Gospel of John
The purpose of the gospel of John is twofold: first, as to salvation, directing the ones seeking a relationship with God; and secondly, as to discipleship, instructing the true followers of Jesus in how to enjoy life in the truest sense. Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe[a] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:30-31. Our study will look at seven signs in this book that direct our attention to Jesus. This is the message of a second birth – being born again – how to become children of God, now seeing God who is unseen, but now seen incarnate in Jesus. What was not known is now known.
Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and[a] is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. John 1:16-18.
The Three Great Reveals in the Bible:
- That the purposes of God in Israel were to lead to Jesus. Mere historians who study the events of the two centuries BC can seen events as random and without purpose. Not so. God put Israel out that as a test case, as a showpiece of His grace. So while the law was given through Moses, to measure one who followed God’s instructions, it had a redemptive future purpose, and this was in the Messian, in Jesus. Christianity is at its outset Jewish. The Old Testament finished in the New Testament.
- Jesus is the Revelation of God Finished. While we see the beginning of the purposes of God in the Old Testament, and grace from the garden of Eden on, Grace and Truth were finished in Jesus, who is the fullness of God revealed. Without Jesus and the New Testament story, there would be no final meaning to the nation of Israel, the promises of the Old Testament, the clarion calls of the Prophets, the hope of Joseph and Job as they believed that in the end, they would see their Redeemer.
- Jesus was and is God. It is the message of Jesus that shines the light into darkness, that is born again, that is the full measure of truth and grace through Jesus.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3;16-17.
What better way to turn this season of holidays into thanksgiving? For all the things we are thankful for, life, health, family, friends, now also how to know and be children of God, saved with an eternal destiny as sure as the message of Jesus. Stay well this week.
