There is so much in this book of John [there’s much more that John did NOT include in this book - 21.25]. But again, my hope is that as we study through John together, that we will get a much clearer picture of Jesus. Get to know Him better together. Because when it comes to seeing Jesus, John had a front row seat. So my thought for today is, first let’s take a closer look at the guy who wrote this book.
John. Brother of James, son of Zebedee. A fisherman. Jesus called him a “Son of Thunder” (who with his older? brother wanted to call down fire on the Samaritans, Lk 9.54 [skadoosh]). One of “the three” who Jesus included on multiple occasions when the others were not (Raising the synagogue official’s daughter, Transfiguration, Gethsemane). His brother and he famously asked Jesus to give them [VIP front-row seats] in His kingdom. I’m thinking that was James idea. Cuz John clearly does not enjoy the spotlight. He never mentions himself in his book. Not once, not by name. He names most of the other disciples (7/11), but never himself. John apparently prefers the place of anonymity - even tho he is front and center from the very beginning. We see him show up repeatedly as “the other disciple”, and “the disciple who Jesus loved”.
The first time we spot John he is a disciple of John the Witness [1.35-37,40]. Turns out John is one of the first two to follow Jesus. So his book is a first-rate first-hand account. Everything we read in John’s book is eyewitness testimony. He was there, he does have a front row seat. [1.41] Interestingly, Andrew, the other first disciple, goes and gets his brother, Simon BarJonas (son of John), but there’s no mention of John going to get his (older?) brother, James.
But as best we can tell, from the moment he begins to follow Jesus, John is by Jesus’ side as much if not more than any other. Literally. The next time we clearly see him in his book is three years later, at the Last Supper, lying back on Jesus’ chest [13.23]. John’s affection for Jesus runs deep [Jesus is approachable, clearly fond of people - John gets this side of Jesus]. Later that same evening, when Jesus is arrested, all the disciples flee [Mt 26.56] - except two: Peter, who we know all about - and how that went for him; and this other disciple [18.15-17]. First-hand account. Peter is accused, and denies Jesus, and John just stays in the background, keeps his mouth shut.
But let’s not assume that John is fearful. John looks like he’s the only apostle who stays by Jesus all thru His arrest and execution - without denying Him. John IS the only apostle we see at the Crucifixion [19.26-27]. First-hand account. And as it turns out, hanging there dying, Jesus entrusts the care of His earthly mother not to her other sons, as would be the normal custom, but to John, this disciple who He so loved. Front row seat. First-hand account.
On the third day, Mary brings word of the empty tomb to Peter and the “other disciple” [20.1-8]. John then runs ahead of Peter to see the empty tomb (even tho he doesn't enter right away - Peter does that). First-hand account. Then later some of the disciples go fishing [21.1-3]. The now-resurrected Jesus shows up on the shore, tells them specifically to try the right side of the boat [21.4-6] and who recognizes Him first? John, but he doesn’t dive in the water after Him [21.7]. Who does dive right in? Peter. Still later, when Jesus is exhorting Peter to follow Me and tend My sheep, who is there, following behind (at some distance)[21.20]? John. Front row seat. Devoted follower. And first-hand account after first-hand account.
John definitely does not enjoy the limelight, he hangs back a bit sometimes - altho clearly not for lack of speed. He rarely says anything. John’s only recorded spoken words in his entire book are the one line to Jesus [Last Supper] and the one to Peter [fishing]. John does show up with Peter a lot. Unlike Peter, John thinks before he leaps. Stays out of the limelight. After his brother, James, is martyred in Acts 8 we never see John again - until (decades later) he writes his 3 letters and this book, this first-hand account, and then Revelation. Think about this: John calls himself the “disciple who Jesus loved” (13.23). He never calls himself the disciple who loves Jesus. That’s not his idiom. But I think his self-titled persona - [The disciple who Jesus loved] - is a reflection of HIS extreme love for his Lord. John knew Jesus so loved him. He watched Jesus wash his feet - he’s the only one who records the footwashing [ch 13]. Check out what John records as the intro to that occasion [13.1]. Peter on that occasion of course famously sticks his unwashed foot in his mouth. But John’s just soaking it all in. John knows that Jesus loves him. Beloved witness. First-hand account.
So John, this one-time disciple of John the Witness, and first one to follow the One Who was the true Lamb of God, Messiah, the only begotten Son of God, now he is writing as a witness of all these things that Jesus said and did [21.24]. And he’s not even coming close to covering them all! There's SO much more John could tell us about Jesus. But make no mistake - John is a witness. He is THE first-hand witness. Front row seat for all of it! And we know (the royal we - John includes himself), we ALL know that what this witness is saying - is true.
And why is John writing this book? Most believing commentators have this book being written towards the end of John’s life. Which was near the end of the first century AD. Some 40-60 years after Jesus ascended back to heaven. By this time, the church has been planted in many places. But John is the sole survivor. His brother was the first martyr. All the other apostles have been executed for their faith in Jesus. Most have been dead for years? John is the sole surviving apostolic witness of the life and death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And John tells us explicitly why he is taking the time after all these years to write down all these things that Jesus did [20.30-31]: so that, in order that, you all, all of us, will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. You, my readers, none of you saw any of these things. But I had a front-row seat for all of it… And you need to know - so that you can believe too…
In this respect those of us who fall into this category of “did-not-see” have the opportunity for a special blessing [20.27-29]. Happy are those who believe even tho they didn’t see, who believe with Thomas and John that Jesus is Lord and God. THAT is why John is writing this book - his purpose - and it’s a powerful purpose: so that, in order that you should believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. The verb tense there is aorist subjunctive. “So that you should believe”. But the aorist subjunctive is very close to the future indicative, or future fact. The language of future certainty. There’s more certainty here than the English translation suggests. "So that you WILL believe". John is fairly certain that the one who reads his book, his first-hand account, with an open mind WILL believe. AND will have life, with Jesus, forever. He/she/you and I will join the happy assembly of those who have been persuaded and have trusted that Jesus really is Who He says He is. That His Words are true. That He is really out-of-this-world amazing. That He really does love us. He really does love you. And He really did do all these signs, all these things that prove Who He claims to be. And He wants us to be with Him forever.
Starting next week, we’ll begin digging deeper into all that John lays before us in his book, this first-hand account of the life of Jesus.
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