An Inspired Writer

John, the writer of the gospel of John, holds forth as person of unique abilities.  He speaks of himself in his gospel, but not directly.  In the early verses it would appear that he was a disciple of John the Baptist who left the Baptist along with Andrew to become a disciple of "The Lamb of God."   The beginning words of his gospel, "In the beginning..."  certainly brings the beginning words of Genesis into view and his unique reference to the Lamb of God creates visions of the blood of the lamb that was put over the portal of the doors of the enslaved Hebrews on the night of the first born deaths.   

His gospel was written much later than the first three known as the Synoptic Gospels and it was clearly his intent to open new windows into the life of Jesus.  His gospel is not just about the biographical details of the life of Jesus, but one that enables us to sense something of the heart of Jesus, the way Jesus saw the world and thought about it, and the way He enountered some unmentioned folks along the way.  Without what he was inspired to write we would have a view of Jesus that is greatly different than the one we have with this fourth gospel.   

The language full of images and symbols is one that stirs the contemplative side of our spirit.  It is a gospel that not only reports, but one that enables us to think in different ways.  What is amazing is that a man such as John who seems to have grown up knowing more about fishing than the contemplative life could write such powerful strokes which reveal the heart of Jesus.  And while it is a testament to the growth of the man who walked with Jesus and the spiritual maturity which grew in him, it is also surely a testimony to the Holy Spirit as He inspired this disicple to write what not even he must have believed was in him.