Today’s Reading: John 21:24-25
Hearing God’s Voice for Today:
“This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true. Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.”
* * * * *
The disciple John was the one who wrote this Gospel. He always referred to himself as the disciple “whom Jesus loved.” He was very humble and self-effacing. He wanted Christ alone to be the central character of this book.
You can trust that every single word written in the Gospel of John is true. John himself was an eyewitness to all that he wrote. He saw firsthand what the Lord did. He heard personally what Jesus spoke. He was a faithful, orthodox Jew and committed to never bearing false witness.
Notice John used the word “we” in his testimony. He was not the only eyewitness who saw all Jesus did and said. There were the other disciples, and hundreds of others, who followed, heard the Lord’s teachings, and saw him alive after his death.
John concluded this book with the statement that Jesus had performed many other mighty works—so many that all the libraries of the world could not contain them all.
The Lord Jesus entered the world as a baby. He lived the perfect life no one could live. For 33 years, he obeyed perfectly all the righteous requirements of the law. Then he died on the cross, taking the wrath of his heavenly Father upon himself so you wouldn’t have to face it. Then Jesus was raised back to life, proving that sin and death have no power over the Father’s eternal grace.
All this was done so that you might inherit eternal life. It’s the greatest act of love the world has ever known. And remember: If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.35 That’s why the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. That’s why Jesus came.
Today, Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven, awaiting the command to return to earth. On that day, he will judge the living and the dead. Those who believe in him will have everlasting life. Those who don’t are doomed to everlasting punishment.
When Jesus returns, all wrongs will be made right. All hurts will be healed. Perfect justice will be enacted.
On that great day, Jesus Christ will make all things new. There will be a new heaven and a new earth. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end of all things. He will wipe away every tear from your eyes, and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain.36
Until he returns, be faithful. Be sober and expectant. Let the Lord find you doing all that he has commanded you to do. Know him intimately. Live in peace, untroubled by fear or harm. Grow daily. Share in his divine nature. Escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. Go into the world with the good news and work to advance Christ’s kingdom.
And trust Jesus with everything in your life.
He loves you.
[from “Hearing the Voice of God” by Pastor David Chadwick, Moments of Hope Church, Charlotte, NC]