John 1:1…

John 1:1…

The Gospel of John is different than the other three Gospels in almost every way.

It is topical, rather than chronological, and it has one intended purpose, (stated plainly by John in Chapter 20, verse 31): “these (things) 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.”

While Matthew focuses on Jesus as ‘The Lion of Judah,’ (Jesus as the long-promised Jewish Messiah,) Mark focuses on Jesus as ‘Servant to all.’ Luke presents Jesus as ‘The Son of Man.’ John, on the other hand, presents Jesus as ‘The Son of God.’

John’s Gospel is written to express the Deity of the Christ, the Son of God. Rather than follow Jesus chronologically through the days of His ministry life as the other gospels do, John presents Jesus performing seven miracles. (Eight, if you include Jesus’ resurrection – as I do.)

John informs us this is NOT to say Jesus only performed eight miracles. He pointedly informs us at the very end of his gospel there are so many OTHER things Jesus did, if he, (John,) were to attempt to write them all down one by one even the whole world could not contain all the books that would be written to contain all Jesus did. (John 21:25.)

John leaves out the birth and early life of Jesus, and we join Him at the inception of His ministry, as He is introduced to the world by John the Baptist.

But wait – before we get there, there is the little matter of how we all got here to deal with – and John does that also.

John begins his gospel with a full expression of Who Jesus is. The miracles John will take note of later only support his presentation of Jesus as God-in-flesh. (The ‘Incarnate God’ presented by Isaiah prophetically in Isaiah 7:14.) Isaiah said of Messiah, “the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” (‘Immanuel’ literally means ‘God-in-flesh, or God Incarnate.)

John clearly informs us Jesus’ entry into the world was by Divine plan. He was not born in the usual way. Though Jesus was born of woman, He was eternally pre-existent and responsible for all creation. Jesus, in fact, is God in human form. John knew this to be true and plainly communicated it to us.

-Pastor Bill