The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in Him you will have life by the power of His name.
John 20:30-31
I trust having followed the Bible Gems for 118 days that you understand the depth of this verse now. You now know clearly that John has written his gospel around the theme of continuing to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of God and that by believing you have the life of the age to come through Him. Interesting isn’t it that John states clearly his purpose for writing the book. But even though it is so clear I am sure many of us miss it. Or certainly don’t imagine that his theme is so comprehensively woven into the gospel on every page. Note also his comment in verse 30, “the disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book”. By inference there was lots of material that John omitted in his attempt to elaborate on his theme. Not only that, but he has ordered the accepted, standard elements of Jesus’ story ín order to make his point even more forcefully.
John frequently has material that the other gospel writers don’t include and he orders his material in very different ways. Remember that John describes himself as “the disciple that Jesus loved”. Because of that fact John was made privy to many experiences that the other disciples didn’t experience. He was in the inner circle – Peter, James and John. Jesus often selected these three on special occasions like the Transfiguration. John was obviously privileged to be especially close to the Lord and hear things that others didn’t hear. But his comment in verse 30 is in the context of all the disciples. There were many other things they all witnessed that were not recorded. John has carefully selected the elements he has written in his gospel to emphasize his theme. Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God, indeed He is God himself who tabernacled on earth. If we enter into on-going believing relationship with Him we have eternal life now and the consummation thereof in the last day.
I hope now when you read the Gospel of John that you will see it through new eyes because we have been walking together through the Gems scattered throughout John’s Gospel. My Greek professor who I have introduced you to vicariously through the gems told me a while ago that he had spent five years studying John’s Gospel. After those five years focused on John he then said he wanted to spend the next three years studying John Chapter 1. Following three years on John Chapter 1 Prof Brown then told me he was spending the next years on John’s prologue. (John 1:1-18) Hang on a minute, he has spent five years on John’s Gospel, a further three years on Chapter 1 and then he spent 2 years on John’s Prologue. Yes, that is how deep the Word of God is. You will never fully plumb its depth no matter how long you live. That’s why many Bible scholars specialise more and more. with increasing depth
Now go dig for yourself.
Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.
Regina Brett
Ignorance might be bliss to you, but it’s agony to everyone around you.
Anon
You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.
Scott R Jones