John 21:24-25 – The reliability of the Word of God

These last two verses of John are a deep assurance to us, who are involved in fishing and shepherding. John maintained that whatever he had written were not just hearsay. They are accounts composed by one who had witnessed all that had taken place. John knows that the testimony is true. The Gospel of John is not a fictional book, it’s an autobiography of the life and works of Jesus.

John wrote this account. But the people who came to believe in Jesus could testify that all that were recorded therein is true. Hence he said, “This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these thigs….” Then he followed by saying, “and we know that this testimony is true”, meaning those who were associated with him could attest to the truth of his account. John then went on to say that, “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself *would not contain the books that would be written.”

John could have written many other things that Jesus had done, but obviously did not include in this Gospel. Some of them could be gleaned from the other three Gospels. And if all that Jesus had shown in His life, and His teachings and works were to be written, we would be fascinated by the truth to no end. Then also countless books would be written, so much so that all the libraries in the world would not be able to contain the books written on Him.   

This brings us back to John 20:30-31 that say, “Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.” John had handpicked the essential facts and have them written to provide the basis for faith in Jesus. His whole purpose for writing what he wrote was to help us to come to faith in Jesus. He had truly convinced us that this is truly the Son of God. As we embrace this truth and build our life in the truths Jesus had taught, we will have eternal life. Yet we have not reached the bottom of the truth as yet. We still have much to discover.

Whether we are starting out in our journey of faith or midway through it. Whether we are career workers in church or laymen serving a ministry in the church, our faith and living must all rest on the revelation of the Word of God! Why? Because it is the only reliable testimony of all that Jesus had done. Let us be fully acquainted with His Word. We must study, understand, digest and assimilate it. And as we seek to be firmly established in His word, we must also go forth to proclaim the truth that will set men free. Know it or not, our work places, our schools, our offices, our camps and wherever we conduct our business, they are our mission field. We must make disciples for Jesus of all ethnic groups. Go forth and multiply!