CHAPTER FOUR

THE TRUTH OF THE MYSTERY 
IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN
(1)

A BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

Of all the outlines in the New Testament Recovery Version, the outline of the Gospel of John may be considered the best. If we want to know a certain book thoroughly, we must begin with its outline. The outline of a book helps us to have a complete bird’s-eye view of that book.

Two Main Sections of the Gospel of John

From the outline of the Gospel of John we see that the entire book can be divided into two main sections. The first main section, chapters 1 through 13, concerns “The eternal Word incarnated coming to bring God into man.” The second main section, chapters 14 through 21, concerns “Jesus crucified and Christ resurrected going to prepare the way to bring man into God, and as the Spirit coming to abide and live in the believers for the building of God’s habitation.” The crucified One is Jesus, while the resurrected One is Christ. Through Jesus’ crucifixion and Christ’s resurrection the way has been prepared for man to be brought into God. In brief, the first section of the Gospel of John speaks about bringing God into man, and the second section speaks about bringing man into God. How could God be brought into man? God was brought into man through the eternal Word’s coming in His incarnation. How could man be brought into God? Man was brought into God through Jesus Christ’s going in His death and resurrection. Therefore, His coming was accomplished in His incarnation, and His going was accomplished in His death and resurrection.

Moreover, after His resurrection He comes to us again as the Spirit. He came the first time in His incarnation. Then He went in [364] His death and resurrection, and following this He comes again as the Spirit. He came in incarnation to bring God into man, and He went in death and resurrection to bring man into God. However, He was not able to accomplish His purpose just by His coming and His going. Thus, as the Spirit He comes again to abide and live in the believers for the building of God’s habitation.

God’s work is not done until His habitation is built up. Although God was brought into man, and man was brought into God, God still needs a habitation. In order to produce such a habitation, it is necessary that the Spirit come to abide and live in the believers. This is the bird’s-eye view of the whole book of the Gospel of John.

The two main sections of the Gospel of John are as distinct as a person’s eyebrows. Within the two main sections there are sub-points, and each sub-point has many small items that give further explanation. For example, the first main section, composed of thirteen chapters, is on “The eternal Word incarnated coming to bring God into man.” The first sub-point, which is in chapter 1, is, “Introduction to life and building.” The first small item is, “The Word in eternity past, who was God, through creation coming as life and light to bring forth the children of God.” This is covered in verses 1 to 13, concerning the eternal Word, who was God (v. 1), in whom was life, which was the light of men (v. 4), and in whom also were all things, for all things came into being through Him (v. 3). Therefore, life, light, and creation are included in this small item. The One who came in incarnation was such a One.

The Main Points of the Gospel of John

The first main section of the Gospel of John is divided into five sub-sections: first, “Introduction to life and building” (ch. 1); second, “Life’s principle and life’s purpose” (2:1-22); third, “Life meeting the need of man’s every case” (2:23—11:57); fourth, “Life’s issue and multiplication” (ch. 12); and fifth, “Life’s washing in love to maintain fellowship” (ch. 13).

The second main section, consisting of eight chapters, is “Jesus crucified and Christ resurrected going to prepare the way to bring man into God, and as the Spirit coming to abide and live in the believers for the building of God’s habitation.” This main section is divided into four sub-sections: first, “Life’s indwelling—for the building of God’s habitation” (14:1—16:33); second, “Life’s prayer” [365] (ch. 17); third, “Life’s process through death and resurrection for multiplication” (18:1—20:13, 17); and fourth, “Life in resurrection” (20:14—21:25).

The sub-points in the outline are concise explanations, while the small items are detailed descriptions. For example, the third sub-section of the second main section is “Life’s process through death and resurrection for multiplication,” which is covered in 18:1—20:13, 17. These two and a half chapters, in brief, are concerning the Lord’s death and resurrection. They can also be divided up in a detailed way into the following points: first, He was betrayed; second, He was arrested; third, He was judged; fourth, He was crucified; fifth, He was buried; and sixth, He was resurrected. This is the process that He went through—from His betrayal to His resurrection. He passed through this process for multiplication.

THE MYSTERY OF THE DIVINE TRINITY IN JOHN 14

In John 14, 15, and 16—the most important portion is 14:7-20. Before we present the main points of this section, however, we must first have a general knowledge about its position in the book. Chapter 14 is included under the first sub-section of the second main section. In addition, this sub-section is further divided into three small sections. The first small section, which comprises all of chapter 14, is on “The dispensing of the Triune God—for the producing of His abode.” This small section is further divided into four small points. The second point is “The Triune God dispensing Himself into the believers,” and comprises verses 7 through 20. This is the point that we will cover. This small point is divided into two smaller points: first, “The Father embodied in the Son seen among the believers” (vv. 7-14); and second, “The Son realized as the Spirit to abide in the believers” (vv. 15-20).

In 14:7 the Lord told the disciples, “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and henceforth you know Him and have seen Him.” After hearing this word, Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and it is sufficient for us” (v. 8). Philip was somewhat puzzled by the Lord’s speaking. Although he probably thought it was quite meaningful when he first heard it, he did not understand its real meaning; so he responded wrongly, asking the Lord to show them the Father. What the Lord meant when He said this to the disciples was that the disciples had seen the Father since they [366] had already seen the Son. Philip, however, felt that although they had been seeing the Lord for such a long time, they had not yet seen the Father. They heard the Lord telling them to see, but in fact, they did not see anything. Therefore, out of ignorance Philip said that if the Lord would show them the Father, they would be satisfied.

Philip is actually a picture of us, and each one of us is a Philip. Not only the brothers are Philips, but the sisters are also Philips. Whoever speaks nonsensical words, words without any revelation, is a Philip. Today nearly all of Christianity is a Philip: the Catholic Church is a Philip, and the Protestant churches are also Philips. The so-called fundamentalists are Philips, the Pentecostalists are Philips, and even more, the modernists are Philips (even evil Philips). Whoever preaches the word without knowing the mystery of the Divine Trinity is speaking nonsense and is therefore a Philip. Today nearly all the preaching by Christianity is totally off-track and is far away from the central subject—the Divine Trinity. Anyone who does not base his speaking upon the revelation of the Divine Trinity speaks nonsense and is a Philip. Even when we are preaching the truth concerning justification by faith or concerning redemption through the precious blood, we must not preach these truths apart from the mystery of the Divine Trinity.