Many reasons could be given as to why John wrote his gospel. One reason was in order that sinners might be saved. “These things are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and believing ye might have life through His name.”
As we read the gospel, we must keep three things before us:
1) The glory of His person. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.”
2) The greatness of His power. “All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that has been made.”
3) The grace of His presence. “The Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us.
In Matthew’s gospel, we see the dignity of the king; in Mark, we see the diligence of the servant; in Luke, the dependence of the man; and in John, the devotion of the Son. Matthew tells why He came. “Think not that I am come to destroy the law and the prophets. I came not to destroy but to fulfill” (Mt 5:17). In Mark 10:45 we are told why Christ came: “… came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Luke 19:10 tells us, “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which is lost.” When we come to John’s gospel, we see Him declaring the Father. “No man had seen God at anytime. The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him” (John 1:18). “He who knew the Father’s bosom as His dwelling place, now the Father’s heart revealeth in His grace.
In John’s gospel, the Lord Jesus knows all things. He is above all, and He is before all. The ignorance of man runs throughout the gospel. “He was in the world. The world was made by Him. And the world knew Him not.” In John 21, the seven disciples knew Him not. In contrast, we see the knowledge of the Son of God. He knew all men, and He knew all things. Then He is above all. “He that is from above is above all.” Then He is before all. In John, He is before Abraham. “Before Abraham was I am.” He is before the world was. “The glory I had with Thee before the world was.”
It is important to notice that in John, the Lord does everything Himself. For example, who raised Christ from the dead? We know He was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father. He was raised from the dead by the mighty power of God. He was put to death in the flesh, and quickened by the Spirit. But when we come to John’s gospel, we notice that Christ raises Himself from the dead. “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it.” The four gospels speak to us of the colt that was found. In the first three gospels the Lord Jesus sends two disciples to find the colt and bring it to Him. But in John 12, we read that Jesus found the colt. In the other gospels, Simon is compelled to bear the cross after Jesus. But in John, Jesus went forth bearing the cross for Himself. In Matthew, the Lord does not leave earth. “Lo I am with you always even unto the end of the age.” In Mark and Luke and the Acts, we see Him “taken up,” “carried up,” and “received up.” But in John, He ascends in His own power. “I ascend unto My Father and your Father and to My God and your God.”
Another line of truth to keep before us in John, is the words of the Lord’s mother: “Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it.” The secret to any life is obeying these words:
“Whatsoever” – variety.
“He saith ” – authority;
“Unto you,” – individuality;
“Do it” – responsibility.
Sometimes the Lord will say simple things as He did at the wedding. “Fill the water pots with water.” Notice the outcome through doing the simple things in life. “The Son of God glorified,” the need of the wedding met, and the disciples believed on Him. Then we have the funeral in John 11. We need Him at the wedding. We need Him at the grave side. Those words of the Lord to Martha that day were strange words. “Roll away the stone.” Martha said, “Lord by this time he stinketh.” But the words of the Lord’s mother must be obeyed. “Whatsoever he saith to thee, do it.” And we see God was glorified, Lazarus was raised from the dead, the sorrowing were comforted, and the Jews believed on Him, because they did what they were told. In John 21 we have seven disciples. Three are well known, two less known, and two unknown. It is night; they are naked; they have nets, and they have nothing. It pictures a backsliding condition. The words of the master must have startled them. “Cast the net on the right side of the ship.” They did as commanded, and the outcome was an hundred fifty and three great fishes. They were counted on the shore. “Thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my Lord the king shall appoint.”
