The Bible Is for You: 5 Days in the New TestamentНамуна

The Gospel of John

My college roommate knew a family growing up who had four sons. The four sons were named Matthew, Mark, Luke . . . and Roy. Roy, as luck would have it, was a family name.

It’s one of my favorite anecdotes to share when a conversation turns to “unconventional name” stories. But today it got me thinking, What if the canon of Scripture only contained Matthew, Mark, and Luke? (Sorry, Roy.) Would three Gospels be enough? What would we be missing if John had not given us his Gospel account?

For starters, John’s Gospel is roughly ninety percent new content that we wouldn’t otherwise have. Rather than highlighting miracles, parables, and sermons like the other guys, John zeroes in on the identity of Jesus—specifically that He is the Son of God. In fact, John’s opening line spells it out: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).

From there, John recounts a series of Jesus’s interactions with the people who declared, doubted, or denied that He was God. It’s an honest look at humans reconciling with the reality of God in the flesh, right there with them. Nicodemus, Mary Magdalene, the woman at the well, and even Judas—people were getting it right and wrong and everything in between. And Jesus—who is, in fact, God—was so kind and patient.

My favorite example of this is Peter’s restoration. Jesus loved Peter. He knew all that was and would be of Peter’s life, and still, Jesus chose Peter to walk closely with Him. He washed Peter’s feet and predicted that Peter would deny Him (John 13).

That very night, while Jesus was on trial for His life, Peter indeed denied knowing Him at all (John 18). It always hurts to read this part of the story, but it makes the ending of John’s Gospel all the sweeter. In the final chapter, after the resurrected Jesus cooks breakfast for His disciples, He pulls Peter aside. In this holy moment, Jesus doesn’t say, “Thanks for nothing, Peter!” or, “I knew you would bail when things got hard.” He simply asks, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” (John 21:15). Peter responds emphatically, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you” (John 21:17). And Jesus responds by inviting him again: Follow me.

Peter’s restoration and so many other true stories of our Savior in John’s Gospel demonstrate the unmistakable truth that Jesus is God, and He loves us even when we get it wrong. He knows all that was and will be about us, and yet He calls us to walk closely with Him. God sees our denials coming, and He pursues us, restores us, and invites us again to follow Him.

Where would we be without Jesus?