The book of John, penned by the apostle who also wrote 1, 2, and 3 John and the book of Revelation, was the last of the four Gospels to be written (somewhere between 85-90 AD). Why did John feel the need to write an additional Gospel account, a few years after the other three had already been written? One reason was to add color and more details to some of the stories accounted for in the other three Gospel accounts. The main reason is that John wanted people to know that Jesus was in fact who he said He was. He summarizes his whole motivation for writing in John 20:31: “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” 

Not only is the book of John a historical account of the life of Jesus, it’s also a beautifully written piece of prose, full of symbolism and references that his original audience would have understood. The number 7 plays a prominent role all throughout Scripture and the book of John is no exception. Throughout the book there are several instances of the number 7:

• There are seven names ascribed to Jesus to describe his fulfillment of the prophecies about him.
• Jesus performed seven signs, or miracles, that pointed to him being the Messiah.
• Jesus is also described as the Messiah by seven different people throughout the book.
• Jesus uses the phrase “I AM” seven times when referring to Himself, echoing God’s interaction with Moses in Exodus 3. 

The book of John is a great way to introduce people to Scripture, so invite someone to read alongside you as we begin this journey. As we read these 21 chapters, take note of each one of these references. Grab a journal and take good notes as these stories jump off the page. What do these chapters teach you about the deity of Jesus? What does it teach you about humanity? What are the implications for you today? You will find answers to all of these questions and more as we kick off the book of John.