The gospel of John was written much later than the three synoptic gospels. Instead of focusing on the life of Jesus the book of John focuses on the deity of Jesus and the preexistence of Christ. John makes sure his gospel contains information about Jesus that the other writers failed to mention which may be why over 90% of the material in John is new and covered nowhere else. John contains many lengthy discourses where Jesus is teaching his disciples about the kingdom of God. The Apostle John is easily the most spiritually perceptive of the gospel writers, probably because the Holy Spirit was very active in John’s life from a teenager and John was an old man when he wrote his gospel.
John 1:30 -This is He of whom I said, after me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.
John 14:9 – (Jesus speaking) – He who has seen Me has seen the Father.
Job 9:8 – He alone spreads out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea.
John 6:19 – So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid.
Most people assume Genesis is the oldest book in the Bible because it comes first and because Moses wrote it in the Sinai wilderness around 1400 BC. The book of Job is actually the first book of the Bible to be written. Job was probably written around 2100 BC but it could have been written as early as 2600 BC, making Job at least 700 years older than Genesis. I’ve already mentioned that Old Testament Jews associated God with the one who could still the wind and calm the raging sea. There’s one other thing God does according to the Old Testament and that’s walk on the sea. Everything Jesus said during his ministry was for a reason. Every act of Jesus had a purpose and obviously stilling the wind, calming the sea and walking on water were all intended to prove to the Jews and everyone else that Jesus was God in the flesh. Jesus said he was God and did things only God could do and still the Jews rejected him as the promised Messiah, the King of Israel.
John 6:29 – (Jesus speaking) – This is the work of God, that you believe in Him (Jesus) whom He (God) sent.
John 11:25-26 – (Jesus speaking) – I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.
On this earth believers are to witness for Christ and do good works because God commands us to do so. For this we receive treasure in heaven. The only “work” actually required by God for our salvation is faith in Jesus Christ. The only way to become a child of God is through faith in Jesus. Eternal life begins the moment a person puts their faith in Jesus. If we’ve done what God asks of us for our gift of salvation then we’re in the book of life and scripture tells us we cannot be taken out of God’s hands. We’re forever in God’s loving embrace. Trust in God and the truth of God’s Word and let the peace of God reign in your life.
Witnessing for Christ