The Gospel as Told by "The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved" -By Brother Chuck
The Gospel of John
As a rule, I urge new Christians to read their Bible beginning with the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. And more specifically, I would like them to read the Gospel of John first. Not only new Christians, but everyone, should get to know Jesus, through the lens of "the disciple whom Jesus loved" (John 13:23; John 19:26; John 20:2; John 21:7; John 21:20). Now that isn't to say that Jesus didn't love all His disciples. "...He loved them to the end" (John 13:1).
The Gospel of John is the fourth book of the New Testament and was authored by the apostle John. John was one of the 12 original followers of Jesus and was considered to be part of Jesus' inner circle.
So what are the gospels? The word "gospel" means "good news". It is the good news that we have forgiveness for our sins through Jesus Christ. When we talk about the gospel, we're talking about the life and ministry of Jesus. These four New Testament books record almost everything there is to know about Jesus. These ancient texts are believed to have been recorded by eyewitnesses and the people who knew them. The Gospels will help you to understand who Jesus is, what Jesus taught, what He wants you to know and what He did during His time on earth.
So why begin with the Gospel of John? What makes this book unique from the other gospels? One word comes to mind, intent, e.g., Matthew's intention was to prove to the Jews that Jesus is the promised Messiah. While Matthew wrote primarily to his fellow Jews, Mark's gospel addresses the Roman believers, particularly the Gentiles, in order to strengthen their faith in the face of persecution and to teach them what it means to be disciples of Christ. The intention of Luke's treatise is found in the first verse of the Book of Acts which Luke also wrote, "...to reveal all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven..." (Acts 1:1-2 NIV). Luke was a physician. His intention was to write a meticulous account of Jesus' life, in what he calls, "an orderly account" (Luke 1:3 NIV)
The purpose of John's writing is "...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 NIV) John doesn't begin his treatise by telling us about Jesus' birth. Instead he distinctly informs us right from the very beginning that Jesus is the Son of God; that Jesus was sent by God; and that Jesus has come to give eternal life to all who believe in him. John presents Jesus as the Savior of the world, and he declares Him the Creator-God of the Universe.
John portrays Jesus as a God of love. Thirty-nine times John uses the word "love" in his writing. By comparison, Mark only used the word "love" seven times. Love lies at the heart of the Gospel of John. Love is immersed in every aspect of John's gospel. In John's Gospel, Jesus commands us to "love one another" (John 15:12), and he assures us that God loves those who keep his commandments (John 14:21, 23). John shows us the ultimate sacrifice of love that Jesus made when he died on the cross of Calvary (John 3:16; 15:13).
"Our Lord loved all his disciples:- "having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end." He said to all the apostles, "I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." And yet within that circle of love there was an innermost place in which the beloved John was favoured to dwell: upon the mountain of the Saviour's love there was a knoll, a little higher than the rest of the mount, and there John was made to stand, nearest to his Lord. ...John was raised, and they were not lowered, but raised with him." -Charles Haddon Spurgeon
May 23, 1880, Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit
Source: https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/sermons/the-disciple-whom-jesus-loved/#flipbook/
I urge you friends to read the Gospel of John once again or for the very first time. Below is the Gospel of John word for word in movie form. It's excellent! It brings the Gospel of John to life. I urge you to watch this video from the LUMO Project.
The Gospel of John | Full Movie | LUMO
Watch how the Bible comes to life in this LUMO movie about the Gospel of John. See the life of Jesus Christ through the eyes of one of his closest friends, John. This LUMO movie visualizes The Gospel of John, using only the Biblical text as a script! Start reading the Bible today, by simply watching LUMO!
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