Well, I am very, very excited about what we're going to do this year in these five-minute Bible studies. We're going to be looking at the Gospel of John. And John is this massive, focused, exciting consideration of Jesus--and what could be more important than spending fifty-two weeks just thinking about Jesus? And there is nothing in all of Scripture like the first chapter of the Gospel of John. Well, I want to say welcome to The Gospel: One Sign at a Time, which is our study of the Gospel of John.
As you probably know, John is one of the four Gospels that begins the New Testament. But it's important to know that these Gospels are not repetitive. Each Gospel is like a photograph of Jesus, but taken at a different angle than the other Gospels. To understand John's angle, you have to pay attention to one of his favorite words--the word is the word 'sign.'
A sign is not the thing you're looking for, but it's pointing you to what you're looking for. John is very careful to point us to all the signs that tell us for sure that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, so that we would believe, and in believing, have life in his name.
Now think about this. We often, in our everyday lives, stop at the sign, trying to find life where it cannot be found. The created world is meant to be a sign pointing to the existence and glory of God. Imagine if you're a dad and you told your children that you were going to go to Disney World, and in Disney World, you would experience the most amazing things you've ever experienced. You take your kids to Disney World website, and you show them all the wonders and glory of Disney. Well, after several months, you finally are in your car and you're driving down to Disney World, and you get to that sign that says, "Disney World: 120 Miles," and you stop and you say to your kids, "We're here!" and you unpack. Your family would think that you're crazy, but we do that all the time in our lives. We pay more attention to the sign; we think that the signs that point to God are where life is to be found, and that's never true.
Well, there's no better summary of John's purpose in writing than what he says in John 20:30-31: "Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."
John's purpose is evangelistic, that unbelievers would come to believe because of the power of the signs that convince you that Jesus is the savior that you need. But it's also written so that believers would deepen and enrich their faith in this awesome one that John describes. John writes not just to convince you that Jesus is not only fully human, but that he's fully God as well, and that there's no greater gift of grace than the Word becoming flesh.
Well, hundreds of thousands of people have come to faith and surrendered their life to Jesus because of the words of John that we are about to consider. And my hope, as we go verse by verse and passage by passage through this wonderful piece of God's revelation to us, is that our faith would grow, that our faith would deepen, that we would stand back in wonder and awe and say, "This is the one I want to know. This is the one I want to live for. This is the place where I'm going to find my hope."
So, I want to say: Join me week by week as we stop, get off the busyness train, and for a few minutes, focus our hearts and minds on considering the most important thing that could ever be considered--Jesus!
Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion
1. What might be some of the "signs" in your life that you look to in order to find life? How have those signs failed you? In what ways can you see the signs you've looked to for life as pointers to the true Source of life? Why is God the only true source of life?
2. Reflect on the moment (or series of moments) when you believed that Jesus was the Christ--the Son of God--and in believing, had life in his name? When you believed, what initially changed for you? What "unlocked" inside your heart? Now, how does that reflection on that time in your life give you zeal for studying through the book of John? What are you hopeful to learn and discover for the first time as you study John's Gospel?
3. Are there any specific questions you have always had about the book of John that you hope to have answered going through this study? If so, take some time to write down any questions you have and ask God to illuminate the Scriptures in ways that help you to greater appreciate this Holy Spirit-inspired perspective of Jesus' life. Ask God to give you a posture of humility before his Word and teach you as you study it. Ask the Lord to focus your heart and mind on considering the most important thing that could ever be considered--Jesus Christ.
Conversation Prompts to Use with Children
For Younger Children:
• What's more exciting: a sign that points to Disney World or Disney World itself? Why? How are signs helpful? Why are signs not as worthy of our excitement as the thing they're pointing to? When we see signs in the Bible that point us to Jesus, where should our focus be aimed? Why?
For Older Children:
• If you spotted a road sign that pointed you to your favorite destination in the world, why would it be ridiculous to value the road sign over the place it was pointing to? In what ways do you see me and yourself valuing the good things God has given us or done for us (road signs) over the Giver of those good things (what the road signs point to)?
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