Happy 2023. Studying the Gospel of John is like relaxing in your home, with a nice Nespresso and lovely dinner and listening to podcasts with Jesus’ best buddy. The interviewer is leaving the discussion free formed and John, now very old, is expressing his thoughts about his friend (God) and hoping to somehow help everyone else to see how amazing Christ is and how ardently God wants to re-establish relationship with us!
John’s gospel diverged from Matthew’s push to establish the incontrovertible proof of Jesus as the Messiah through fulfillment of prophecy and alignment with God’s plan. He also diverged from Luke’s desire to include all peoples into the circle of believers by objectively reporting the facts from all sides. He diverged from Mark’s gritty “just the facts” approach to get the story out and dissuade false teachings of Jesus identity and deity!
John was reflecting on how absolutely overwhelming the life and ministry of Jesus was! Apart from Mary, Jesus’ mom, no one knew Jesus better than John! He was 1st in following, He was last in leaving (standing with Him at the cross), and John was the last of the apostles to report on the Savior’s life and love.
John wrote with purpose. His were theological and spiritual reflections gained from a life of love and service. As we start to absorb these reflections, let us do so remembering what John’s stated purpose was! the author made it clear in John 20:31, “That you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.” John’s Gospel is not a series of random stories or abstract theological ideas; it is a powerful presentation of the most glorious life ever lived. John chose the stories about Jesus that he believed would strengthen the faith of his Christian readers and would present the gospel message of salvation to unbelievers.
God Bless You
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In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and[b] is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
Walking With God 