The Local Preacher Will Recommend It

By Reverend Michael Farias

Why is it, of all the books in the Bible, that the Gospel of John is recommended by pastors more than any other of the 66 books the Bible has to offer?

It’s not the first book in the volume - Genesis is.  It’s not the shortest book or even in the top 10 shortest books.  If you are thinking it’s because it’s the first book in the New Testament, you are wrong - Matthew is.

So then, why?   What’s the deal?  Being a preacher and minister myself, I know the answer.  It’s the same reason I always recommend a new believer or nominal seeker to read the Gospel of John.  Here comes the answer...

The Gospel of John has been described as a pool in which a child may wade and an elephant may swim.  If you want simple, exciting, easy to follow stories, this is a good read for you.  If you are desiring a deeper theological meaning and want to drill down, this book will meet and exceed your expectation.

John is unique among the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke are the other three). It has its own plots, stories, and viewpoints.

The Gospel of John presents the life of Jesus that has probably inspired and motivated more people than any other work ever written.

The reason your local pastor or church leader recommends the Gospel of John, as well as me, is for the very reason John wrote the book.  All of our motive is the same.  It is that you would believe.

John does not conceal his purpose, there is no surprise or hidden agenda, he flat out  tells us why he wrote it in John 20:31,  

these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name (nkjv).

No secrets here.

I’ll go one step further and recommend that you do more than read the Gospel of John, study it.