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Why John Wrote His Book
30Jesus worked many other miracles for his disciples, and not all of them are written in this book.
25Jesus did many other things. If they were all written in books, I don't suppose there would be room enough in the whole world for all the books.
Reflect
Do you have stories about life with Jesus? I do. I have been following Jesus for more than 40 years. I have stories.
That’s why it makes sense to me when John ends his Gospel with the disclaimer that he has not said everything possible about Jesus; that he, as the biographer, has not set down every miracle, every conversation or every encounter with his subject.
It isn’t that John did not have the space or time to write such a detailed biography covering Jesus’ 33 years on this earth. More likely, John seems to know that Jesus’ story extends far beyond the three decades of his human life.
Consider how John begins his story about Jesus: “In the beginning was the one who is called the Word. The Word was with God and was truly God….the Word became a human being and lived here with us.” (John 1: 1, 2, 14).
John has a timeless perspective about Jesus. Yes, he walked this earth. But Jesus was also involved with the creation of the earth. Jesus has been with God since the beginning. He is still with God. He is still with us.
This means the story of Jesus and me is part of the bigger story. It also means the story of Jesus and you is part of the bigger story. John couldn’t write it because he didn’t know it. But he had a sense that there was more, in fact, so much more that all of the books of the world could not contain it.
What’s your story with Jesus?
Mine began when I was a child. I met Jesus for the first time at summer camp when I was eight years old. My friendship with Jesus ebbed and flowed, especially through my university years when I didn’t pay much attention to him. Then later, thanks to the encouragement of other followers of Jesus, I found my way back. Jesus and I have been friends ever since.
I suppose, if I had the time, I could write the story down. But it is enough for me to think about it, to be thankful that I, too, am part of Jesus’ story. My story is one of the ones John anticipated. I hope yours is too.
Respond
Thank you, Jesus, that my story is part of your story. Help me to remember this daily. Remind me of all we’ve been through together and help me anticipate what is yet to come. Amen.
Geri Rodman
Under Geri’s leadership, Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship Canada is focused on a 10-year goal of Launching 20,000 Extraordinary Kingdom Leaders by 2020. "We believe God will launch youth and students as Kingdom Leaders who are so transformed by Jesus that nothing will stop their enormous zeal for the things of God." Geri was appointed president of Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship Canada in 2002, after spending 23 years leading the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA ministry in Northern California and Hawaii. Educated at the University of Toronto and Wheaton College, Geri is currently enrolled in a Doctor of Ministry program at Gordon-Conwell. She serves on the boards of, the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada and Water Ambassadors Canada.