📜 John’s Gospel: Love, Light, and the Life of Christ

📖 Introduction: Why Begin with the Gospel of John?

As a rule, I urge new Christians to begin reading their Bible with the four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. But more specifically, I encourage them to start with the Gospel of John.

Why John?

Because in this Gospel, we meet Jesus through the eyes of His most intimate friend, “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7, 20). That doesn’t mean Jesus didn’t love all His disciples—indeed, the Bible tells us:

📖 “Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.”
— John 13:1 ❤️

But there was something unique about John's closeness to Jesus. And his Gospel opens a powerful window into the heart of Christ—a heart overflowing with love, truth, and eternal life.

✍️ Who Was John, the Disciple Whom Jesus Loved?

John was one of the twelve original disciples, a fisherman by trade, and part of Jesus’ inner circle alongside Peter and James. He witnessed the Transfiguration, leaned on Jesus at the Last Supper, and stood at the foot of the cross while others fled. He later became the author of:

• The Gospel of John

• The three epistles of John

• And the Book of Revelation

John didn’t just write history—he wrote testimony. As he says:

📖 “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.”
— John 20:31 ✨ 

📚 What Are the Gospels?

The word “Gospel” means “Good News.” It’s the good news that God sent His Son into the world to forgive our sins, restore our relationship with Him, and offer eternal life to all who believe.

The four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—each provide a distinct lens on the life and ministry of Jesus. These ancient writings, grounded in eyewitness testimony, invite us to know who Jesus is, what He taught, and why He came.

🧭 What Makes John’s Gospel So Unique?

Each Gospel writer had a unique audience and intention:

• Matthew wrote to a Jewish audience to prove Jesus was the Messiah, the fulfillment of prophecy.

• Mark wrote to Roman believers, especially Gentiles, to encourage them in discipleship and perseverance.

• Luke, a physician, aimed to provide an orderly, historical account for a broader audience, highlighting Jesus' humanity and compassion.

But John’s intent is profoundly theological and personal.

He opens with the bold declaration:

📖 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
— John 1:1

John doesn’t start with the manger—he starts in eternity. His focus is not just on what Jesus did, but who Jesus is: the divine Son of God, the Creator of the universe, and the Savior of the world.