True & Beautiful Things About the Bible--New Testamentনমুনা

The Gospel of John: The Way Home

In the beginning was the Word” (John 1:1). In an echo of Genesis 1:1, the Gospel of John begins here, because how else can you tell the true story of Jesus, except at the beginning of everything?

This Gospel was the last one written—after Matthew pointed back to the Old Testament, after Mark explored Jesus’ miracles, after Luke shared stories. Those were necessary, important Gospels, but in these decades since John walked beside Jesus, some doubters had twisted the facts and said Yes, Jesus was God, but He wasn’t man and others argued, Yes, He was man, but not God.

So John wrote this final Gospel from a higher vantage point, beginning with how God, the Word, became flesh (1:14) and He lived beside us. John stated clearly: “These are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and by believing, have life in His name.” (20:31)

By believing you may have life in His name. John wrote his gospel to show the way to life. Following Jesus was the way home.

John, too, would soon be on his way home. An old, old man, he had lived decades longer than any of Jesus’ other disciples. In his memory, John traveled with them still. Back, back when he was a young man. A strong man—thunderous, Jesus called him. He closed his eyes, and he was there, with them again.

There again on the shore of the lake with his brother, James, and their dad.

There on the trail with the disciples and the women.

There in the temple with Caiaphas and the accusers.

It’s been 60 years, but John was still there, standing beside Jesus. He had been with God. God had stood with him. How could he forget?

. . . The wine that moments before had been water. He could still taste it.

. . . The aroma when Mary’s burial perfume filled the room. He could still smell it.

. . . Jesus’ voice. Sometimes John thinks he still hears His beautiful voice.

But it was more than what Jesus did that John remembered. It was who He said He was.

I am the light of the world (8:12) . . . I am the door (10:9) . . . I am the way (14:6)

More clearly than any other book, the Gospel of John points us to Jesus as God—the Way, the Truth, and the Life. (14:6) Follow Him today and all the way home.

Next: When they turned the world upside down