john.

so i read the book of John today.

i had an awesome sabbath at the beach at Lake Norman today. just me and God all day long. in the middle of his beauty.

i took a chunk of time to read John's gospel straight through. I'm reading each gospel straight through as part of a goal i have in 2010 to really understand The Gospel better. (that goal with some others is HERE.)

I read through Mark in 1 sitting earlier this year and that was awesome. John was really awesome - it was a cool time today reading it.

The big word i walked away with from John's gospel was BELIEVE. 

I kept reading that word over and over and over. Believe that Jesus is from God. Believe that Jesus is the Son of God. Believe that Jesus is God. Believe in Jesus. Faith in Jesus.

And over and over those words and phrases were linked to "eternal life" which is John's phrase for the BEST life or "life to the full" (and John's version of "Kingdom of God" in Mark & "Kingdom of Heaven" in Matthew).

Throughout a chunk of the book "LOVE" was also a theme. LOVE EACH OTHER.

+ a lot of talk about God being glorified in Jesus and through Jesus and God glorifying Jesus, etc...

I think John gave his own purpose statement for his gospel in 20:31 = 

"But 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." 

That pretty much sums it up. kinda like the "Cliff's Notes".

*But you gotta read the book! Get lost in the story! it's amazing. Legit Author too...