It’s said the gospel account written by John and bearing his name was written to “all mankind.” The apostle John wrote the words of God in such a way to address all. This compassionate apostle clearly taught the final steps of discipline marking and avoiding false teachers (II John 9-11), and called out Diotrephes, charging and threatening to discipline him (III John). He clearly loved the Lord and knew that these things were to be done in love for the lost to restore them.
Most believe that John had a special relationship with Jesus. He’s pictured as leaning on the Lord (John 13:13). At the cross Jesus gave the care of His mother Mary to him (John 19:26). He was with Peter at the resurrection (John 20:2) and appears to have been a faster runner than Peter (20:4). It was John who recognized Jesus when no one else did at the Sea of Galilee (21:7). It was he who was the object of Peter’s inquiry into the future (John 21:20). There is no doubt he loved being with Jesus.
It was John who gave the ultimate details of who Jesus was from the beginning [the Word] (John 1). He gave account of the first recorded miracle of the Lord (John 2:1-11) which took place in Cana of Galilee while Jesus was at a wedding with Mary. He gives record of both times the Lord set out to purge the temple (2:15; 19:45).
John is known by many as the messenger of the new birth. A birth of love (John 3:16; 15:13) of water and the Spirit (John 3:3-5) and Heaven’s plan (3:31-36) for man’s salvation. Many criticize the water in baptism. Who put water in the plan? God did through Jesus Christ. While many find water inconsequential, Jesus didn’t—so let them take that up with Jesus. Jesus said it is essential to salvation and John recorded it for all to see.
The timeline of the Lord’s earthly ministry is best seen in the record of John. From Passover to Passover as the scholar J. W. McGarvey said it, the three years of earthly ministry are noted clearly (John 2:13-25; 5:1-47; 7:1; 20).
There is a story of love told. John records the love of God for all mankind (John 3:16). Anything less than loving obedience is not enough and disrespects the priceless gift of God in Christ Jesus. The love that emanates from God’s great love is the love of one another in Christ (John 13:35). Yes, the way we love another reveals the love of Christ. There is a love story of a disciple’s love for the Master. Love expected of man is seen in loving obedience to the Heavenly offering of love, Jesus Christ (John 14:21, 23-24; I John 5:3). This is also a record of faith. Obedient faith comes from true love for God. Without love and the faith which comes from it one cannot please God (Heb. 11:6). All of this is tied together by the written record of John.
It is John who tells of life in Christ being like a vine (John 15). John informs all men of the work of the Spirit of God in the revelation of the Heavenly message. John records the actual Lord’s prayer in chapter 17 identifying God’s word as “Truth” (17:17). Finally revealed for all to see and to know is the nature of the Kingdom (John 18:36). There is much more to know from the gospel account of John, but this is put forward to prove the understanding and value of study in this account said to be written for all mankind.
–David Hill, President of Tennessee Bible College
