Why John Wrote
John 20:30-31
1. The Signs
2. The Sayings
3. The Other Stuff
I invite you to open in your Bibles to the book of John. This morning, we will begin our exposition of this wonderful book, the jewel of the gospels. I’m excited to begin preaching through this book. I want to share with you some of the things that have been said about this book.
William Hendriksen called the Gospel according to John, “the most amazing book that was every written.”[1] J. C. Ryle wrote that the contents of the gospel of John “are among the most precious possessions of the Church of Christ”[2] Leon Morris says it well with these word pictures. “I like the comparison of John’s Gospel to a pool in which a child may wade and an elephant can swim. It is both simple and profound. It is for the verist beginner in the faith and for the mature Christian. Its appeal is immediate and never failing."[3]
Fundamentally, that’s why I’m so excited to begin working through the gospel of John. The children in our congregation will understand it. The deepest thinkers and theologians among us, will gain greater insights into our God. The stories in John are simple and interesting, but they carry a depth of theology that is deeper than any of us will see.
This is why William Barclay says that “John has the most penetrating gaze of all New Testament writers into the eternal mysteries and eternal truths and the very mind of God."[4] Micky Klink echoes this sentiment when he says, “The Gospel of John [is] ... one of the most theologically significant [books] in the entire canon, maybe in all the literature of the world.”[5] Kent Hughes, “John is unique [among the gospels] in his powerful presentation of Jesus as the great Creator-God of the universe. His massive vision of Christ has been used countless times to open the eyes of unbelievers to who Jesus is and the way of redemption”[6]
This is my prayer for the gospel of John, that it would open the eyes of many to the glories of Jesus. That many would come to faith through the exposition of this book. That’s my prayer, because that’s John’s prayer. You have opened to the book of John, and now, I invite you to turn to the 20th chapter. It is here that we see John’s intention in writing this book. In fact, it is the place where we will begin this morning. In John, chapter 20, verses 30-31. These verses tell us why John wrote his gospel. This is the title of my message this morning: “Why John Wrote.” John writes this:
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. This is the reason why John wrote his gospel.
If you have an English Standard Version of the Bible, you can see it right there in the heading over these verses. I could have entitled my message after this paragraph title, “The Purpose of the Gospel of John,” but I thought, “Why John Wrote” sounded better. Yet, we are getting at the same idea. In these verses, John tells us why he wrote. Before we begin in chapter 1 and verse 1 of John’s gospel, it’s helpful for us to look at why John wrote. So, these verses will be our focus this morning. Next week, we start in chapter 1 and verse 1 to hear what John says about Jesus.
In our text this morning, John begins by telling us what he did not write. He says:
John 20:30
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;
In other words, John was not trying to be exhaustive in his presentation of the life of Jesus. Indeed, this would be impossible. This is what John says in the very last verse of the gospel.
John 21:25
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.
So, John isn’t trying to tell everything about the life of Jesus. Which, by the way, none of the other gospel writers attempt to do either. John is explicit in what he isn’t writing. In this way, the gospel of John is not a “biography” of Jesus. Rather, it a “biographical sketch” of the life of Jesus, in which John highlights specific events in the life of Jesus, and particular sayings of Jesus, to aim at one purpose. The purpose comes in verse 31.
John 20:31
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.
Did you notice the two tiered purpose of John? First off, John wants his readers to believe in Jesus. That he is the Christ. That he is the Son of God. Second, and ultimately more important, “that you may have life in his name.” John isn’t aiming his gospel to merely convince people who Jesus is. He’s aiming that they might have the abundant life that comes through him. In other words, John wants people to believe in Jesus, because, belief in Jesus leads to life.
“Belief” is common theme in the gospel of John. A simple search of our English Bibles shows that the word, “Believe” shows up 84 times in the gospel of John. With 21 chapters, that’s four times each chapter, that John mentions belief! It’s a huge theme in the gospel of John, summarized well in John 3:16.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
True life, eternal life, comes through faith in Jesus. John wants his readers to live! So, he writes so as to persuade people to believe in Jesus. Now, I trust that you can see on the teaching logo of this book, that these two tiers are clear. The message of John is this: “Believe So That You May Live.” Over the next two years, you will hear this phrase often, “Believe So That You May Life.” It is the theme of the gospel of John. It is John’s desire that his readers believe. Thus, it is my desire that you all would believe. My heart is that the book of John would lead many to faith in Jesus here at Rock Valley Bible Church. Not merely that you might have faith, but that you might have life that comes through him.
Now, as John writes, he shows Jesus to be the creator-God of the universe, who has come into the flesh, to lead us to God, the Father. Jesus said:
John 14:6
I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
We come to Jesus by faith! By believing in what he did and what he said and through our faith, we will experience the life that God has for us. Note again in verse 30 the word that John uses to describe the works that Jesus did. He called them “signs.”
John 20:30
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;
There are many signs that Jesus did that John didn’t include in his book. He did include seven of them for us. This is in contrast to the other gospel accounts. Matthew records 21 miracles that Jesus did. Mark records 20 miracles. Luke records 22 miracles of Jesus. John records only 7 miracles. He was highly selective in what he included in his book. He tells us the reason for including them.
John 20:31
but these [signs] 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.
This verse ought to cast a shadow on everything that John wrote. In other words, when reading the gospel of John, John 20:30-31 must be in our minds. They articulate the whole reason why John wrote his gospel! That we might believe! That we might have life. This morning, I would like for us to consider the signs of Jesus in the book of John. My first point this morning is this:
1. The Signs
There is some debate as to how many signs there are, and what exactly qualifies as a sign. But the debate is minor, and in the end, it doesn’t really matter. Most people say that there were seven signs. A sign is basically a miracle that Jesus did. Ultimately, these miracles point to the power of Jesus, which, in turn demonstrate that he was indeed the Messiah. So, let’s consider the first sign.
1. Turning Water into Wine in the city of Cana (John 2:1-11)
I encourage you to turn over to John, chapter 2. Perhaps you remember the story. Jesus and his mother and his disciples were at a wedding in Cana in Galilee (John 2:1-2). During the ceremony, they ran out of wine (John 2:3), which would have been embarrassing for the bridegroom, but more so, would have put a damper on the party. At the urging of his mother, Jesus told the servants to fill up the six large stone water jars with water, right up to the brim (John 2:4-7). Then Jesus told them to draw some out and “take it to the master of the feast” (John 2:8), which they did. The master of the feast tasted the water, which had become wine (John 2:9). And said that it was excellent wine! (John 2:10).
He had no idea that the “wine” had been “water” only moments earlier. But the servants knew. They were the ones who filled up the jars with water! They were the ones who brought the water to Jesus! They knew that it was a miracle. This is what John calls a “sign.” Look at verse 11.
John 2:11
This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
John identifies this as the first sign of Jesus. in so doing, Jesus “manifested his glory” as he did what no man could do. He changed water into wine. As a result of this sign, we read in verse 11, “His disciples believed in him.” Seeing what Jesus did led his disciples to believe. But John has a greater purpose here in sharing this story. It’s that we might believe. Again, do you remember John 20:31?
John 20:31
but these [signs] 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 told us how Jesus turned the water into wine, so that we would believe that Jesus is the Christ. Let’s move on to the second sign.
2. Healing the Official’s Son (John 4:46-54)
This sign is recorded in John, chapter 4. I encourage you to turn over there, toward the end of the chapter. This miracle also happened in Cana in Galilee (John 4:46). There was this boy who sick, and at the point of death (John 4:47). This boy’s father came to Jesus and asked him to come to Judea and heal his son. Judea was some 60 miles to the south of where Jesus was. In verse 50, we see what Jesus did.
John 4:50
Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.”....
And then we read, that the father
John 4:50
....believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.
As this father went south to see his son, his servant was going north to tell this man that his son took a turn for the better and “was recovering” (John 4:51) and that his fever “left him” (John 4:52). They discussed when exactly the fever broke. And they determined that it was at the exact time that Jesus had said, “Go; your son will live.” Then again, there is a statement of faith.
John 4:53
The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household.
Again, I point out the purpose of John telling us these miracles is that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, doing what only the Christ can do. Healing a man from afar with words. If those who were close to the sign saw and believed, we should as well.
John 4:54
This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.
Let’s move onto the third sign.
3. Healing the Paralytic (John 5:1-18)
This comes in John 5, right after the healing of the official’s son. These events didn’t happen in Cana in Galilee in the north. Rather, they happened in Jerusalem in Judea in the south. I can do no better than read the story for you.
John 5:1-9
After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.
What an amazing thing that Jesus did! Here was a man who had been crippled for 38 years. He lived among the other cripples. Jesus simply says to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk” (verse 8). And the man gets up, rolls up his mat, and begins to walk home. The key to this story comes in verse 9,
John 5:9
....Now that day was the Sabbath.
It was because Jesus healed on the Sabbath that Jesus was hated by the Jews. Look down at verse 16.
John 5:16
And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.
This is a backhanded way of talking about faith. The Jews believed that Jesus was the one who healed this paralyzed man. But they didn’t believe that Jesus was the Christ. Remember John’s purpose in writing!
John 20:31
but these [signs] 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.
It didn’t help the Jews at all to acknowledge that Jesus was the power behind the signs. They didn’t connect that these signs pointed to Jesus being the Messiah! But John writes that you might makes this connection! Jesus can do these signs, because he is the Christ! I encourage you to believe that Jesus is the Christ. Let’s move on to the fourth sign:
4. Feeding the 5,000 (John 6:1-15)
John tells the story in chapter 6. In verse 2 we see a large crowd following Jesus. We are told why they are following him.
John 6:2
And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick.
This hints to the fact that Jesus was doing many signs, but remember, John only includes a few of them, designed to convince us that Jesus is the Christ. With just five loaves of bread and two fish, Jesus feeds this crowd of people, which was identified as 5,000 men, possibly more women and children. Let’s pick up the story in verse 11.
John 6:11-14
Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”
What a great story of the power of Jesus. In verse 14 we see the people believing in Jesus, believing that he is “the Prophet,” which is equivalent to believing that Jesus is “the Christ.” However, they didn’t quite understand the mission of the Messiah.
John 6:15
Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
This wasn’t the way that the Messiah would gain his kingdom. Jesus wasn’t going to become king by force. He was to become king another way. So, when John says in verse 31, that he wrote these things,
John 20:31
....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.
It’s important that you believe in the right sort of Christ. not one who is an earthly king who becomes king by force, but one who is king of a different domain. When on trial before Pilate,
John 18:36
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world.”
The kingdom of Jesus is an eternal kingdom in the heavens, which he obtained by his death, not by some political coupe. We enter his kingdom by faith. We don’t make his kingdom come by force. Let’s move onto the next sign. It comes right after feeding the 5,000.
5. Walking on the Water (John 6:16-21)
John 6:16-21
When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
There are some who would say that this miracle wasn’t one of John’s “signs” because it wasn’t public, Indeed, it was at night, to be experienced only by the disciples. Nor was it ever identified as a sign. Whether or not it is an official sign of Jesus or not, it is still a miracle. John still included it to convince us that Jesus was mightier than all of us. He was the Christ! The next sign comes in chapter 9.
6. Giving Sight to the Blind Man (John 9)
This is one of the most humorous stories in the book of John. I can’t tell it all to you this morning, because the story covers all of chapter 9. The crux of the sign comes in verses 6 and 7.
John 9:6 -7
Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.
Much of the rest of the story tells of the investigation that the Jews made about this miracle that Jesus performed. In so doing, they reveal their own blindness. Look at verse 24.
John 9:24-33
So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” And they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out.
The miracle of the blind man is used to show the blindness of the Jews. They couldn’t see that Jesus was the Messiah. They didn’t believe. But this blind man did.
John 9:35-41
Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.
The final sign in the book of John comes in chapter 11.
7. Raising Lazarus from the Dead (John 11)
This shows the power of Jesus. That he comes to the tomb of his friend, Lazarus, who had been in the ground for four days. Jesus says, “Take away the stone” (John 11:39). Then
John 11:43
....he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.”
In verse 44 we read,
John 11:44
The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
Because of this, many believed in Jesus.
John 11:45
Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him,
They saw, first-hand, the power of Jesus to raise a man from the dead! And they believed! Now, when the Pharisees saw it, knew that it happened, but they didn’t believe that Jesus was the Christ. They didn’t believe that Jesus had come to redeem the people of Israel. Instead, they saw him as a threat. Look at verse 46,
John 11:46-48
but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. [raising Lazarus from the dead] So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”
The Pharisees had a problem on their hands. If they let Jesus continue, they will lose their power. So, they must deal with Jesus.
John 11:49-50
But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.”
Caiaphas speaks the gospel, without even knowing it. The gospel of John is filled with such ironies. Mickey Klink likes to say that John will often wink at us.
John 11:51-52
He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.
Indeed, this is what Jesus did. He came and died on the cross, not only for his people, but also for all who are “scattered abroad,” including those in Rockford. If you believe today in Jesus, you may have the life that he offers.
John 11:53
So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.
This morning, we have considered 1. The Signs of Jesus Let’s also consider,
2. The Sayings
Throughout the gospel of John, there are some unique sayings of Jesus. These are often called, the “I am” statements of Jesus because they all begin with Jesus saying, “I am.” If you know your Bibles well, you can hear the allusion back to Exodus, chapter 3, in which God appeared to Moses in the burning bush. After some discussion, Moses asks God for his name. And God says, “I am who I am” (Exodus 3:14). This is what Jesus is claiming with all of these “I am” statements. He is declaring that he is God. He is the Christ.
I believe that John was bringing out these “I am” statements, to demonstrate the Jesus was “the Christ.” that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, that we might have life in his name. So, this morning, I simply want review these seven statements quickly. First off, Jesus said:
1. "I am the bread of life” (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51).
Jesus said this is John, chapter 6. He says it several times. He said it in the context of feeding the 5,000, which Jesus used as an illustration to speak about himself. Yes! He can feed 5,000 people. But that’s because he is bread of life. That is, he can give the true life.
John 6:35
I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
This is true life! Never to hunger or thirst again! It comes through faith.
John 20:31
but these [signs] 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.
Let’s look at the next “I am” saying of Jesus.
2. "I am the light of the world” (John 8:12; 9:5).
John 8:12
I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
Here we get a sense of what it means to believe. It means that we follow after Jesus. We walk in his ways, trusting in him. If we believe and trust, we won’t walk in darkness. Rather, we “will have the light of life.” We will have this light that gives life. Jesus illustrated this in chapter 9 by giving sight to the blind man, so that he would never walk in darkness again. What Jesus did physically to this man, he will do spiritually to all who follow after him! John writes this book, so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, and follow after him, and have the light of life! The next saying comes in John 10.
3. "I am the door” (John 10:7, 9).
Jesus is picturing a sheep pen. He’s picturing the gate to a sheep pen. He says:
John 10:7
I am the door of the sheep. John 10:9 If anyone enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
To a sheep the gate is the passage way to life! You go through that gate, and you will find the pasture. For a sheep, pasture is where life comes! Closely associated with “the door” is the next saying of Jesus.
4. "I am the good shepherd" (John 10:11, 14).
Not only is Jesus the door into the pasture, he is also the “good shepherd” who will lead us there. But when talking about being the “good shepherd,” Jesus points out how the shepherd will sacrifice his life for the sheep. Think about it. The shepherd is the one who feeds the sheep. The shepherd is the one who leads the sheep to water. The shepherd is the one who cleans the sheep. The shepherd is the one who tends to the injured sheep. If you remember the story of David, the shepherd will fight off the lion and the bear. Jesus said:
John 10:11-15
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I lay down my life for the sheep.
This is what Jesus did on the cross for us! He laid down his life for us, dying in our place that we might live.
5. "I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25).
Jesus gave this saying in the context of raising Lazarus from the dead!
John 11:25
I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.
Again, you see the connection between believing in Jesus and life in his name! When you believe in Jesus, you will have the life in his name. This life is more than here and now. Even if we die, we will live, if we believe in him! Raising Lazarus from the dead is the great illustration of this reality. If he can raise Lazarus from the dead, certainly, he can give us life, even if we die! So, believe in him! I trust that you can see how relentless John is throughout this book, over and over is the same message, “Believe so that you may live.” The next saying comes in chapter 14.
6. "I am the way and the truth and the life" (John 14:6).
This is the great reality of the life of Jesus! He is way to life! What he says is true! Jesus goes on to say that he is the only way to life.
John 14:6
I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
You cannot get to God through Buddha or Mohammed or your idol or your religious deeds. No, the only way to God the Father is through faith in Jesus. That’s why John’s message is so important for us! If we ever want to get to God, we must believe in Jesus! The final “I am” saying comes in chapter 15.
7. "I am the true vine" (John 15:1, 5).
The vine is the giver of life to the fruit. Jesus says:
John 15:5
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Life only comes through Jesus, the life-giving vine. If you abide in him, that is, believe in him and trust him in everything, you will have fruit! you will have life! Apart from Jesus, there is no life. He says, “apart from me you can do nothing.” Now, it’s not that we can’t do anything. It’s that we can’t know life apart from Jesus.
There are the sayings of Jesus. "I am the bread of life” (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51). "I am the light of the world” (John 8:12; 9:5). "I am the door” (John 10:7, 9). "I am the good shepherd" (John 10:11, 14). "I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25). "I am the way and the truth and the life" (John 14:6). "I am the true vine" (John 15:1, 5). I want to close with one final point. We have seen, 1. The Signs We have seen, 2. The Sayings And now, I want to add
3. The Other Stuff
There is more to the gospel of John that his signs and sayings. A whole lot more. In John 1 and John 3, we read about John the Baptist, who came as a witness to Jesus (John 1:17). John 3 records Jesus speaking with Nicodemus about the new birth. Jesus speaks with the woman at the well in John 4. Jesus appears at the feast in John 7. Jesus had many conflicts with the Pharisees, some of which are recorded in John 5 and John 8. Jesus enters Jerusalem in John 12. Jesus washes the disciples' feet in John 13. In John 14-16, we learn about the teaching that Jesus gave to the disciples on the night when he was betrayed. Jesus prays his high priestly prayer in John 17. Jesus is on trial in John 18. Jesus' suffering comes in John 19. Jesus raised from the dead in John 20.
All of these things in the gospel of John are written for a reason. Everything that John writes has one goal. that you “Believe in Jesus so that you may life.”
This sermon was delivered to Rock Valley Bible Church on June 9, 2024 by Steve Brandon.
For more information see www.rockvalleybiblechurch.org.
[1] William Hendriksen, New Testament Commentary: John (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953), 3.
[2] J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on John, Volume 1 (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1987), 1.
[3] Leon Morris: The Gospel According to John (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1995), 3.
[4] William Barclay, The Gospel of John, Volume 1 (Westminster Press: Philadelphia, 1975), 1.
[5] Edward W. Klink III, Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2016), 21.
[6] R. Kent Hughes, John: That You May Believe (Wheaton: Crossway, 1999), 15.