In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 20:30-31 [HCSB])

30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples that are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name.

There is more …

What we have in the Gospel narratives is simply a CliffsNotes version of Jesus’ ministry … the high points if you will. There must have been so many more acts and miracles that occurred among just a few nameless locals or in out-of-the-way places. In fact it has been said that 99% of God’s work goes unnoticed and unrecorded because it is unremarkable. That should give us all confidence that God is also working in lives like our own. We are so dialed into our entertainment-based culture that we have come to assume that God isn’t interested unless we capture headlines or receive an audience with the Pope.

Far from the likes of clearing the Temple, our God is far more often a subtle, though sublimely majestic God. In this way He remains mysterious, and just beyond our understanding.

No mystery = God in a box.

Mystery = anticipation & hope.

John reveals in this passage his own motivation for the gospel bearing his name:

1.) that we might believe Jesus is Messiah,

2.) that we might believe Jesus is the Son of God,

3.) that we might, believing, have life in His name. Note: the slight alteration of context (might verses may) suggests a reduced possibility of an outcome as found in John 3:17.

Freewill always produces a remnant and not the response of the masses.