John 20:30-31 - The Fourth Gospel

John 20:30-31

Why This Gospel Was Written

30 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

Message: The Fourth Gospel 

Time: Throughout church history, Christians have consistently attributed this gospel to Jesus' disciple John, the brother of James, the son of Zebedee. John was one of the inner circle of Jesus' most trusted companions. It's most likely that John wrote his gospel while he was in Ephesus, and that he wrote it for an audience that lived outside Palestine, perhaps in Asia Minor. John appears to have had in mind members of a Jewish community who had come to believe that Jesus was the Messiah, but who had continued to worship in the synagogue. John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing he was to confirm the belief that Jesus was both the Christ and the Son of God.

What the Lord is Saying: I am glad to be studying the book of John for I remember early on this being a book one is to study once they become a Christian. For those searching and for new Christians, as a youth it was always a book people said to read first. It also seems to be a book that many who believe in alternate beliefs or even question Jesus as God have spent the most time changing the translation or rather focusing on. I previously did a study on the Book of Mark so this will be great to focus on this gospel. 

Tabletalk magazine records similar thoughts, stating it is often a book for children and then also a book that requires many commentators a lifetime of study. The book has a distinctive style. 

How it is different from Matthew, Mark, and Luke (the Synoptic Gospels):

Synoptics - focus their attention on Jesus' ministry in Galilee

Fourth Gospel - also tells of the visits Jesus made to Judea and Jerusalem

Synoptics - Jesus teaching mostly in parables

Fourth Gospel - Many lengthy discourses given by our Savior

But still many similarities and the differences are not contradictions, but different points of emphasis. John, one of the disciples, heard much more private instruction versus the Synoptics recording more of what the crowds also heard. 

Today's passage summarizes his purpose in writing this gospel: 

1. so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; 
2. and that believing you may have life in His name.

Summary: This gospel, like the others has similarities, but is also a more private discourse and understanding of Jesus the Christ so that we will believe and have Life in His Name. 

Promise: Pray that my study will help me to know My Savior better and be equipped to follow Him faithfully and love Him more deeply. 

Prayer: O God, you are good. Your ways are right. And I call you Lord and Savior, my Lord and Savior. Thank you for visiting me personally through Your Spirit and continually helping me understand your Word through Study. Thank you for these studies. I pray that I would come to know you better so that I will always follow You and continue to love You more deeply. Do a great work in me as I study these words. Help these words and thoughts to stick to me like glue so that I will take them with me wherever I go on this earth, to be a light to all I come in contact with. Draw people to Yourself.