Significance of this topic

• The crucial place of Jesus’ words in the Gospel of John may be seen in the frequent references to His words and speech.

Jesus claims that His words are from God the Father

• Jn 7:16 – So Jesus answered them, "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.
• Jn 7:17 – If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.
• Jn 8:26 – I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him."
• Jn 8:28 – So Jesus said to them, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.
• Jn 8:38 – I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father."
• Jn 8:40 – but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did.
• Jn 10:36 – do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?
• Jn 12:49 – For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment–what to say and what to speak.
• Jn 12:50 – And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me."
• Jn 14:10 – Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.
• Jn 14:25 – "These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you.
• Jn 17:8 – For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.
• Jn 17:14 – I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

Jesus speaks about the nature and manner of His words

• Jn 3:11 – Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony.
• Jn 3:34 – For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.
• Jn 6:63 – It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
• Jn 6:68 – Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,
• Jn 7:7 – The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil.
• Jn 7:26 – And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ?
• Jn 8:40 – but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did.
• Jn 8:45 – But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.
• Jn 8:46 – Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?
• Jn 8:47 – Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God."
• Jn 16:7 – Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
• Jn 16:25 – "I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father.
• Jn 18:20 – Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret.

Jesus’ speaks about the effect of His words

• Jn 5:24 – Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
• Jn 5:25 – "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
• Jn 5:34 – Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved.
• Jn 8:51 – Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death."
• Jn 8:52 – The Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, 'If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.'
• Jn 12:48 – The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.
• Jn 15:3 – Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.
• Jn 15:7 – If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
• Jn 15:11 – These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
• Jn 15:22 – If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.
• Jn 17:13 – But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

Jesus claims to be the one who speaks

• Jn 4:26 – Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he."
• Jn 8:14 – Jesus answered, "Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going.
• Jn 8:18 – I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me."
• Jn 8:25 – So they said to him, "Who are you?" Jesus said to them, "Just what I have been telling you from the beginning.
• Jn 8:26 – I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him."
• Jn 9:37 – Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you."
• Jn 18:20 – Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret.

Jesus’ reference to the time of His speech

• Present

  • “Truly, truly, I say to you”
    • Jn 1:51 – And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
    • Jn 3:3 – Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."
    • Jn 3:5 – Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
    • Jn 3:7 – Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'
    • Jn 5:19 – 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.
    • Jn 5:24 – Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
    • Jn 5:25 – "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
    • Jn 6:26 – Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.
    • Jn 6:32 – Jesus then said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
    • Jn 6:47 – Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.
    • Jn 6:53 – So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
    • Jn 8:34 – Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.
    • Jn 8:51 – Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death."
    • Jn 8:58 – Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am."
    • Jn 10:1 – "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber.
    • Jn 10:7 – So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
    • Jn 12:24 – Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
    • Jn 13:16 – Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
    • Jn 13:20 – Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me."
    • Jn 13:21 – After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, "Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me."
    • Jn 13:38 – Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.
    • Jn 14:12 – "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
    • Jn 16:20 – Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.
    • Jn 16:23 – In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.
    • Jn 21:18 – Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go."
  • “I say to you”
    • Jn 4:35 – Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.
    • Jn 13:33 – Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, 'Where I am going you cannot come.'
    • Jn 16:7 – Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

• Past

  • Jn 6:65 – And he said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father."
  • Jn 8:24 – I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins."
  • Jn 13:33 – Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, 'Where I am going you cannot come.'
  • Jn 14:2 – In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
  • Jn 14:25 – "These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you.
  • Jn 15:3 – Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.
  • Jn 15:11 – These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
  • Jn 15:20 – Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
  • Jn 16:1 – "I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away.
  • Jn 16:4 – But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. "I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you.
  • Jn 16:6 – But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.
  • Jn 16:25 – "I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father.
  • Jn 16:33 – I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."
  • Jn 6:63 – It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
  • Jn 6:36 – But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.
  • Jn 14:28 – You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.
  • Jn 14:29 – And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe.
  • Jn 13:31 – When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
  • Jn 18:21 – Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said."

• Future

  • Jn 16:25 – "I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father.
  • Jn 14:30 – I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me,
  • Jn 16:12 – "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.

Jesus speaks about keeping His word

• Jn 8:31 – So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,
• Jn 8:51 – Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death."
• Jn 8:52 – The Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, 'If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.'
• Jn 14:23 – Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
• Jn 14:24 – Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.
• Jn 15:20 – Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
• Jn 12:47 – If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.
• Jn 12:48 – The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.
• Jn 13:34 – A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
• Jn 13:35 – By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Response to Jesus’ words

• Obedience
  • Jn 2:5 – His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."
  • Jn 2:7 – Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim.
  • Jn 2:8 – And he said to them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast." So they took it.
  • Jn 4:50 – Jesus said to him, "Go; your son will live." The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.
  • Jn 6:10 – Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number.
  • Jn 6:12 – And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, "Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost."
  • Jn 6:13 – So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten.
  • Jn 9:6 – Having said these things, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud
  • Jn 9:7 – and said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.
  • Jn 11:39 – Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days."
  • Jn 11:41 – So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me.
  • Jn 21:6 – He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.
  • Jn 21:10 – Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught."
  • Jn 21:11 – So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.
• Belief
  • Jn 2:22 – When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
  • Jn 4:41 – And many more believed because of his word.
  • Jn 4:50 – Jesus said to him, "Go; your son will live." The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.
  • Jn 7:40 – When they heard these words, some of the people said, "This really is the Prophet."
  • Jn 8:30 – As he was saying these things, many believed in him.
• Unbelief
  • Jn 3:12 – If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
  • Jn 5:47 – But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?"
  • Jn 6:60 – When many of his disciples heard it, they said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?"
  • Jn 6:61 – But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, "Do you take offense at this?
  • Jn 10:25 – Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me,
  • Jn 12:38 – so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: "Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"
  • Jn 12:39 – Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said,
• Seeking to kill Jesus
  • Jn 8:37 – I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you.
• Not hearing
  • Jn 8:43 – Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.
  • Jn 8:47 – Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God."
  • Jn 12:48 – The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.
• Hearing
  • Jn 10:16 – And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
  • Jn 10:27 – My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
• Division
  • Jn 10:19 – There was again a division among the Jews because of these words.
• Not keeping
  • Jn 12:47 – If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.

The author’s explanation of or comment on Jesus’ words

• Jn 2:21 – But he was speaking about the temple of his body.
• Jn 7:39 – Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
• Jn 8:20 – These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.Jn 8:27 – They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father.
• Jn 10:6 – This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
• Jn 11:13 – Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep.
• Jn 12:33 – He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
• Jn 13:11 – For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, "Not all of you are clean."
• Jn 18:9 – This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: "Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one."
• Jn 18:32 – This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
• Jn 21:19 – (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, "Follow me."
• Jn 21:23 – So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?"

• Jn 6:65 – And he said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father."
• Jn 13:18 – I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, 'He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.'
• Jn 16:15 – All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Remembering Jesus’ word

• Jn 2:22 – When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
• Jn 14:26 – But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
• Jn 15:20 – Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
• Jn 16:4 – But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. "I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you.

Jesus’ prediction and its fulfillment

• Jn 13:19 – I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he.
• Jn 14:29 – And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe.
• Jn 15:20 – Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
• Jn 16:4 – But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. "I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you.
• Jn 18:9 – This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: "Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one."
• Jn 18:32 – This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

Misunderstanding or incomprehension of Jesus’ words

• The temple of His body (Jn 2:19-21)
• Rebirth (Jn 3:4, 9, 10)
• Living water (Jn 4:11, 15)
• The Bread of Life (Jn 6:41-42, 51-52)
• Jesus’ departure (Jn 7:33-36; 8:21, 22; 13:36-37; 14:4-5; 16:16-19)
• Jesus’ Father (Jn 8:18-19, 26-27, 42-43)
• Freedom (Jn 8:32-33)
• Jesus’ word and identity (Jn 8:51-53, 56-57)
• Sight and blindness (Jn 9:39-40)
• The shepherd (Jn 10:6)
• Lazarus’ death (Jn 11:11-13)
• Lazarus’ resurrection (Jn 11:23-24)
• Judas (Jn 13:27-29)
• Truth (Jn 18:37-38)
• The disciple whom Jesus loved (Jn 21:20-23)

Jesus did signs through His words

• Turning water to wine (Jn 2:5, 7-8)
• Healing the official’s son (Jn 4:50)
• Healing the man born blind (Jn 9:7)
• Raising Lazarus (Jn 11:43-44)
• Making His arrestors fall to the ground (Jn 18:6)
• A great catch of fish (Jn 21:6)