John 20:30

Posted by DJL on May 30, 2015 in Daily Bread | 0 comments

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book.

This is only the first half of what I call John’s formal conclusion – there’s another whole chapter coming, but this sure feels like he’s wrapping things up – but I want to tarry here for just a moment for two reasons.

First, while we obviously know that Jesus did lots of things John doesn’t share – many of which are in the other Gospels – it still strikes me that I hardly ever think about that. And it makes me curious. You know, “inquiring minds want to know….” There’s so much that is left out of the Gospels about Jesus’ relationships, friends and family, other teaching, the rest of his ministry, not to mention his childhood.

All of this is interesting, and even fun to think about, but it’s also helpful to remember that John doesn’t try to tell us everything, but rather to tell us enough. John tells us just enough so that we might, like Thomas, come to see and confess Jesus as our Lord and God.

Second, recognizing that John doesn’t tell us everything but tries to tell us just enough also reminds us that John is making choices. He is choosing between various scenes and sermons and encounters and traditions and weaving them together both purposefully and creatively.

As we’ve noticed before, the Gospel stories about Jesus don’t always line up. And while some Christian traditions find that troubling – and therefore try to reconcile everything – I find it fascinating to remember that each evangelist is telling the story of Jesus not to produce an award-winning biography but instead to share the message of good news with a particular people at a particular time with particular questions. And it’s precisely because of that particularity, I think, that we still read these words. Generalities don’t persuade. But hearing this particular message offered to people who are simultaneously not us but like us can be down right compelling.

So John doesn’t tell us everything and makes creative, even artistic choices in order to tell us just enough. But just enough for what? To confess like Thomas, yes. But there’s still more. And that’s what we’ll discover next.

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for artists and evangelists like John who wanted to confess their faith in Jesus creatively in order to help us in ours. In Jesus’ name, Amen.