There is no book in the Bible like the book of John. There is no book that will so build faith in Christ. It is an excellent book to give to someone who has not yet put his faith in Christ. If you are one struggling with your faith, please read the book!

John presents a case for who Jesus really is: He is the Son of God; He is God come in the flesh; He is the One whom the Father has sent for the redemption of the world.

And the case for Christ is presented in a variety of ways. There are lengthy expositions of truth that are not contained in other books, many of them embedded in conversations Jesus had with others, like Nicodemus, with whom He discusses the new birth, and the Samaritan woman, who is the occasion for teaching on worship. Some of the truth is delivered in sermons in which Jesus identifies Himself as the One who meets people’s needs, using simple analogies, like the bread of life and the good shepherd. All men need bread for life; Jesus is that true bread of life. Sheep need the loving care of a shepherd; Jesus is that good shepherd.

Sometimes truth is revealed in interaction with people, which enables us not only to learn the great and wonderful doctrines of life in Christ, but we are able to understand man. For instance, we see Jesus interacting with unbelieving Jewish leaders, and John provides us with an interesting analysis of their growing hatred and hostility toward Jesus that results in their determination to put Him to death. We also see His interaction with the crowd, the multitudes of people who can never make up their minds whether Jesus is real or not. Some say He is a good man, and others say that He has a demon; some say He is the Christ, and others say that is impossible. Finally, we see His interaction with His disciples, people who have genuine faith, but faith that needs to grow and develop through trials, teaching, and patient endurance. It is thrilling to see the development of their faith which mirrors our own.

The primary point of the book is to establish that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and thus lead people to faith (20:31). Jesus is presented as the eternal One who is with God and who is God, as the creator of all things, as the one who brings light and life to mankind, as the one who gives men the right to become children of God, who takes away the sin of the world, who has power over the laws of nature, who defends the honor of God, who knows all men: what is in them, who knows who will and will not believe, as the water of life, the bread of life, the light of the world, the good Shepherd, the door of the sheepfold, the way, the truth, the resurrection, and the life. He is the One who does the will of the Father, who always does what pleases Him, and whom the Father always hears. He lays down His life for the sheep and gives them eternal life. He will draw all men to Himself when lifted up.

Unbelieving man is seen throughout the book as unable to come to Christ, unable to believe, unable to hear, unable to go where Christ is, condemned already, and a lover of darkness and one who hates the light. The believer, however, is revealed as born of God, one who will come to the Father, will hold to Christ’s teaching, will know the truth and be set free, will never see death, has eternal life, knows the Shepherd, will never perish nor be snatched from the hands of the Son and the Father.

We strongly encourage all our audiences to read and re-read this book! Please contact us if we may be of further help in your pursuit of truth and the God of all truth!