The Apostle John tells his readers in John 20:31 that, "…these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."
The Gospel of John shows us the truths of our resurrected Savior.
And that is why we at Big Woods Church are about to embark on a study of the Gospel of John: so that we all may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing, we may have life in his name. There is nothing more basic to you and to me than to have a purpose. God says that we each have a purpose; none of us are without purpose. And God so inspired John to write this gospel—or proclamation of good news—so that we would see Jesus Christ as He was historically, and to know Him as He is eternally, and to understand that He is at the core of your purpose and mine: to be in community with God Almighty and to love and enjoy Him forever.
One would be hard-pressed to find a more fitting place to learn how to know Jesus and to live for Him than in the Gospel of John.
William Barclay wrote, "For many Christian people the Gospel according to St. John is the most precious book in the New Testament. It is the book on which above all they feed their minds and nourish their hearts, and in which they rest their souls."
There is a simplicity about the Gospel of John. The writer was himself a simple man, a fisherman whose life was turned upside down when he encountered this man from Galilee named Jesus. John quickly learned that Jesus was no ordinary man, no ordinary rabbi, and no ordinary prophet. In fact, there was nothing ordinary about Jesus outside of his flesh and bones, which lived, breathed, ached, hungered, laughed and cried just like everyone around Him. But Jesus was different.
It is in the differences that the Gospel of John becomes profound. We will learn in our study just how different Jesus was. We will see that He truly is who He said He is. He is the eternal God, He is God incarnate, He is the living water, He is the bread of life, He is the only way to God, He is the sacrificial lamb, He is the resurrected Savior, He is our all-in-all.
I hope you will join us for our study in the Gospel of John. It will transform your view of Jesus Christ and will either open or strengthen your relationship with God the Father through God the Son. We begin our study on Sunday, Aug. 23, at 10 a.m., at Big Woods Congregational Church, 3003 N. Eola Rd., in Aurora. Stop by early to enjoy a cup of coffee! We look forward to seeing you.
Blessings!
Pastor Bill
