Life In The Gospel Of John One of the greatest Biblical or theological concepts found in the gospel of John is that

of life. The word for life, , is found some thirty-six times in the gospel of John (in thirty-four verses). What does the word life mean in the fourth gospel? Why does Jesus spend so much time on the subject of life? In the opening verses of John, the apostle tells us concerning the Word, Messiah, that in Him was life, and the life was the light of men (John 1:4). Let us notice some three ways in which life is described in the gospel of John. First of all, the word life is used in the sense of the abundant life that Christ offers to those who believe in Him while living on this earth. In

chapter ten where Jesus claims to be the door unto the sheepfold and the Good Shepherd, He says: I have come that they might have life, and might have it abundantly (John 10:10b). Jesus entrance into this dark world of sin brings light (John 1:4). Jesus claims, I Am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life (John 8:12). The type of life Christ offers us is a life that leads to peace of mind in the midst of tribulation (John 16:33). Jesus offers those who thirst spiritually to drink from the fountains of living water (John 4:10). Secondly, there is the life of the unbeliever, the one who lives for the physical world and not the spiritual. darkness rather than light. This is the person who walks in

They depict those who followed Jesus only for

the loaves and fishes (John 6:26) or simply to see the miracles. Jesus offers more than just meeting the physical needs of mankind. He offers Himself as the bread of life, but most are only interested in the physical bread or manna (John 6:47-51) that leads to physical and spiritual death. Those who walk in darkness are in bondage to sin because they are not set free by the truth of Christ (John 8:32, 34). Those who live outside the shadow of the cross will be raised up to a resurrection of judgment (John 5:29). Third, there is the eternal life (a home in heaven He is preparing, John 14:1-3) which Christ offers those who believe in Him. The golden text of the Bible, John 3:16, speaks of Gods love for the world that offers to those who believe eternal life. The way in which we come to have eternal life is to search the scriptures (John 5:39), for they testify to Who Jesus is and how we must come to Him. The crowd following Jesus in the next chapter turn and walk away because they reject the teachings about the Messiah in the Scriptures. Those who drink from the fountain that Jesus offers are

tapped into a swell that springs up to eternal life (John 4:14). The one who believes, or puts their trust, in Him has eternal life and shall not come under judgment at the end of life (John 5:24). There is a resurrection of life for those who live righteous lives (John 5:28-29) and a resurrection of judgment to those who live ungodly, evil lives. We find the idea of eternal life and the resurrection in the narrative of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead in John chapter eleven. When Martha meets Jesus, our Lord tells her: Your brother shall rise again (John 11:23). Martha tells Jesus, I

know that he will rise again in the resurrection of the last day (John 11:24). Jesus then tells Martha, I Am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die, Do you believe this? (John 11:2526). The idea of eternal life is connected with hope and faith. We hope in Christ because of the resurrection; we believe because of the evidence we have seen. We experience the this life as we walk in the light (1 John 1:7). We either live a life in the dark pit of sin or in the light of life. Jesus promises His children that living in the light leads to an abundant life full of His wonderful blessings. Those who remain faithful until death (Revelations 2:10) are promised a crown of life. The theme of life is important for a proper understanding of the fourth gospel. Thanks be to God for the life we are privileged to live!