John

Overview – November 2017 – Grace & Truth Magazine

John

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” —John 1:14 NKJV

John, meaning “Jehovah is gracious,” is a gospel unique in its majestic glory. Here the Lord Jesus is manifested as the Creator Himself, the eternal, only-begotten, unique Son of God, sent from the Father to fully reveal His glory. This is much more than authority, service or grace; it is the light and love of the eternal God. He, a divine Person, is here the Object of our adoring worship.

The gospel is not therefore synoptic (that is, providing a general view of the Lord’s life and works on earth), as are the other three. Rather, it draws special attention to His person and words as witnessed even by His enemies: “No man ever spoke like this Man!” (7:46).

The miracles and parables recorded in John also provide the clearest witness to His personal divine glory. It is here that we find those words from His lips, “Before Abraham was, I AM” (8:58). The seven “I AMs” of John’s gospel are well known (6:35, 8:12, 10:9, 10:11, 11:25, 14:6, 15:5). They speak of His divinity (Ex. 3:14).

The calm, noble dignity of the record of His crucifixion also surely draws our rapt, or deeply absorbed, attention. Seen there is the burnt offering character of His service (Lev. 1), the burning speaking of everything ascending as a sweet savor to God. The burnt offering was the sacrifice predominantly for God’s glory.

The sweet simplicity of the book gives it a wonderful drawing power for the most unintelligent, and yet its more hidden depths of meaning have awakened the genuine admiration of the most profound scholars.

By Leslie M. Grant

This column is taken from the book: “The Bible, Its 66 Books In Brief.”
It is available for purchase from Believers Bookshelf USA and Believers Bookshelf Canada.