatred of the Jews.

This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. John 5:18

‘We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.’ John 19:7

So, what are we to do with this claim that Jesus is the Son of God?

John wrote in Chapter 20 verse 31 that ‘these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name’.

Believe in Jesus!

Believing is very important to John. He uses the word ‘believe’ 84 times in his Gospel compared to just 34 in the other three gospels combined. From the very beginning; through the signs mentioned above; Jesus’ words to Nicodemus, the crowds, and Martha; his prayers for the world; and the resurrection itself; Jesus is teaching us the importance of believing in him.

He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. John 1:7

Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. John 2:23

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. John 6:40

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. John 17:20-21

Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; John 20:8

You can read more on the differences between John and the other Gospels in my post Why are there four Gospels?

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Reading Plan on the Gospel of John

This Reading Plan takes us through the Gospel of John in 30 days. I have chosen to make all my monthly plans for 30 days even though not all months are this length, so you can choose to do them at any time. I have chosen to call this plan ‘Believe in Jesus the Son of God since this is a central message repeated often in the Gospel of John.

Use the form below to download the Believe in Jesus the Son of God in the Gospel of John Reading Plan.