The Purpose of John’s Gospel
Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written 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 20:30-31 NIV
I’ve been following a whatsapp group for reading 1 chapter of the New Testament each day for about a month now. I started about four months late, so while the rest of the group have reached Collosians, I was still busy reading a few chapters a day beginning with Matthew.
I’ve been trying to regularly read the Bible following a one year plan, but alway stopped in the middle and now since I’m doing it with a group of people, there’s more urgency in completing the reading (especially when you fall sooo far behind, hehe).
One thing I experience as I read the 4 Gospels Books in sequence and all together in a short time is I was able to perceive more complete pictures of when Jesus was here on the earth. Comparing the same event written in different books makes me understand more of the story from different perspectives. I could grasp the more feelings, gestures and meaning from different people; from the people around Jesus, from the disciples and from Jesus Himself.
There are so many questions raised as I read along, and so many thoughts came to my mind, so many footnotes I wanted to make – hence this blog. And i hope to capture them, not to forget the small but precious openings of minds
Last night as I was almost finishing the book of John, I stumbled on this part, standing alone with the title: the purpose of Johnś Gospel. I wonder why the author put this at the end of his book, but I find the message in itś simple and short passages very strong.
¨these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.¨
How simple and yet a strong statement. These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.
These are done so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.
These are spoken, these are given, these are given, so that you know Jesus and all the power in Him as the Son of God, and when you believe in Him you have the eternal life in His name.
This one simple sentence has actually been our own statement in doing everything in our lives. When we speak, when we act, when we give, when we raise children, when we work, when we connect with others. Such a longing, such a goal that we might make it known for others, the most beautiful, the highest grace that we have already owned.
But in reality, it’s not so simple to be simple. The idea of the Gospels – and that is Jesus Christ is the saviour – might sound too blunt, too straightforward, or even too cliche to state. Once someone is born again, we often think that, yes Jesus is my Saviour. I’ve acknowledged that in front of God and men, and to myself. I have accepted Him as my personal Saviour. But thatś all about it, we need to move from the core and go to what is a more detailed and often complicated part. We have our everyday lives that are full of targets, obligations, and routines, that we hardly look into the very first simple foundation that should be the base of our entire actions.
Even in my personal interaction with my next of kin, my husband, my children, the idea that what I convey may show them who is Christ and wish that they believe in Him and receive eternal life seems very dreamy and unrealistic.
While I have to work on the application, but I think it’s precious timing, this time. I never even have read this statement of purpose of the Gospels of John. This is my first time reading this as a part of a whole reading of the Gospel books. These Gospels serve a purpose. These many lines are laying on a foundation of love. These writings are not aimless. It has purpose, it has longing, it has a target.
I’d like to make this also as my purpose in writing this. Although I’m nowhere an apostle, I’m just a random housewife in the middle of nowhere, but I sincerely hope, that all my writings, serve the same purpose as the Gospel of John. That you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
