John: The Gospel of Light and Life

by Adam Hamilton

The Gospel of John is the most deeply spiritual of the four gospels. This writing is filled with rich images and profound truths, but John notes that his aim in writing the gospel is that readers will not only believe in Jesus Christ, but that they “may have life in his name.” Adults, youth, and children alike can experience a season of spiritual growth and life-changing renewal in Adam Hamilton’s six-week, DVD-series, The Gospel of Light and Life. You’ll follow the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus through the Gospel of John and understand the context of some of the best-known verses in the New Testament. Everything you need to lead small groups of all ages is available for this special study including the entire Gospel of John in the CEB translation printed in the book.

Genres: Nonfiction, Faith, Christian, Christianity, Religion, Theology, Church

186 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 15, 2015

About the author

Rev. Adam Hamilton is the founding pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas. He grew up in the Kansas City area. He earned a B.A. degree in Pastoral Ministry from Oral Roberts University and a Master of Divinity Degree from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University.

The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection has grown from four people in 1990 to more than 16,000 adult members with an average weekly worship attendance of more than 8,600 in 2011. The church was listed as the most influential mainline church in America in a 2005 survey of American pastors.

Adam has been married 30 years to LaVon. They have two grown daughters.

Reviews

[Paul Waibel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Gospel of John is often given to new Christians to read because its central message is the divinity of Jesus Christ. It is often given to unbelievers for the same reason. Many have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior after reading John’s Gospel.

Adam Hamilton’s JOHN: THE GOSPEL OF LIGHT AND LIFE (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2016) is an exposition of the Gospel of John for both the Christian layperson in search of a better understanding of John’s Gospel and the non-Christian seeking to know more about the Christian faith and the person and work of Jesus Christ upon which that faith is built. It is not a commentary. It is not a ponderous scholarly study intended for the seminary student.

Because the book is about John’s Gospel and its central theme, “the identity and meaning of Jesus,” Hamilton includes the entire Gospel of John from the Common English Bible. Thus one can read the Gospel along with Hamilton’s guide to its major themes. The study is divided into six chapters, each of which is followed by a portion of the Gospel. Hamilton notes in his introduction that the book is suited for small group study. If used for a small group study, a DVD is available for purchase, as well as a paperback guide for the small group leader.

As fallen creatures we live in darkness until that darkness is pierced by the light of the Gospel. The light brings life both now and beyond physical death, for the darkness cannot overcome the light. The life of the believer is lived in the light that is the Word, the Word that was in the beginning, was with God, and was God. The born-again follower of Jesus Christ lives knowing, as Hamilton puts it, that “Death is just a period at the end of a sentence before a new sentence begins.”

Hamilton points out that John’s Gospel should not be read as though it were some sort of mini biography. The emphasis is on the “meaning—the spiritual significance” of the events in Jesus’ life and the words he spoke. It must be read at two levels, even allegorically at times.

On one level the account of the various miracles performed by Jesus are related in a straightforward manner. They tell us that water was turned into wine, that a blind man was made to see, or that a lame man was made to walk. On a deeper level they answer the questions that confront all of us: Who is this man Jesus? How does he affect my life? What is required of me? We are compelled to answer the question that Jesus asked of his disciples in Matthew 16:13-17: “But who do you say that I am?” It is the most important question that must and will be answered by every human being.

Here and there Hamilton points out interesting insights that otherwise might go unnoticed. One example is John’s mention that when Jesus was on the cross the soldiers “affixed a sponge to a hyssop branch, dipped it in sour wine, and raised it to his lips.” Why does John include that little detail?

In suggesting an answer, Hamilton calls our attention to Exodus 12:21b-22a, Leviticus 14, Numbers 19, and Psalm 51:7 to help us understand the important symbolism of the hyssop branch. When we read those Old Testament passages in light of John 19:28-30, we are reminded that the Bible from Genesis through Revelation is a book about Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. He is the “second Adam” who came to restore what was ruined by the first Adam.

In John 10:10 Jesus says, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (KJV). Later John reminds us that for the Christian living a more abundant life does not mean a life of idle contemplation. At the end of his Gospel John again quotes Jesus: “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” (20:21). As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to serve, to witness, and yes, to suffer, always knowing that Jesus Christ stands on the other side of the Jordan with his arms open wide to welcome us home.

JOHN: THE GOSPEL OF LIGHT AND LIFE is the first book by Adam Hamilton that I have read. Having done, I will go on to read other titles by him.

[Bob Buice · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Gospel According to St. John is unique among the four gospels. In John: The Gospel of Light and Life, Adam Hamilton not only describes this uniqueness, but uses it to illustrate how the Synoptic Gospels emphasized Jesus’ humanity, while the Johannine Gospel stresses His divinity. Rev. Hamilton developed a series of very meaningful sermons from the fourth gospel; indicating that the Johanine gospel is permeated by two ideas – light and life. He explains that the synoptic Jesus speaks in parables and in a straightforward, plainspoken way, while the Johannine Jesus speaks in metaphors that are more obscure”.

Rev. Hamilton quite subtly introduces (but does not acknowledge) the well recognized concepts of Johannine dualism – “Jesus came to dispel the DARKNESS. He came to be the LIGHT for us”.… and Johannine mysticism- “As the Spirit remains in us, we remain in Christ.”

A number of meaningful differences between the Synoptic Gospels and the Johannine Gospel are not mentioned, but most are not relevant to Rev. Hamilton’s messages.

This work does, in fact, deliver a number of meaningful spiritual messages. My favorite quote form the book is, “Love is the essential fruit of our faith. It doesn’t matter how much you know, how correct your theology is, how much money you give; if you don’t practice love, you’ve missed the mark”.

I recommend this writing as a text for church classes.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This study is perfect for Lent and Easter time. I hadn’t thought too much before about how different John’s gospel is from the accounts of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The words he used and things he focused on were clearly intended to make us understand Jesus, his life, actions, death, and resurrection in another (perhaps deeper) way. I can better appreciate the connections John made to the Old Testament as well. Hamilton includes not just his own writing to guide the study, but also the full text of John’s gospel. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a good, basic introduction to the gospel of John.

[Al Gritten · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in conjunction with a Bible study that I facilitated on it. We also used the accompanying DVD, which I thought was not as good as some of his other DVD's. The book, though, is very good and is typical of what I have come to expect from Hamilton. It is generally solid theology with good historical and literary contextuality and tinged with his evangelical/charismatic background which gives it a little something extra. His discussions are frank, his questions are thought provoking and the addition of the text of John's gospel in CEB format after each chapter was a great idea.

[Shannon Butler · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my first Adam Hamilton bible study and I didn't love it if I'm being honest, and I'm always honest about books. I found it dry and rather boring. I'll admit, John isn't my favorite gospel. I much prefer Luke (I am an enneagram 5 remember). John is very much about feelings. The only thing I really liked about this study was the group of amazing people I took it with, otherwise, I was ready to move on. My favorite quote from Hamilton, "Perhaps the single greatest form of slavery that many of us experience is our uncertainty that we are loved." This quote really resonated with me, even if sadly, the book did not.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I highly recommend reading this book. Hamilton talks about the Book of John and the differences pointed out vs. those in the Synoptic Gospels. This book makes more sense to me now - especially how it relates to Jesus as the "new" Adam and how Jesus came to repair the Garden that was lost in Eden. A lot of symbolism that unites Eden to the Resurrection of Christ and how Jesus is the way, truth, and life.
I would also recommend doing this study along with Adam Hamilton's "Moses...the Reluctant Prophet". A lot of parallels between the 2 studies.

[Philip Guzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pastor Hamilton explains and unwraps the difference in John's Gospel as compared with the three Synoptic Gospels. He also has you read the entire Gospel as he breaks it down. I had not read John's Gospel in its entirety in awhile and it was great to sit down and read it, along with Adam's reflections on it. . . It was a blessing!

[Ted Keen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I often enjoy how Adam Hamilton approaches the Bible and Christian faith because he does so in simple ways without being simplistic. One of the special things he does throughout this book is offer unique ways to connect the Gospel of John to stories and themes found elsewhere in the Bible. A good, short book.

[Bobbe · Rating 4 out of 5]

An insightful and concise look into my favorite gospel--the book of John. Adam Hamilton does a good job of pointing out things only the gospel writer of John has noted--and considerations about why. In addition, by reading this short book, you'll also read the entire gospel of John, always illuminating.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is a much lighter read than I was expecting. The author includes the whole book of John which leaves him less room for reflection on the Gospel. I enjoyed his insights and wish there were more of them.

[Rhonda Wise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a decent study of the Gospel of Mark. Dr. Hamilton has many good points. I do not agree entirely with all of them, but that is just quibbling. All in all, it is well researched, well written and thought provoking (in a good way).

[Gilbert C. Hanke · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you need closure, and hope, this book is for you.

This book is unique, in that the text is surrounded by the Gospel of John. This arrangement keeps the reader engaged in both, at the same time.
For me, it brought an understanding and a peace.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been an amazing study and I really liked the fact that the Gospel of John was included in the book. This has been one of my favorite studies to teach.

[Rebecca Hundley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good study.

[Sherry Hession · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adam Hamilton discusses how the book of John is so different from the synoptic gospels and hypothesizes about why it is different.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about John Studied with church small group

[Susan Komandosky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book I read for a church Bible study. As with all of Adam Hamilton’s books I found it interesting and thought provoking.

[Madelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this for Lenten Bible Study. Very good study and learned so much more about the Gospel of John

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for a Bible study, this book helped me gain some understanding of John’s documentation of the life of Christ. I learned a lot

[Martha Bass · Rating 4 out of 5]

3rd ? Bible study book

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our study group enjoyed his writing, a perfect pre Easter book, with lots of meat

[Scoutmaster Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always terrific

Never disappointed in Hamilton's writing or sermons. He always ends on a hopeful note and is deeply inspiring. I've taught several of his books.

[Jeanne Modisett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read, not as detailed as I like but definitely inspirational.

[Kyle Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read from Adam Hamilton. It is obvious that he is knowledgeable on the subject, and he goes to great lengths to make sure the reader comes away with a better understanding of the book of John, including the ties to other areas of scripture, thematic elements, and symbolism found therein. Each chapter ends with a section of John, so that by the end of this book you have read the entire book of John.

This is not your usual commentary. Hamilton selects key verses to expand on that show the true nature of the book of John. We come to see that John's portrayal of Jesus is different than that of the other three gospels. Johns gospel is more like a spiritual or theological commentary on Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. Hamilton says that most scholars date the book of John to some time during the last two decades of the first century. By this time, all other disciples had been put to death. Only John remained, the last living witness among the first apostles. If this was the case, then John had spent a lifetime reflecting on the significance of Jesus.

There are six particular areas/topics that Hamilton chooses to discuss in this book:

1. The Prologue, the Word made flesh
2. Two of the Miraculous Signs
3. Two of the "I Am" sayings of Jesus
4. The Farewell Discourse - the words of Jesus at the Last Supper as he prepared the disciples for his death
5. The arrest, trial, and crucifixion
6. Resurrection and eternal life

This book is written to facilitate a small group study nicely, and there is even an optional DVD and leader guide, as well as a youth version. I would recommend this book to all Christians that are looking for a deeper understanding of the themes in John. I received this as a free ARC from Abingdon Press on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Brandon Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rev. Adam Hamilton tackles the tricky subject of the Gospel of John in his new book "John: The Gospel of Light and Life." If you've ever read the New Testament, you can tell that John is a totally different beast from the Synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. These gospels were primarily concerned with telling the biographical story of Jesus, while John, the last of the four to be written (90-110 CE), is more interested in telling you about the identity of Jesus. Some of the highest Christology in the NT is found in John.

Hamilton takes a look at most of John through 6 chapters, which makes the book ideal for use during Lent. He talks in great detail about the Prologue, The Miracles of Christ, the I AM sayings of Christ, the Farewell Discourse, the final hours of Christ's life, and then new hope in the resurrection. If you would like to use it in an adult Sunday School class or small group, there is also a leader's guide and DVD available, though I was less impressed with this DVD than I have been with some of Hamilton's other studies.

I've studied John quite a bit over the years, even though I usually prefer the more simplistic, earliest Gospel of Mark. I was familiar with a lot of the structure, symbolism, and Christology apparent in John, but even I managed to learn a few things from Hamilton, who really is a master of explaining complex topics in simple terms. Both new and seasoned Christians can get a lot out of this study. The book also includes the entire Gospel of John from the Common English Bible.

[Genevieve Bergman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hamilton deals with higher thoughts

Adam Hamilton is approaching the Gospel of John in his typical manner. He finds the dominate themes he wants to speak to and uses a practical style to tie the facets together. At times he seems to swing into the margins, but only briefly. And he always comes back to the broader, middle path. When he treads the philosophical/theological depths, he brings a practical, real-life story to tie it together.

John is not an easy book to deal with. It is deeply theological. It also deviates from the other gospel narratives, causing some to question its role as a narrative. Hamilton doesn't try to answer any of these. Instead, he takes it in stride and works the difficulties of the Gospel into his interpretation.

The 3 star rating reflects only that I don't agree with his conclusions. Consider the rating a caution. If you are a Hamilton fan or follower, then you may give it a higher rating.

[Maggie Boyd · Rating 1 out of 5]

Choosing one of the less scholarly renditions of the bible and working from that, Mr. Hamilton glosses over the account of John, rendering little insight to the book and utilizing almost no scholarship. He often references inaccuracies which have been dealt with, seems to have almost no understanding of the Greek in which the gospel was written and offers poetic/symbolic imagery which can be interesting and entertaining but miss the point of what is actually occurring. I read three books and numerous articles while studying John and I found this to be less useful than commentaries available for free on the internet.

[Jennifer Eckel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Via NetGalley: Hamilton writes a great and simple study of the Gospel of John. The commentary is aimed at the layperson, and this was my Lenten read of 2016. As an Episcopalian, I was amazed at what I knew. Yes, those "I am" sayings do mean something. That made me happy to realize I knew more than I knew, but I learned something in this read. I did gain a deeper understanding of this oh so mysterious non-Synoptic Gospel. I do find that I wished Hamilton had used a more complex translation of the Bible. I quibble with the CEB, but this is a book for the layperson.

[Patty Corwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this for a church class for Lent. Very detailed analysis of John's words regarding Jesus as The Christ. I wish I had read this last year when BSF studied John, for it gave further insights that would have been extremely relevant. Adam Hamilton's books are always clear and easy to understand.

Reread for another class at church. Same opinions.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new look at John

Hamilton interpreted the metaphors and possible meanings of John's Gospel. He examines the differences with the other Gospels and what those differences might mean. And finally challenges us to live restoring the garden, bringing in God's Kingdom.