Each of the gospels has a different emphasis on Jesus’ character.  John’s gospel paradoxically portrays both the divinity and approach-ability of Jesus. It portrays Jesus as both the source of life and as a nurturing and intimate person. This Gospel helps us to see important characteristics of Jesus not emphasized in the other gospels. It also tells stories the synoptic gospels leave out, such as the wedding in Cana where Jesus turns water into wine and the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. It portrays these miracles as signs, instead of simply miracles, that point us to see who Jesus is.  The signs point not only to a powerful and fully divine Messiah, but also to a very personable and loving, fully human Jesus.

 
We see in John 1 a Messiah that was God and was with God, who shared in creating AND who came to be with us in the flesh. We have a God with skin on. This Messiah remains powerful and in control, but chooses to exercise that power in sacrificial love for us with human limitations, which we see in his actions: in descending to earth as a human, in healings, in obeying his mother, in the signs/miracles he chooses to do, in compassionate acts, in washing his disciples’ feet, in his final words on the cross, and in dying for us.

 
Finally, I love that John calls one of the disciples “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” While there’s much speculation about who this refers to, I believe it holds significance. It clearly refers to someone in historical context- someone who leaned against Jesus’ breast and who ran to the empty tomb, and yet, I believe it is each one of us.  I’ve often thought that it might be the author of John, and, if so, I find it remarkable that this is how the author identifies himself.  It is this quality– being loved by Jesus– that the author feels is most important to reveal. What if we all felt that way?  There’s a contemporary Christian song titled “Good, Good Father” which says, “I am loved by you; that’s who I am.” We are God’s beloved.

 
Read John 13:21-35.  When you have the time, read all of John, and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally!

Annie