John's Gospel, Our Spiritual Game Changer

[HKHaugan]

John’s Gospel, Our Spiritual Game Changer

 The whole first chapter of John has one immediate purpose, to lift up Jesus who is God the Son, the One sent to reveal and restore humanity to the spiritual dimension. That means to place everything in a spiritual context; to think spiritually, to trust spiritually and to act spiritually. Jesus in the flesh of mankind is the example, exact representation, the perfect image of God as was intended in Creation. His mission and ministry started at birth and continued as He “grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man (Lk.2:52).” His ultimate purpose in the whole Gospel is to prepare us to live forever in His spiritual Kingdom (Jn.20:31).

 There are spiritual principles throughout this Gospel. Here are seven:

 First, it is the Gospel of John that gives credence to the Virgin Birth of Jesus, a spiritually conceived birth. This lays the groundwork for Him telling us that we must be born again, spiritually.

 Second, it is John who makes clear that the physical Resurrection of Jesus was spiritually achieved. This is to show us that His life will be shared with us after we die. We will be resurrected by the Holy Spirit.

Third, Jesus was proven Messiah by the seven messianic signs recorded by John. Here lies the work of the Cross in our lives, to reflect His saving Presence wherever we are.

Fourth, the frequency of the “I am” passages in John designate His life as the actual presence of God. This to assure us that He is present wherever we are. He lives in our heart, the hearts of all who believe in Him.

 Fifth, the symbolism behind all the supernatural events in John is meant to emphasize the entire spiritual tone of the Gospel. Here we have the reason to see all reality, both seen and unseen, in a spiritual context.

 Sixth, the purpose, meaning and significance of the Cross takes place in Chapters 13-17 as Jesus prepares His disciples for the relational mission that lies ahead for them. Especially true, since the Lord’s Supper, the Passover meal, is its context. The Lord’s Supper is our reminder, our confidence feeder, our spiritual sustenance Jesus gave us to move forward in His name in every next moment.

 Seventh, another deeply personal aspect of this Gospel is how it returns us to the reality of our spiritual nakedness, our aloneness, our lostness, the sin that took us from Him. The reality of our need to be right again. Our mind, heart and spirit’s need to be dressed in the rightness of God. That image of God in us needs restoration to the purpose for which we were made. The need for the nourishment He has provided for His project, which we are, His Word both living and written. Thus, when we received Him as Savior and Lord we were no longer naked.