A Personal Gospel
The Gospel of John is special in so many ways. It is the
most personal. The disciple Jesus loved (the Apostle John) recorded his
divinely inspired memories about the special moments when he walked and talked
with the Creator, the Savior, his Friend. It is a special gift to get to think
of the ministry of Jesus through his viewpoint.
This humble approach to the accounts of Christ's life
invites us all to realize that we are also so beloved of the Lord, though this
is very difficult to bring home to our faith at times. After all, how can we
personalize something that happened to someone else thousands of years ago? How
could we also be in view in any way?
Yet John 17 records the prayer of Jesus Christ, and that
very prayer includes everyone who would believe.
““I do not pray for these alone,
but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;” (John 17:20
NKJV)
As the wonderful classic statement goes: He loves each of
us as if there were only one of us to love.
It is something that merits constant consideration in our
lives.
The Love of Christ on Display
The accounts that show the love of Christ are so clear in
the Gospel of John. There are showing accounts and telling accounts. Showing
accounts like the woman at the well (John 4), the healing of the man born blind
(John 9), and compassion upon the crowds all show a love from Jesus Christ that
is both general (for all as a group) and very personal.
The main purpose of these miracles was to show the deity of
Christ and the character of God, but it is not by accident that He chose to
reveal Himself by healing the sickness of individuals. He showed His character
by caring for those who were sinful, fallen, and despised by the religious
elites.
It is an absolute point of order that cannot be missed.
Jesus showed His individual love for every one of us by showing personal love
and care for the people who were around Him.
The Words of Christ
The telling times are even more clear and exciting. He tells
us that He is the Door (John 10:7–9), the Way (John 14:6), the Good Shepherd (John
10:11)—these are pictures of access and of the loving care of the God of the
universe.
A love that pursues us, a love that desires us to know Him,
a love that reaches out to redeem us from our terrible slavery. He gave every
clear indication that His loving pursuit of us was the purpose of the mission. He
certainly allowed people to reject Him. To walk away. He condemned them in
their sin. There is always the reality that He does not force His creatures to
receive Him. Yet these statements of offering salvation, access, and freedom in
His person and work are of never-ending encouragement and comfort for the
believer.
The Ultimate Show and Tell
The final "show and tell" happened at the cross.
The Lord Jesus Christ offered Himself as a payment for our sin. He was the One
who showed us His great love in life and continued to give great provision for
all of our sin—for all who believe are positioned in Him. Made one with Him—new
creations in Him. It is the love of God, so freely offered, to be received by
faith alone in Christ alone.
Life Through His Name
John tells us that these things were written "so that
you may believe and believing you may have life through His name." (John
20:31) This promise is important. Faith precedes the spiritual life—and that
life comes from faith and belief alone. Praise God for this clear and simple
verse. Do you want to know this kind of life? It is freely offered in Jesus
Christ, the Righteous One. Praise God for this wonderful truth.
John's Evangelistic Purpose
The Gospel of John is the only Gospel written with a purely
evangelistic purpose. He doesn't just wish to explain Jesus; John wants us to
meet Jesus. To know that our Shepherd, our Savior, our Vine is personal and
interested in us, and accessed by the simple act of faith in Him alone. (John
15:1–8)
No repentance, no works, no earning it, no showing it, no
baptism, no church membership needed. Just trust Jesus.
That is what ultimately brings us to the place that we need
to be.
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