Subscription Lists
Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
Having completed Acts and the Gospel of Luke we now begin reading and studying John’s Gospel. Why are there four Gospel and not just one account?
The Gospels are not photographs of Jesus. They are more like portraits.
Mark relied upon Simon Peter for much of his information, then Matthew and Luke wrote their accounts of the life and ministry of Jesus, and they concentrate upon what Jesus said and did. Matthew writes from the angle of the Jews and it is very much a Jewish view or standpoint. Luke appears and writes as a Gentile and almost for Gentiles – that is for those of us who are not Jewish.
When John writes he seeks to deal with Who Jesus was, and John seeks to bring you closer to Jesus.
John omits many areas. John says nothing about the birth of Jesus, and the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan, the temptations, and Jesus Christ dealing with evil spirits. There is no mention of Gethsemane and the Lord’s Supper, although it is John who gives us much of the teaching in the Upper Room.
There are seven miracles in John which are not found anywhere else, and certain events, such as Nicodemus coming to Jesus at night, the woman at the well and the washing of the feet are only to be found in John.
The teaching of Jesus in Jesus in John’s Gospel is different and even reads differently. It is deep and profound teaching.
There are long sections on Christian belief and not just Christian behaviour.
It is John who gives us the great “I am” sayings.
He has had some 60 years to think about all this.
Let’s remember who John was. Frequently we read of Peter, James and John.
These three disciples shared things that the others did not share. These three disciples appeared to be closer to Jesus than the others. They were with Jesus at the raising of Jairus’ daughter, and the transfiguration, and in that scene in Gethsemane.
This can still be the case. There are things that Jesus will share with some disciples that He will not share with everyone.
John had been the youngest of the twelve disciples. He was the one who sat next to Jesus at the table when Jesus took the bread and the wine, and Jesus so loved this disciple. When John refers to himself he always says, “the disciple whom Jesus loved”.
Through reading what John has to say, you can come closer to Jesus and you can come to see more clearly who Jesus is, and you can come to love Him more and more. This is quite an exciting prospect. Over the next week, read through this book.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
Receive the newest devotional each week in your inbox by joining the "Word from Scotland" subscription list. Enter your email address below, click "Go!" and we will send you a confirmation email. Follow the instructions in the email to confirm your addition to this list.