Day 2194– The Gospel of John – 43 – Many Other Signs…Many Other Things – Daily Wisdom

Welcome to Day 2194 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.
This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom
The Gospel of John – 43 – Our Weakness…His Strength – Daily Wisdom
Putnam Church Message – 01/15/2023
The Gospel of John – Part 5: Vindication Of The Word – Many Other Signs…Many Other Things
 

Last week, in our series of messages of the Good News according to John the Apostle, we looked at “Our Weakness…His Strength.” We ended with a focus on “Coming to Terms with Your Calling,” and concluded that We must fully understand that all work is kingdom work. There is no difference between secular and sacred work. All work is holy when we are Christ’s followers. After a year of studying the book of John, we have arrived at our last message. It will be a relatively short message, but the final two verses stand independently. Our scripture for today is John 21:24-25,  on page 1688 in the Pew Bible.

 24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. Therefore, we know that his testimony is true.

25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

 

Before our daughter Janet and her husband Rowan were married, they requested that the two fathers perform the marriage ceremony. I went through the process of certification to perform marriages in all states. I share this privilege with ship captains, judges, and justices of the peace. I am authorized to join two people in a state of marriage—a holy union and a legal partnership. Before the big day, the couple must go to the courthouse and obtain a marriage license. Then, after the ceremony, I place my signature at the bottom of the license as a testimony to the court—and, therefore, all who are concerned—that two individuals have been united.

 

Furthermore, two additional witnesses signed the document, testifying that I conducted the service and affirming that the officiator’s signature was mine. It was also customary in Rome, and throughout the empire, to have all legal documents signed and sworn, testifying to their authenticity. So, as John blotted the ink on his original scroll and prepared to roll it up for distribution to the churches, he added his sworn statement, testifying to the truth of all he had written under the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit. And he was joined by others, who witnessed his signature.

 

—21:24—

John’s seal of authenticity affirmed three essential facts:

First, every record in this scroll is an eyewitness account; not only as one of the Twelve/ but also as one of Jesus’ closest friends. (Five times in his narrative, John refers to himself as ‘the disciple Jesus loved) “This is the disciple” refers to the individual present with Peter and Jesus on the shore (21:20–23), the same disciple rumored to be alive at the Lord’s return.

 

Second, every word contained in this scroll was written by this same eyewitness. John likely prepared this statement in the first person plural, “We know that his testimony is...

Welcome to Day 2194 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.
This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom
The Gospel of John – 43 – Our Weakness…His Strength – Daily Wisdom
Putnam Church Message – 01/15/2023
The Gospel of John – Part 5: Vindication Of The Word – Many Other Signs…Many Other Things
 

Last week, in our series of messages of the Good News according to John the Apostle, we looked at “Our Weakness…His Strength.” We ended with a focus on “Coming to Terms with Your Calling,” and concluded that We must fully understand that all work is kingdom work. There is no difference between secular and sacred work. All work is holy when we are Christ’s followers. After a year of studying the book of John, we have arrived at our last message. It will be a relatively short message, but the final two verses stand independently. Our scripture for today is John 21:24-25,  on page 1688 in the Pew Bible.

 24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. Therefore, we know that his testimony is true.

25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

 

Before our daughter Janet and her husband Rowan were married, they requested that the two fathers perform the marriage ceremony. I went through the process of certification to perform marriages in all states. I share this privilege with ship captains, judges, and justices of the peace. I am authorized to join two people in a state of marriage—a holy union and a legal partnership. Before the big day, the couple must go to the courthouse and obtain a marriage license. Then, after the ceremony, I place my signature at the bottom of the license as a testimony to the court—and, therefore, all who are concerned—that two individuals have been united.

 

Furthermore, two additional witnesses signed the document, testifying that I conducted the service and affirming that the officiator’s signature was mine. It was also customary in Rome, and throughout the empire, to have all legal documents signed and sworn, testifying to their authenticity. So, as John blotted the ink on his original scroll and prepared to roll it up for distribution to the churches, he added his sworn statement, testifying to the truth of all he had written under the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit. And he was joined by others, who witnessed his signature.

 

—21:24—

John’s seal of authenticity affirmed three essential facts:

First, every record in this scroll is an eyewitness account; not only as one of the Twelve/ but also as one of Jesus’ closest friends. (Five times in his narrative, John refers to himself as ‘the disciple Jesus loved) “This is the disciple” refers to the individual present with Peter and Jesus on the shore (21:20–23), the same disciple rumored to be alive at the Lord’s return.

 

Second, every word contained in this scroll was written by this same eyewitness. John likely prepared this statement in the first person plural, “We know that his testimony is true,” which included the elders present with him as he completed the manuscript. Tradition holds John wrote his Gospel in Ephesus near the end of his life, after being exiled to the isle of Patmos. Ephesus was the home of the most influential church in Asia Minor, which was a renowned stronghold of doctrinal purity.

 

Third, every word contained in this scroll is truth. John witnessed the events and recalled them accurately and wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, who guided his editorial choices and prevented him from error.

 

—21:25—

John closed his narrative with an editorial caveat, perhaps to counter the inevitable criticism all biographers face: “How could you leave out such an important thing as …?” And, let’s face it, when your subject is the Son of God, critics would be standing in line for years to come!

 

John affirmed that he was selective about which events to include. He was not only selective but strategic. John did not intend to provide an exhaustive (or exhausting) account, but to make a case for belief (20:31). 31 But these are written that you may believe[b] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. Besides, including everything would not have been feasible. Our knowledge of Christ will never be exhaustive, because He is God /and God is infinite.

Rather than try to describe every detail of Christ’s earthly ministry, John paints a compelling portrait of Christ’s life. (bulletin insert – mosaic of Christ) Like many other things in this realm of existence, his narrative is limited. Everything here is less than the very least in the life to come. Therefore, John was content to write only what was necessary to bring readers to believe in Christ. He was thrilled to have them learn about the Son of God firsthand if that were accomplished.

 

So, if exhaustive knowledge of the God-man, Jesus, is what you want, then belief will give you an eternity to know Him as deeply and as thoroughly as you desire (Rev. 22:3–5). 3 No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. 4 And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. 5 And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.

 

APPLICATION: JOHN 21:24–25

The Final Chapter – (bulletin insert)

John’s Gospel is, in a sense, unfinished. John wrote down every word the Holy Spirit directed him to express, yet the story remains incomplete. That’s because it is yours to write.

John concludes his account of Christ’s earthly ministry with a story of how he and his friend Simon Peter were impacted. The Lord’s story set their life stories in motion. Peter would be martyred. John would live so long, that people wondered if he would ever die. Both had destinies to fulfill as a result of their time with Christ. Jesus urged both men to “You keep on following Me.”

And so it is with you—Jesus encourages you to follow Him. So, I have a few questions for you. Please consider each carefully.

What will you do with what you have seen in the pages of John’s Gospel? The most essential requirement and risk in all the world is to be exposed to biblical truth. We who live in the light have no business trafficking in the dark. We have learned truths about abiding, washing feet, resting, and being holy and dedicated even unto death. How will your life change now that these divine truths are bouncing around in your consciousness?


 

What is your part in God’s redemptive plan for the world? God had plans for John and Peter, not merely because they were part of “the Twelve” but because they were Christ’s followers, called out of their old lives, given new life, and commissioned to build His kingdom. The same is true of you if you have, indeed, believed. Ask Him to guide you if you haven’t discovered your calling or purpose. God never hides His will; ask Him to reveal your role in His plan.


 

How much hardship are you willing to bear for the sake of Christ? Earlier, Jesus warned that to be in His kingdom is to become the enemy of “the world,” which will hate and persecute you (John 15:18–21). Peter would be martyred. John would be exiled and minister alone, long after his friends had died. Life may not get more manageable if you are meaningfully engaged in Jesus’ agenda. To what will you devote yourself? The exciting part is that as citizens of God’s kingdom, we are called to assist Him in building His kingdom. The Lord’s story promises to launch your life story—if you will let Him.


 

So, after a year of absorbing the Good News, according to John the Apostle. Next week, we will begin a shorter series related to my comment about how God’s story is integrated with ours. The series is an 8-9 week overview of the Bible titled, “What does God want?”    Although this series won’t have a fixed passage of Scripture, please read Job 38:4-7 & Genesis 1:27-28 in preparation for next week.