If you were to write a review of the Gospel of John what would you say? Would you write that it is life changing? Would you describe the characters as authentic and easily relatable? Would you recommend it to a friend? Do you have a favorite verse or chapter?
The start of John begins with the declaration that the protagonist of the book is Jesus and the author declares that Jesus is God. From verse one we see that Jesus is the Creator, He is the Word, He is Life and the Light. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:1-5).
If one could sum up the book of John in a single verse, it would be found in John 20:31 “…but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” What one does with Jesus is of utmost importance.
The key word in the book is “believe” and is found almost 100 times. Πιστεύω, pisteúō, is a verb, meaning “to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in”. As we read through the book of John, we are confronted with the Truth and in this confrontation must make a choice, to believe in Jesus or reject Him. Just as Pilate asked the Jews, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?”, we also must decide what we will do when face to face with Jesus.
Have you been persuaded, have you placed your confidence in Jesus?
We as a church have journeyed through the book of John since September 2017 and have looked intently into the life of Jesus. The question remains, what will do with Jesus? Will you have this man rule over you or will you suppress the Truth in unrighteousness.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” Romans 1:16-20