This is the first in a short series of reflections on the Gospel of John prompted by the Meet Jesus campaign. I hope to remind us of old truths, perhaps prompt some new thoughts, but above all stimulate us to read and preach this wonderful part of God’s word.
Here are five reasons to read John’s Gospel for your consideration.
It Is the Word of God
Paul reminds us that all Scripture is God breathed and useful for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16). When we read John’s Gospel, we should read with great expectations that by the Spirit the Lord will have his way with us through his word.
There are some hints in the gospel that suggests John was self-consciously writing Scripture. At the very end of the gospel, John refers to his work by saying ‘these things are written’ (Jn 20:31). He uses the same phrase to refer to sections of the Old Testament. John records Jesus’ teaching about the work of the Spirit guiding his disciples into all truth and teaching and reminding them of all he has taught (Jn 14:25, 16:12–15). In John 19:35 there is a testimony to the truthfulness of the witness of the disciple we assume was behind the gospel.
John insists that his account is a trustworthy one, an authoritative one. It comes from the disciple whom Jesus loved (Jn 13:20–24): one of the ones whom Jesus chose to walk with him (Jn 6:70), one of those whom Jesus loved to the end (Jn 13:1) and one of those to whom Jesus made known his plans (Jn 15:15).
We should gratefully receive this Gospel as the inspired word of God.
Its Focus on the Person and Work of Jesus
John is rightly known for its clarity in pointing to Jesus. From the very first verse we are left in no doubt that Jesus is the divine Son, sent from God, sharing the nature of God. He reveals his divine identity in his signs, in his authoritative speech to others, and in his claims about himself (Jn 10:37–38).
This makes it an ideal gospel to introduce people to Jesus. In chapters 1 to 4 John introduces who Jesus is, showing by word and deed the claims he is making about himself. Then in chapter 5 to 12 these claims are all disputed and tested as Jesus’ opponents come at him. All the while the question is put to us, the readers: who do we think Jesus is?
John does more than introduce us to the person of Jesus, he also teaches us about his work. He will reveal God and he will bear the sins of the world as he dies as the Lamb of God (Jn 1:29).
This is an ideal book of the Bible to read with people investigating the Christian faith.
It Shows Jesus Is the Key to Knowing God
Jesus helps us to understand the greatest questions that humanity has asked: is there a God? If there is what is he like? John assumes, rather than seeks to prove, the existence of God. But he makes the astounding claim that it is Jesus who makes God known. Jesus expounds God; he explains God in detail.
Jesus makes God known because he shares the divine glory (1:14), the divine identity. He reveals the wonderful truth that God is to be known as Father. Jesus is the Son and by grace we also become children of God, with the privilege of knowing God and calling him Father (Jn 1:13; 20:17). Jesus makes known the great love the Father has for the world and especially for his children (Jn 3:16; 15:12).
It Gives a Complementary Perspective to the Other Gospels
Some people feel uncomfortable that John’s Gospel appears to be so different to the other three Gospels. It records different stories about Jesus, it has no real parables, it records Jesus involved in long conversations. The chronology even seems different in places. The theology also seems different, especially with its more up-front Christology.
There is an ancient conversation recorded concerning the Gospel. The story goes that John, knowing the other Gospels, composed a ‘spiritual’ gospel in contrast to the more earth-bound narrative of Matthew, Mark and Luke. This way of characterising the nature of the Fourth Gospel is both true and misleading. The other Gospels are just as spiritual; all three present a Jesus who divine and extraordinary. Moreover John is also firmly rooted on earth: with accounts of specific people and geographical locations. John provides a portrait of Jesus in his humanity as well as his divinity. One of the problems people in the gospel face when confronted by the claims of Jesus is that he is all too human.
John appears to demonstrate awareness of the other gospel accounts. His gospel serves to supplement them with his reminisces. It is often said that there is nothing in this gospel that is not in the other gospels; it is just that John is speaking in a different key. Not to gloss over some genuine harmonisation difficulties, the more we read the more we see the points of agreement.
We should be grateful that we have four stories of Jesus and that the Spirit prompted John to provide his own eyewitness take. Our understanding of Jesus is richer for it.
It Explains the Relationship Between the Old and New Testaments
Reading John helps us to understand the whole Bible. John 1:16 says from Jesus’ fullness we have received grace upon grace. The next verse develops this by saying that the law came through Moses and grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. The law through Moses was God’s gracious gift of revelation. Jesus tells his opponents that if they want to understand their Scriptures, they need to understand they point to him (Jn 5:39–40, 46–47). This is an extraordinary claim that is borne out on every page of John. Old Testament verses are quoted, alluded to, and echoed. John is pervaded with the sense that the grace of the Old Testament points to and foreshadows the grace and truth that comes through Jesus Christ.
