That You May Believe – The Gospel of John

By /
Speaker: Pastor
Series:

Finding Life: The Purpose and Power of John’s Gospel

Have you ever wondered what life is really all about? Not just existence, but true, abundant life? The Gospel of John was written precisely to answer this question. As we begin our journey through this profound book, I want to share with you why John’s Gospel is uniquely positioned to transform your understanding of Jesus and the life He offers.

Who Was John? The Man Behind the Gospel

John wasn’t just any disciple—he was “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 20:2). Before following Jesus, John was simply a fisherman working with his father Zebedee and his brother James. But everything changed when Jesus approached their boat.

“Jesus saw two brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother, in the boat with Zebedee, their father, mending their nets. And he called them immediately. They left the boat and their father and followed him” (Matthew 4:21-22).

From this encounter, we can learn several important truths about our own relationship with Jesus:

Jesus Calls You to Follow Him

Just as Jesus disrupted John’s ordinary day at work, He calls each of us to follow Him. “He wants you to leave your nets. He wants you to leave anything and everything that you have, and he wants you to follow Him.” This call is personal and requires a response.

Jesus Cares for Those Who Follow Him

John is repeatedly described as “the one whom Jesus loved.” This wasn’t because Jesus played favorites, but because John experienced Jesus’ love in a profound way. “I wonder what John thought when his brother was martyred. I guarantee you he leaned on the truth of what he knew about Jesus, that Jesus cared for him and loved him.”

Jesus Grows Those Who Follow Him

“Early on, they were called the sons of thunder. These guys had some energy and wanted to call down fire from heaven to burn these heathens up.” But Jesus transformed John from this impulsive “son of thunder” into “John the Apostle of Love.” Similarly, “in your life, you may have started out with a lot of energy and a lot of ambition and perhaps some brashness… but God works in your life, and God sanctifies your life.”

Jesus Uses Those Who Follow Him

Despite being considered “unlearned and ignorant” (Acts 4:13), John wrote one of the most theological and evangelistic books in our Bible. “It’s not you that gets the glory. It’s that God works in you common people. And I’m so thankful that God works in common people… he wants to use you for his glory.”

Why Did John Write His Gospel?

John himself tells us his purpose in John 20:30-31: “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

To Reveal Who Jesus Is

John wants us to “believe that Jesus is the Christ” (the Messiah) and “the Son of God.” From the very beginning of his Gospel, John declares, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). Throughout John’s Gospel, Jesus uses the word “Father” over 120 times, revealing His unique relationship with God.

To Show What Jesus Did

“Jesus did miracles. And as John is writing his gospel, he is going to choose certain signs very specifically and very deliberately to show the world, to explain to the world who Jesus is.” These signs point to Jesus, just as road signs point to a destination. “If you only look at the sign, you’re going to miss something very important… don’t miss Jesus just because you saw the sign.”

To Offer Life Through Jesus

The word “life” appears about 36 times in John’s Gospel. Jesus declares, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). This life isn’t found in “your religion… your righteousness… your good works… your baptism” but “in Jesus’ name.”

Jesus offers not just existence but true life: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Putting It Into Practice

As we begin this journey through John’s Gospel, I invite you to consider:

  1. Examine your belief – Do you truly believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God? Not just intellectually, but with your whole heart?
  2. Assess your life source – Where are you looking for satisfaction? “Is it in your career? Is it in your marriage? Is it your children? Is it in something that you want to accomplish? Or is it in a person—Jesus?”
  3. Embrace abundant life – “Sometimes as Christians, we live as if we are facing death. And he says, I want to give you life now. I want you to have all of me now. And Jesus is enough.”

The purpose of John’s Gospel is clear: “These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31). As we journey through this remarkable book together, may we discover—or rediscover—the life that only Jesus can give.

We hope you enjoyed the sermon and would love to see you in person. Plan your visit to Community Baptist Church in Spring Hill, Tennessee today!

Plan A Visit
Scroll to Top