Читать книгу Portraits of Jesus in the Gospel of John - Robert P. Lightner - Страница 4

Winston Churchill, the famous defender of the British Empire, had a most fascinating and amazing career. He was 65 years old when he was called upon to become England’s protector. Throughout his political life he demonstrated great and brilliant leadership. History will remember him as the one largely responsible for saving his nation from Nazi take-over. This man might be called England’s savior.

Jesus of Nazareth, the very Son of God came to earth to be the world’s Savior, not just England’s. He was man, but more than man. As the God-Man, He, unlike all of us, was not born into the world dying. No, He was born of woman that He might die as a Substitute for the world’s sinners.

One of Jesus’ apostles whose name is John was especially close to Jesus during the three years of Jesus’ public life and ministry. In the apostle’s book called the Gospel of John, he paints what I call a number of portraits of Jesus. We will look seriously at 29 of them in this book.

John was Jesus’ beloved disciple. He was one of the three that made up the inner circle of the twelve apostles. The other two were Peter and James. These three were especially privileged to be chosen to be with Jesus at critical times in His life here on earth. For example, they were with Him when He was transfigured (Matthew 17), when He prayed in Gethsemane (Matthew 26) and when He raised Jairus’ little daughter from the dead (Mark 5). These same three apostles were prominent also when Jesus instructed His apostles on how to catch fish (Luke 5). What a contrast that is—raise the dead and instruct on fishing.

The apostle John was supernaturally equipped to write the Gospel of John, one of the four Gospels. Each Gospel was written with a unique way of setting forth Jesus. John’s book presents Jesus as the Son of God. Matthew’s presents Jesus as the King of Israel. Mark’s sets forth Jesus as the divine Servant, and Luke’s Gospel pictures Jesus as the Son of Man.

When I thought about writing this book on Portraits of Jesus, one of my wife’s hobbies came to mind. Pearl takes and collects pictures regularly and seriously. She identifies each one before putting it in an album by writing on the back the name of the persons or scene, the place and date taken. All Pearl’s pictures are clearly identified, in other words. When anyone looks at them, no guess work is necessary as to who, when or where, and sometimes even why.

In the Gospel of John the apostle has given us at least 29 portraits of Jesus that unmistakably identify Him as God the Son. Each one is carefully identified and prominently displayed for our instruction and delight. That is what this little book is all about–learning some of the ways Jesus is portrayed in each of the 21 chapters of John’s Gospel. It is very important that we remember as we gaze upon these portraits that we are looking at the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God.

As I write this book, I view my readers as primarily lay people. My purpose is not to give an exposition of John’s Gospel. Rather, it is my wish that when this book is read and responded to, the reader will be assisted in thinking through or walking through John’s Gospel with the help of these portraits. I hope I have made it easy to do that for individuals, members of Sunday School classes, or Bible Study classes. Happy looking and learning as you gaze upon John’s portraits of Jesus.

Personal applications and study questions are included at the end of each chapter to help the reader be a better person and better acquainted with Jesus, God’s beloved Son.