Post by foxjj on May 24, 2023 7:12:14 GMT
The Gospel According To John.
I became aquatinted with the Gospel of John many years ago while seeking spiritual truth. Upon prayerfully reading this inspired piece of Scripture my life was changed forever. Through reading John’s Gospel account I was introduced to The Jesus who was God in the flesh, who loved each one of us to the extent of laying down His life in order that you and I can have the opportunity of choosing to follow Him. Thereby we experience God’s love receiving forgiveness of sin, and assurance of knowing we will spend eternity with our God, as John 3:16 proclaims: “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.”
The Gospel of John can also read; The Good News according to John. The Apostle John has good news to share with all who will listen. John wants everyone to know God came to earth in the person of Jesus Christ, and that he, John, was an eyewitness to the event. John opens his message by introducing his subject - Jesus - as The Word, this is one of many Jewish ways of referring to God. He tells how Jesus existed before time began, creating the universe and all that it contains:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” - John 1:1-5 (NIV)
Been a close companion of Jesus, John recorded many of His teaching’s for our understanding of who Jesus claimed to be. One example was when the Samaritan woman spoke of Messiah and Jesus declared: “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” - John 4:26. John also wrote concerning the relationship between Jesus and The Father: “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.” - John 5:21-23.
John was also an eyewitness to the miracles that prove the Divinity of Jesus, such as the feeding of the five thousand, and giving sight to one born blind in chapter 9. Chapter 11 tells of the incredible resurrection of Lazarus, and the claim of Jesus when He spoke to Martha: “Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” - John 11:23-27 (NIV)
Among the teachings and claims of Jesus is the one where He proclaimed that He is The Good Shepherd, knowing Israel knew Yahweh as their Shepherd: “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father —and I lay down my life for the sheep.” - John 10:14-15. The following verse is a wonderful promise for you and I as Gentiles: “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”
Down through history there have been many false religions, along with false prophets deceiving their followers. Knowing false teachers would also come among believers in an attempt to lead them astray, Jesus made this profound statement: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.” - John 10:27-30.
Sadly false teachers, along with false churches have, and still do thrive. However, the truth of the Gospel also thrives because, Jesus promised The Holy Spirit would guide genuine believers when He said: “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.” - John 16:12-15 (NIV)
There is a difference between religion and genuine followers of Jesus Christ. We get an understanding of this crucial spiritual difference when we read of the conversation with Nicodemus: “Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” 4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” - John 3:3-8 (NIV)
On the night before He was crucified, Jesus Prayed for the disciples and all who would believe when He said: “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one — 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” - John 17:20-26 (NIV)
The Purpose of John’s Gospel is to share the good news that Jesus came among us revealing the love of The Father, and as Savior and Redeemer, personally offered the Supreme Atoning Sacrifice for sin on Calvary. The resurrection of The Lord Jesus is evidence that Our Heavenly Father has accepted His atoning sacrifice for sin, and is also proof of life after death for all who believe.
Today, let us give thanks for the good news of The Gospel.
John Joseph Fox.
I became aquatinted with the Gospel of John many years ago while seeking spiritual truth. Upon prayerfully reading this inspired piece of Scripture my life was changed forever. Through reading John’s Gospel account I was introduced to The Jesus who was God in the flesh, who loved each one of us to the extent of laying down His life in order that you and I can have the opportunity of choosing to follow Him. Thereby we experience God’s love receiving forgiveness of sin, and assurance of knowing we will spend eternity with our God, as John 3:16 proclaims: “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.”
The Gospel of John can also read; The Good News according to John. The Apostle John has good news to share with all who will listen. John wants everyone to know God came to earth in the person of Jesus Christ, and that he, John, was an eyewitness to the event. John opens his message by introducing his subject - Jesus - as The Word, this is one of many Jewish ways of referring to God. He tells how Jesus existed before time began, creating the universe and all that it contains:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” - John 1:1-5 (NIV)
Been a close companion of Jesus, John recorded many of His teaching’s for our understanding of who Jesus claimed to be. One example was when the Samaritan woman spoke of Messiah and Jesus declared: “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” - John 4:26. John also wrote concerning the relationship between Jesus and The Father: “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.” - John 5:21-23.
John was also an eyewitness to the miracles that prove the Divinity of Jesus, such as the feeding of the five thousand, and giving sight to one born blind in chapter 9. Chapter 11 tells of the incredible resurrection of Lazarus, and the claim of Jesus when He spoke to Martha: “Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” - John 11:23-27 (NIV)
Among the teachings and claims of Jesus is the one where He proclaimed that He is The Good Shepherd, knowing Israel knew Yahweh as their Shepherd: “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father —and I lay down my life for the sheep.” - John 10:14-15. The following verse is a wonderful promise for you and I as Gentiles: “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”
Down through history there have been many false religions, along with false prophets deceiving their followers. Knowing false teachers would also come among believers in an attempt to lead them astray, Jesus made this profound statement: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.” - John 10:27-30.
Sadly false teachers, along with false churches have, and still do thrive. However, the truth of the Gospel also thrives because, Jesus promised The Holy Spirit would guide genuine believers when He said: “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.” - John 16:12-15 (NIV)
There is a difference between religion and genuine followers of Jesus Christ. We get an understanding of this crucial spiritual difference when we read of the conversation with Nicodemus: “Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” 4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” - John 3:3-8 (NIV)
On the night before He was crucified, Jesus Prayed for the disciples and all who would believe when He said: “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one — 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” - John 17:20-26 (NIV)
The Purpose of John’s Gospel is to share the good news that Jesus came among us revealing the love of The Father, and as Savior and Redeemer, personally offered the Supreme Atoning Sacrifice for sin on Calvary. The resurrection of The Lord Jesus is evidence that Our Heavenly Father has accepted His atoning sacrifice for sin, and is also proof of life after death for all who believe.
Today, let us give thanks for the good news of The Gospel.
John Joseph Fox.
