In the Beginning: The Book of John afterward The Author’s Perspective

The words that come to mind every time I consider the Book of John are hope and then truth! John’s unique and mystical narrative quality, couched in the mystery of a God Who is both personal and beyond comprehension, gives us perspective on the supernatural as God’s only natural state. This is our new norm.

As we all know by now, John was truly bent in the direction of proclaiming Jesus as God to the point of obsession. And because of this fact it is not lost on us that Jesus was more than just a man to John. In a similar way John is more than just a writer; he was a documentarian, an historian and probably the first theologian with the exception of Paul.

The mystical quality that I tend to harp on, as the single-most identifiable element of the Gospel, is more often the language and the concrete imagery. It is more than a metaphor; John presents the supernatural as a real and immediate physical reality. Unlike the Gnostics, he does not suggest that Jesus is a phantom, a dualistic entity, nor does he suggest that Jesus requires some “special knowledge” as an entre into the fold.

within the context of the lives of ordinary believers. There is very little said about church as a location, and much said about the body of followers or disciples. As well, the hope that John transmits is like nothing else in the Bible. It is palpable. Consider these passages:

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)

Anyone who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day…” (John 6:54)

"The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her." (John 8:7)

“"I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)

"I assure you: Before Abraham was, I am." ( John 8:58)

In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2)

“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life …” (John 14:6)

The mystical aspect of the narrative is John’s treatment of the supernatural as perfectly “everyday” truth and well

How can anyone square this with what we thought we knew about Jesus, our faith, or our God? There is no precedent Biblically, or in our hermeneutics, to account for John’s fresh and captivating language. Hope and truth are at the core of every passage in John’s Gospel. I am grateful for this divergent revelation.