The Gospel of John: What Happens When You Believe
An Introduction to Understanding The Gospel of John
There I was, sitting in my cargo shorts and a polo shirt. My life had just been rocked by my new found faith. I didn’t have any idea what I was getting into, however, a few days before I decided that Jesus was God on earth, that he died on a cross, and that he was resurrected. And I believed he did this so I could know God.
To be honest, all of this seemed like a lot to me. But everything I had ever learned about the Christian faith growing up pointed me to this moment where I understood that my decision to BELIEVE in the events of Jesus death and resurrection altered my life to a radical degree.
Everything I had been living for up until this point was about to change and be less important to me. But I didn’t know what to do next.
“What do I do now?” I asked the man who would go not on to mentor me for the remainder of my college years. It was nearly the end of the spring semester and I would be home for the summer.
“Well, how about you start reading the Gospel of John?” he said thoughtfully. He went on to explain that we had some additional resources to go through, but I should start with the Gospel of John and read it throughout the summer.
Over and over again.
While I was making my way through that book of the Bible a third and fourth time, I started to wonder why I was advised to read the Gospel of John over and over again.
And yet, my faith began to solidify all summer long. Reading one book of the Bible repeatedly. Looking back now, I see it was as if a bricklayer was creating a strong structure in my being to prepare me for the future.
Why The Gospel of John?
Today, I would suggest reading the Gospel of John to anyone who is a new believer. If you don’t know where to turn in reading the Bible, you should read the Gospel of John. Even if you have read the Bible or the Gospels multiple times.
Go back to the Gospel of John.
Every time I read this book, something stands out to me. Our entire person; spirit, soul, and body changes when we BELIEVE. In fact, the word “believe” shows up in John’s account of the ministry of Jesus 98 times. More than any of the other gospels. And the root word, ‘belie’ shows up 292 times! [1]
Clearly, John wants us to understand what it means to believe.
Here are a few examples of what happens when we believe:
- We become children of God
- Our identity changes
- We believe more and more
- Receive eternal life
- Enter into a relationship with God
- Receive the Holy Spirit
- We experience truth
Clearly, we need to be reading The Gospel of John to understand what it means for us to believe in Jesus and what happens to us when we believe.
What Do We Know About The Gospel of John?
Here are the basics about authorship, when it was written, the purpose, and the audience for the book. As it is a book of the Bible, it ultimately was inspired and written to edify the church no mater the century. Here are the basic details:
- Author: The Apostle John. He was one of the “Sons of Thunder,” was tasked with caring for Jesus’s mother Mary. Both church history and other historical references ascribe this book to him.
- Dates: 50AD — 100AD. Like most books of the Bible, we have a date range for when it was written. Some historians believe the book could have been written as early as 50AD, around the time of the letter to the Romans by the Apostle Paul. Others think it was later due to historical references in the book.
- Audience: New Christians and those seeking faith. In the time of the writing, John was writing to both Jew and Gentile (Greek, Roman, etc). His book was written for a wide audience based on his explanation of Jewish customs and yet focusing on Jewish customs an important part of everyday life.
- Purpose: For people to understand that Jesus is the Son of God and that when one believes in Jesus, they will gain eternal life and relationship with God. This comes from John 20:30–31.
- Special Note: According to the NLT Life Application Bible, The Gospel of John is 90% different from the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
The Apostle John wants all who are seeking to believe. And all who believe to understand Jesus is the Son of God. And when we BELIEVE, we gain eternal life and relationship with God.
John literally/physically walked with Jesus, was entrusted with the early church, and was one of the inner circle of Jesus’s disciples.
To know Jesus, we can trust The Gospel of John as resources to connect with the God who created the world and allow the Holy Spirit to work through the writings of this book of the Bible in our lives.
When We Read The Gospel of John
When I first read this book of the Bible, I did a few things to help me understand. I looked for places where Jesus did things, said things, and how people responded. And I focused on the keyword: Believe. When you read through the Gospel of John, be sure to do the same.
What Jesus Did
Jesus heals people. Tons and tons of people. He performs miracles too. Focus on these stories. In these stories, he explains shortly after each of these events why he does it. Be on the lookout for these lessons.
What Jesus Said
Jesus was a rabbi, which means teacher. He had lots of things to say. He would explain the things he did as well as explain how the Old Testament scriptures point to him. And he would share the truth about how we need to live around each other. Watch for these lessons too.
How People Respond
Whether Jesus was doing something or saying something he was getting a response from people. Some believed in Jesus, yet others wanted to kill Jesus, and others asked questions. Lots of them. Consider how people respond and how you respond to the things Jesus does and says.
“Believe”
Lastly, be sure to circle or box anytime you see the words “believe,” “believing,” or “believed.” It will be amazing how quickly they add up, over 200 times! And be sure to take that in.
What does it mean for you to believe as described in The Gospel of John?
How to Read The Gospel of John
While there are many ways to read the Bible, I have found that reading the Gospel of John one chapter at a time helps us to understand what it means for us to believe. It also helps us move through the book very quickly.
The Gospel of John has 21 chapters and you can read through it in only 21 days if you read it every day. Even if you spread it out a little bit you could still read it in a month.
Download a copy of the prayer and meditative guide to The Gospel of John Today!
When was the last time you read The Gospel of John? What did you learn? Do you think you will follow along? Share in the responses below!
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