Even as the light-darkness contrast is a theme of John's gospel, so it true to an even greater degree that the belief-unbelief contrast is an important theme. Actually, some might even say it is the only theme. Over the years I have kept a one volume commentary on the gospel of John named, "The Gospel of Belief" written by Merrill C. Tenney. The main point of his book is that the main point of John's gospel is the issue between belief and unbelief. As we read about the many encounters Jesus had with folks like you and me, we see this theme come to life.
Early on in the Prologue, we see this theme sounded. Surprisingly, it is not first associated with Jesus, but John the Baptist. Verse 6 and 7 read, "There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to the light, so that all might believe through Him." Here at the very beginning we hear a word which echoes the well known words from John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life." Some folks who came to life on the pages of John's gospel believed and some did not. It was always their choice.
Such remains true for each person today. It is true that each of us has a choice. And, it is equally true that a primary and basic choice before each one of us has to do with our response to the presence of Jesus in the world as the One who came solely for the purpose of inviting people to believe in Him as the One sent from God. According to John's gospel, Jesus did not come to make us theologians, or pillars of the church, or even advocates of social change. What is clear is that John's real concern is that folks believe and enter into both the abundant life and the eternal life. Here is the real issue for John, and believe it or not, it remains the primary issue for each of us today.
Early on in the Prologue, we see this theme sounded. Surprisingly, it is not first associated with Jesus, but John the Baptist. Verse 6 and 7 read, "There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to the light, so that all might believe through Him." Here at the very beginning we hear a word which echoes the well known words from John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life." Some folks who came to life on the pages of John's gospel believed and some did not. It was always their choice.
Such remains true for each person today. It is true that each of us has a choice. And, it is equally true that a primary and basic choice before each one of us has to do with our response to the presence of Jesus in the world as the One who came solely for the purpose of inviting people to believe in Him as the One sent from God. According to John's gospel, Jesus did not come to make us theologians, or pillars of the church, or even advocates of social change. What is clear is that John's real concern is that folks believe and enter into both the abundant life and the eternal life. Here is the real issue for John, and believe it or not, it remains the primary issue for each of us today.
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