Segment Survey of John 2:23-3:36
General Materials: Ideological
John presents his ideas to express who Jesus is and explains this through the story of Nicodemus. John wants everyone to come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ and to believe on Him. John uses this eye witness account to explain: what Jesus did in this sign of baptism. Followed by his testimony to convince his audience to believe.
Paragraph Titles:
1. 2:23-2:25 The one who knows
2. 2. John 3:1-3:21 Jesus and Nicodemus
3. John 3:22-30 John’s Last Witness
4. John 3:31-36 Earthly Verses Heavenly
Unit One:
John’s Purpose:
John 2:23-25
Unit Two: Nicodemus visits Jesus (John 3:1-21)
3:2 a teacher who has come from God
3:3 no one can see the kingdom of God
3.:4 Question of Nicodemus
3:5 being born of water and Spirit
3:7 You must be born from above
3:8 who is born of the Spirit
Question of Nicodemus
3:13 No one has gone up to heaven
3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world
Unit 3: John the Baptist’s Final Witness (John 3:22-36)
3:22 he spent some time with them baptizing.
3:26 Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing
3:27 except what has been given him from heaven
3:30 He must increase; I must decrease.
3:31 The one who comes from above
3:32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard
3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life
Segment Structure:
The structure of this segment is Historical! This section defiantly has an order and includes the place of the event occurred. It’s order can be described in the following categories: A: time is Passover 2:23 B. the new birth (sign of baptism) was by night 3:1 C. Baptisms were occurring in Judea 3:22 and in Aenon near Salim 3:23
Major Structural Relationships:
Recurrence of comparisons:
1. Recurrence of the word signs. In 2:23 observing the signs 24 which he was doing, said John. Then again the word signs in 3:1 when Nicodemus questions Jesus himself.
2. Recurrence of the word Baptism. 3:22, 3:23, and 3:26
3. The recurrence of the word light. -spoken by Jesus four times in verse 19,20,and21.
Questions: What is the meaning of all the references? How is the references generalized to the whole word? What are the implications? What is the primary meaning of the recurring comparison pairs? How do the occurrences relate to each other?
Recurrence of the words Testimony and Witness:
The book of John is a testimony itself. John is the witness to all of the events in this book. Some examples are as follows: 2:25, 3:11, 3:27, 3:32, and 3:33 This attests to the importance of our testimony; thus, is the reason John writes the book.
Questions: Why did John utilize these reoccurrences? Why did John stress these ideals? Why did John present theses in this specific order? What are the major points emphasized? What are the meaning to those topics emphasized? What is the meaning of the description? What are the implications?
Recurrence of the words born:
All of the occasions of the word born are spoken directly by Jesus. Jesus’s sign in this segment is one of being born again.
Questions: Why did John stress these ideals? Why did John present theses in this specific order? What are the major points emphasized? What is the meaning of the description? What are the implications?
Causation
Cause: Because of Jesus’s teaching in John 2:23
Effect: Nicodemus comes to Jesus with a question 3:1
Questions: How does Jesus cause to get the effects of all? What are the major elements in the relationship of the cause and the effect? And what are the meanings to each? Why did the author include this cause and effect? How does this effect the message as a whole? What are the implications?
Preparation/Realization:
Preparation: The preaching and teaching of Jesus Christ (signs: baptism 3:2-3)
Realization Scripture Fulfilled 3:23 people were being baptized
Questions: What is the meaning of all the references? How is the references generalized to the whole word? What are the implications? What is the primary meaning of the recurring comparison pairs?
Key Passages:
John 3:16 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His [a]only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
John 20:31 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is [a]the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
These two scriptures are interlocking, because 3:16 tells us who Jesus is and then 20:31 informs us of the goal of John.
3:25 John explains what purification in his comparison of baptism.
John 3:3 States the purpose of this segment. (being born again)
3:5 Further explains the principal of this particular sign Jesus is teaching.
3:36 Is a key verse, because it is the goal of the entire book.
Literary Form: Narrative
This is written in plain language for the ancient time when it was recorded. It has a beginning, middle, and an end; which, is the basis for a good story. This segment has main characters and event. It also includes a theme and a call to action.
Other Major Impressions:
John 2:23-25 Appears to be a particularization of the purpose statement. First, is the glory of omniscience of Jesus. Secondly, is the discovery that there is a type of faith that displeases and is not accepted by God.
The question of Nicodemus, is about signs? (3:1) Jesus begins by teaching about baptism. Was this the sign Nicodemus was questioning? Was this an invitation given by Jesus and echoed in 20:21-22?
John 3:23 The Christ was expected to baptize. Was the others? John, Elijah, or Malachi according to this verse?
John 3:27-30 John explains once again that he is not the Christ. He does not assert his own identity! He states he was sent ahead of Jesus. In a Chronological order of time. Is this perhaps a clue to the order of his book’s structure? Is he still suggesting the coming of another like Malachi?
3:25 What is purification? What does it have to with Baptism?
