In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 21:24-25 [HCSB])

24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.

25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which, if they were written one by one, I suppose not even the world itself could contain the books that would be written.

This is essentially a two-part epilogue by John in which he offers a narrative in support of his personal experience as a Disciple; and he makes the case for Jesus’ as Creator using specific events, times and locations. He takes one postion, and one position only, as he follows Jesus throughout His ministry and beyond the cross. The author begins with poetic language which describes “time before time” when Jesus dwelt with God before and beyond all things and ends with Peter’s redemption. In this way John’s story begins early and ends late. As the last living witness, even later than Paul and Peter, we would expect a longer and wider view of Jesus’ ministry; and an awareness that could only be the result of living through the whole of the first century with a truly Christian world view.

Part I (verse 24) is given as though in court while Part II (verse 25) suggests that there was far more material to choose from, but that the author was careful and very selective … or so says Tyndale’s Life Application Study Bible I prefer to read part II as a forward looking statement about the extra-canonical support that would be discovered to buttress the credibility of existing faith documents, especially those considered Canon by the Council of Nicaea, and by the bishops of Constantine and Rome. Also consider these: The Gospel of Thomas codex, the Nag Hammadi Library & the Dead Sea Scrolls; they are just a few of the better known collections of texts that support the authenticity of our faith; and I believe add to it. The world could not, and cannot, contain all that might be written concerning our God. He is a big, big God, bigger than our world and bigger than any book or collection of manuscripts! John did a stellar job of wrapping mere words around a mystery, keeping it mysterious, and affording us a glimpse into the domain of the mystical and the supernatural. … all in everyday language.

This is the first-hand account of our Lord and Savior by the blessed “Disciple that Jesus loved.”