JESUS IN THE BOOK OF JOHN
In the Book of John, Jesus is revealed not merely as a teacher or miracle worker, but as the eternal Son who stepped into time without surrendering His glory. From the opening lines, we are told that He already was—before creation, before history, before us—and that all things came into being through Him (John 1:1-3). This Jesus does not slowly become divine; He enters the world already full of grace and truth, light shining into darkness that cannot overcome it.
John presents Jesus speaking plainly about who He is. He calls Himself the Bread of Life who satisfies the deepest hunger of the soul (John 6:35). He names Himself the Light of the world, exposing darkness while guiding those who follow Him (John 8:12). He declares that He is the Good Shepherd who knows His sheep, lays down His life for them, and will not abandon them when danger comes (John 10:11). These are claims of identity, invitations to trust, and promises of life.
Again and again, Jesus speaks the sacred name—I AM—and applies it to Himself. He is the Resurrection and the Life, stronger than death and present even at the graveside (John 11:25). He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, not one option among many, but the only path to the Father (John 14:6). In John’s Gospel, Jesus does not leave room for casual admiration. He presses every listener toward belief, toward surrender, toward decision.
Yet this same majestic Christ kneels to wash feet. He weeps at the tomb of a friend. He welcomes the outcast, restores the fallen, and speaks gently to the confused. Glory and humility meet in Him. Power and compassion are never separated. In the upper room, He speaks of love as a command, not a suggestion—calling His followers to love one another as He has loved them, sacrificially and without condition (John 13:34).
The cross in John is not defeat; it is triumph. Jesus goes willingly, knowing the hour has come. He carries the weight of sin, speaks words of completion, and declares that the work is finished (John 19:30). The resurrection then seals what John has been showing us all along: Jesus is Lord of life, conqueror of death, and giver of peace to fearful hearts (John 20:19-21).
John tells us plainly why he wrote—so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing we may have life in His name (John 20:31). This Gospel invites us not just to study Jesus, but to trust Him, follow Him, and abide in Him. To read John is to stand face to face with Christ and hear Him ask the same question still: Do you believe?
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Lord Jesus, open my eyes to see You as John presents You—eternal, gracious, powerful, and near. Help me not only to believe, but to abide, to love, and to live fully in Your name. Amen.
BDD
