Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for being with us today. Thank you for our Sunday school. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to spend time with your Word together. Lord, please help us to better understand your Word today. Bless our Sunday school. time help us to grow help us to know more about you lord we pray that you would help us to grow through your word too as well we pray in jesus name amen so as usual before we start sunday's book lesson so let's take a look at the February Adult Sunday School verse together. So if you open your bulletin, you will find it in the middle section, middle section from the bottom, under February Adult Sunday School verse, John 15, 5. So as usual, first, let's say our memory verse together, starting at ending with the reference. And after the time of reflection, so we'll say the words one more time together. OK? Let's say it together. John 15, 5. I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me and in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit. For without me ye can do nothing. John 15, 5. We may just have to do without it, right? Use our ears instead of our eyes. It's all good. Let's say it one more time. Let's say it together one more time. John 15, 5. I am the vine, ye are the branches that bind me, and I eat him. The same you get forth much fruit, for without me ye can do nothing. John 15, 5. So last Sunday, during Sunday school, we read from the Gospel of John, which is the Word of God written through the Holy Spirit by John. So while we didn't read the entire Gospel, we focused on John 13, 31 to the end of the chapter 17. To add, chapter 15 is especially significant to our church because it contains the theme of our church for this year. So I didn't mention this last week of a theme I prepared for the last Sunday school was the reading. God's Word is primary. Reading God's Word is primary. So that's why we read the God's Word. So as Christians, we must put God's Word first in our lives. So no matter how excellent a sermon may be, the God's Word is always more important than any man's explanation. So this is why we spent our time last week simply reading and listening to what God's word is saying and teaching us directly. So how can we deepen our understanding of abiding in Christ, which is our church's theme for this year, 2025? First and foremost, we must personally read the word of God. The disciples heard Jesus' word directly, and when we read scripture, we are hearing those same words Jesus said, abiding in Christ, or abiding in me, I in you. So if you have committed to reading all 66 books of the bible this year so at some point at some point probably you will read the gospel of john right you will read gospel of john so the gospel of john contains our church theme for this year so as you read the gospel of john i want to take some time to help you understand this theme more deeply. So today's Sunday School lesson title is, Today's Sunday School lesson title is, Studying the Uniqueness of the Gospel of John. Studying the Uniqueness of the Gospel of John. So first thing we will look at look at is the function of the Gospel of John. The function of the Gospel of John. There is no slide, so I just, I need to just say. So what is the function of the Gospel of John? First, it serves and explicitly evangelistic function. It serves an explicitly evangelistic function. So let's take a look at John 20, 30, and 31 together. John 20, 30, and 31. John 20, 30, and 31. Verse 30. And truly, Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book, verse 31, but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name. So that verse is, show us this John, the Gospel of John, that serves an explicitly evangelistic function. So in verse 31, there are three dead, the word dead. But among them, the two of them, the two dead clothes, which indicate its purposes. indicate his purposes. So here is something interesting I would like to share with you. So the word that translated here is the Greek word, the Hina. The Greek word, Hina. This word is used a total of 646 in the New Testament. So, in the Gospel of John, it is used 142 times, making up 21.7% of its occurrence in the New Testament. So, 646 is 20%. is in the Gospel of John. So actually, I prepared for some chart. But technical problem, I cannot show you guys the chart. It's a very beautiful chart. So really, really, it's a shame. But later, hopefully later, I can show you the chart. So this chart allows us to see more clearly how much Jan used this word compared to other books. Instead of and, to 142 times, John used that word. Chapter 17 used that word 19 times. So that means? I really, I want to really show you this beautiful, beautiful picture, the chart. But this is the longest longest column is John 17, which really, a lot of times, John 17, John used that kina, the word that, the purposes, is in this chapter. So as we read John 17 last week, you may recall that this chapter focuses on Jesus' high priestly prayers. So in this chapter, Jesus openly explains the reasons for His prayers. So, you know, we read last week, John 13, 31-17. That is a very important section because abiding in Christ There is that word is in the middle of this section. So when you read the book of John, please be carefully read that section so that you can pick up why the John used that word, kinah, the word, the purposes. And what purposes are there in the John, the book of John? So in here, in this very chapter, we see how it points us back to the Gospel of John as a whole. So there is a bunch of columns in the John section. So I think I have to use this. Each gospel has a distinct style and point of view, and section or material, and uniqueness theological and thematic emphasis. This uniqueness factor is most visible in the Gospel of John. So that's why it stands outside the traditional grouping of the Synoptic Gospel. So, do you know what the Synoptic Gospel is? So probably you guys know what the Synoptic Gospel is, but the term Synoptic Gospel refers to the Gospel of Matthew, and Mark, and Luke in the New Testament. So these three Gospels are called Synoptic because they present a similar view of the life ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And the word synaptic comes from the Greek word together and view, so seeing together. So that is a synaptic gospel. So we are going to look, not look at, we are going to look at the distinctives of John's gospel. Distinctives of John's gospel. So distinctive attributes of John's gospel included, first, John omits a large amount of material included in the synoptics. John omits a large amount of material included in the synoptics. So there are some events are in the synoptics. But John didn't record this event. First, in the Gospel of John, there is no description of the baptism. Do you notice? There is no baptism event. So, Matthew 3.13.17 If you have a cross-reference Bible, when you open the Bible, Matthew 3.13-17, there is a cross-reference, Mark 1.9-11, Luke 3.21-23, but there is no John here, which means John didn't record this event of baptism of Jesus Christ. And there is no account of the temptation. Jesus was tempted by Satan, right? But John didn't record this event. Really important event, but John didn't record. and there is no calling of the twelve. Isn't it interesting? So, there is no calling of the twelve. Also, you guys know that there are a lot of parables in the gospel, but in John, there is no parables. There is no parables. So, there is no sword, There is no mustard seed event. There is no wicked tenants event. So almost in the Gospel there are over 40, I think over 50 parables in the Synoptic Gospel, but there is nothing. There is no any parables in the Gospel of John. there is no discourse included in the synoptics. So there are discourses in the synoptics, but that discourse, there is no discourse in the Gospel of John. So there are a lot of discourses, Some discourses in the synoptic, but that discourse is not in the Gospel of John. And there is no exorcisms. There are no exorcisms. And there is no transfiguration account. There is no transfiguration account. And this is very important. There is no institution of the Lord's supper. John didn't record this event last Sunday with the communion service. Matthew, and Mark, and Luke, they recorded this event, but John didn't record this event. Institution of the Lords occurred. So comparatively, little emphasis on the kingdom of God. When you read the Gospel of John, not many words, kingdom and kingdom of God. So John omits a large amount of material included in the synoptics. The second, second. John includes, not includes, a large amount of material omitted from the synoptics. So this is really interesting. So instead of discourse, John included massive dialogues that conversation each other. Jesus and his disciples. That kind of conversation, dialogues, a lot of dialogues and controversies. That is John reported. And there are seven miracles. There are seven miracles. Among them, five of them 5 miracles are only in the Gospel of John. So, 7 miracles. Synaptic Gospel and John's Gospel. 7 miracles there. But 5 of them are only in the Gospel of John. And John doesn't use the word miracles. Instead of miracles, he uses the word signs. That is a very important sign. Later, we are going to study more about that. Everybody knows this one? Seven predicated I am statement, right? I am. I am the bread of life. The I am. So metaphors. Seven metaphors and seven absolute I am statement, allusion to deity. So, you know, when Moses asked the Lord in the burning bushes. So he, the Lord, answered to him, I am, who I am, that I am, the seven I am's there. And explicit identification of Jesus as God. So John 1.1, in the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. So it's this identification of Jesus as God. John 1.18, no one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. So another passage, John 20.28, And Thomas answered and said to him, the Jesus, my Lord and my God. So there are a lot of verses that show explicit identification of Jesus as God. And a lot of emphasis, massive emphasis on Jesus' relation to the Father. Now, that passage, when we read, even chapter 15 or 16, 17, 17 is the Jesus high priestly prayer. In that chapter, we can tell Jesus prayer to the Father, and then we know Jesus' relation to the Father very clearly, and additional Passover, not recorded by the Synoptics, Passover events, and one additional temple cleansing, when Jesus cleansed the temple, So here is one additional temple cleansing. I want to talk about this a little more. So when you read the Gospel of John, you cannot find two cleansing events, just only one cleansing event. But the Synoptic Gospel, in the Synoptic Gospel, please listen carefully. This event cleansing, the temple cleansing event, in Matthew Chapter 21, Mark Chapter 11, Luke Chapter 19, And in the Gospel of John, John chapter 2, do you notice something? Some kind of, yeah. So the Synodic Gospel records the temple cleanse as happening during Jesus' final week. Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19, a little bit later, so shortly after his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. But, in the Gospel of John, the Gospel of John describes Jesus cleansing the temple near the beginning of his public ministry. So it's different. So that's why I said in the John, there is one additional temple cleansing. So this is really some kind of different from the synoptic gospel. And one more thing, the two additional post-resurrection appearance. So in the gospel of John, there are two more post-resurrection appearances. Number three, I have, here's the number four. But number three, John's style of writing Presentation is very different from the snap kicks. First, there are 25 times John used amen, amen, amen, amen, amen. So 25 times. And distinctive, dominating, thematic vocabulary. He used a lot of that vocabularies. The world, world love, that kind of word. So I want to talk about, maybe next week, I want to talk about that thematic vocabulary some more. And then polarities. Polarities, like the light. versus death. So differently, light versus death, and light versus darkness, and truth versus falsehood, or sight versus blindness. John used a lot of polarities, and also John used irony, so frequently just It's a hard work, juxtaposition? So between Jesus speaking on a spiritual plane, but even though Jesus spoke spiritually, but the disciples or Pharisees, they didn't understand. They misunderstood on a physical plane. So that is really different from the synoptics. The last one is John's. Oh, yeah. Literally, strategy and structure are unique. That is really hard part, but that's why I want to show the screens. the slides, but hopefully, next week, I can show the slides. And with the slides, we are going to study together. But John's literary strategy and structure are unique. So I want to just read just one sentence, And today, I want to read one sentence. So the synoptic narratives focus on the threefold ministry of Christ. Threefold ministry of Christ. So Jesus' teaching method in the Synoptic, he uses explanation, illustration, demonstration. So that's Jesus' threefold teaching method in the Synoptic Gospel. However, in each case, John's depiction takes Jesus' teaching method to a higher level. He uses a little bit harder, interaction through dialogues, personification through metaphors, revelation, signs, validation through witness is a little bit hard, right? So, next week, hopefully, next week, I want to show you a slice, a beautiful slice with a chart and chart and some kind of figures. And we are going to study together. So today, I'll really focus on the shape. So that's all for today. So as we continue studying the Gospel of John, I hope we can grow in our understanding of the Gospel recorded in this book. Furthermore, I hope we can also gain a deeper understanding of our church's theme. abiding in Christ, abiding in me and I in you for this year. Let's pray and we can prepare for the morning service. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for this time we have spent together studying the uniqueness of the Gospel of John. Your Word is powerful and alive and we are grateful for the way it reveals your truth to us. Thank you for showing us how John's Gospel points to the identity and mission of Jesus Christ and calling us to abide in Him daily. As we reflect on what we have learned today, help us carry this truth into our lives. May we treasure your word with open hearts and allow it to transform us so that we may live in closer fellowship with you, Lord. As we prepare for the morning's worship service, we ask that you quiet our hearts and minds, removing distractions, so that we may worship you in spirit and in truth. Help us to focus on You, to live our craziness, and to receive the message You have for us today. We ask in Jesus' name, Amen. Thank you.