SERMON: “The Book of John” (John 21:24–25)
“The Book
of John” (John 21:24–25)
Series: “John: Life in Christ’s Name” #110 Text: John 21:24–25
By: Shaun Marksbury Date: July 13, 2025
Venue: Living Water Baptist Church Occasion: AM Service
I.
Introduction
Many people wonder if we can trust Scripture. They may say that it’s been copied so many
times that it’s full of errors. They may
say that it reflects later developments, that people began to make up stories
about Jesus decades after Jesus existed, and Scripture only records the
mythology that grew around a regular man.
Such arguments may not seem very convincing to you, but for those
looking for reasons to reject the Bible, they will accept any kind of
argumentation.
In this series through the Book of John, we’ve considered
some of these skeptical claims. We have
noted, particularly with the account of the adulterous woman in John 8, that
the claims of Scripture being recopied has not damaged the text — especially
since we continuously find older copies of Bible texts which confirm the
message we have before us.
As for whether mythology emerged about Jesus, that seems
like nonsense. Even if we were talking
about a hundred years after Christ, such claims would be easily debunked;
Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865, and so far, no one has made any
supernatural claims about him rising from the dead! Given that the Gospels were all written in
the first century, when many of the witnesses and their children still lived,
there couldn’t have been the kind of tall-tale development skeptics claim.
The conclusion is that these Gospel accounts must be
trustworthy, and we should listen to them.
So, what does the Gospel of John show us? We began to consider that at the end of John
20, that “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
20:31). This Gospel exists to teach us
about Jesus.
With that in mind, we are going to review some of what we’ve
learned from the Gospel of John today. As
we conclude this Gospel, we will consider two points from these verses. First, this Gospel is trustworthy (v. 24). Second, this Gospel only gives us a glimpse
(v. 25). Let’s review this Gospel
together!
II.
This Gospel is Trustworthy (v. 24)
This is the
disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know
that his testimony is true.
This verse is about the trustworthiness of this account,
giving three lines of evidence as to why we should believe this. First, the witness writing these things is
trustworthy — he is the Apostle John who was there as both an observer and a
participator in the earthly ministry of Christ.
Second, this writing is trustworthy because John the Apostle wrote
it. Third, the worth of this document is
true because it is certified. Let’s
consider each of these points.
A.
The Witness is Trustworthy
The verse begins, “This is the disciple who is testifying to
these things.” That refers back to the
disciple in vv. 20–23 that caught Peter’s attention, traditionally understood
to be John, the son of Zebedee. While
the text does not explicitly name John, the early church unanimously attributed
this Gospel to him, as evidenced by figures like Irenaeus, Clement of
Alexandria, and the Muratorian Canon.[1] This strongly supports John’s authorship.
Remember that John consistently refuses to name himself in
his account. Instead, he engages in a
humble self-reference as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (cf. John 13:23;
19:26; 20:2). Perhaps he doesn’t see
himself as worthy to be there, but he chooses to identify himself with Jesus’s
love for him. That is a discipleship
lesson to us: don’t define yourself according to the world, or even according
to your sins; find your identity in Christ.
This means that the disciple writing this isn’t a distant
reporter. The verb for “testifying” here emphasizes his role as one
who bears witness to the events he has seen. As Jesus Himself said in John 15:27, “You will
also testify, because you have been with Me from the beginning.” John was there — at the wedding in Cana, at
the Last Supper, at the cross, and at the empty tomb. John says this in 1 John 1:1–3:
What was from the beginning, what
we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and
touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life — and the life was
manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life,
which was with the Father and was manifested to us — what we have seen and
heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and
indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.
Peter will also later write, “For we did not follow cleverly
devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty” (2 Pet. 1:16). Thus, John’s testimony is not hearsay but
firsthand evidence, grounded in personal experience with Jesus.
The reliability of any testimony hinges on the credibility
of the witness. John’s close proximity
to Jesus gives us confidence that what he writes is not speculation but truth. In a world that questions the Bible’s
reliability, we can trust John’s Gospel because it comes from one who walked
with Jesus, saw His miracles, and heard His teaching. Thus, his writing is also trustworthy, as we
see next:
B.
The Writing is a Trustworthy Account
The verse continues to state John “wrote these things.” Now, some scholars suggest that John may have
used an amanuensis (a scribe) to pen the words, a common practice in the
ancient world (cf. Rom. 16:22). However,
even if a scribe was involved, the content remains John’s, reflecting his
testimony, and a scribe would not be allowed to edit his master’s words.[2] These are the words of John the Apostle, the
eyewitness.
What “things” were written?
This refers to entire Gospel account — all the signs, teachings, and
works of Christ that we’ve studied. Let’s
briefly review the structure of John’s Gospel:
- The
Public Ministry of Jesus (Chapters 1–12):
- John
introduces Jesus as the eternal Word (1:1), and that first chapter
records John approaching Jesus on the direction of a different John —
John the Baptist.
- That
means that the Apostle John was there to witness Jesus’s first sign at the
wedding of Cana (2:1–11).
- He
also knew of the key encounters like Nicodemus coming to Jesus at night (3:1–21)
and the Samaritan woman by the well (4:1–42).
- In Chapters
5–10, John highlights Jesus’s miracles and teachings. This culminates in the raising of
Lazarus (11:1–44), a foretaste of Jesus’ own resurrection.
- With
Chapter 12, we can see John slowing down significantly to focus on this
final week of Christ. This chapter
marks the end of His public ministry. It includes the Lord’s triumphal entry,
a pronouncement of judgment, and a final call to believe.
- John
then moves on to the private ministry of Jesus (Chapters 13–17). In the Upper Room, John records that Jesus
washed the disciples’ feet (13:1–17), predicts Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s
denial (13:21–38), and teaches about the Holy Spirit (14:26; 16:13–15) and
discipleship. Jesus’s High Priestly
Prayer (17) reveals His heart for His disciples and all believers.
- John
then focuses on the passion and resurrection of Jesus (Chapters 18–21). These chapters detail Jesus’ betrayal,
crucifixion, and resurrection, culminating in His post-resurrection
appearances, including the restoration of Peter in John 21. This entire Gospel has been focused on
Jesus.
With that jet tour through John past us, let’s also consider
some of the key verses which underscore John’s purpose:
- John
1:1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God.” This affirms Jesus’s eternal preexistence and deity. If you’ve ever had a Jehovah’s Witness at
the door, they will jump through hoops to deny this verse, but it’s still
true.
- John
3:16: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever
believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” This encapsulates God’s love and the
offer of salvation, which is why it’s become such a favorite for
Christians sharing the gospel message.
- John
10:30: “I and the Father are one,” declaring Jesus’ unity with God in
essence, a claim that provoked accusations of blasphemy (10:33).
- John
14:6: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the
Father but through Me.” This
defeats the idea of religious pluralism today; there are not multiple ways
to God, nor can we get to the Father except through Christ.
- John
20:31: “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.”
This states the John’s evangelistic
purpose in this Gospel, and that we can only have life through Jesus
Christ.
So, John’s Gospel is not a collection of myths but a
carefully crafted record of historical events and theological truths. Every chapter points us to Jesus as the divine
Son of God, the Savior who offers life. As
you reflect on this Gospel, let it deepen your trust in its message and compel
you to share it with others.
You might still wonder whether John is being trustworthy,
though, as he looks back on these times.
That brings us to the final point:
C.
The Worth is Certified
The verse concludes, “and we know that his testimony is true.”
The phrase “we know” raises questions
about who the “we” refers to. Several
possibilities exist:
- John could
be referring to himself, using an editorial “we.” This was common in ancient writing.
- The
elders of the Ephesian church, where John likely ministered, affirming his
testimony.
- The
broader Christian community, endorsing the Gospel’s accuracy.
There is a practice in ancient literature known as a
colophon. Before the invention of the
printing press, where books would give important information on a title page,
scribes would sometimes give a certification at the end of the document.[3] That may be what we have with these two
verses.
This seems to be an addition by those who knew John.[4] As the Reformation Study Bible notes,
“This is the certification of a contemporary who was in a position to know John
personally. Therefore, the whole Gospel,
including ch. 21, was accepted immediately by the early church.” These are people “in a position to know the
facts better than any generation since then.”[5] While it is certainly possible that John is
referring to himself here,[6] the
sudden use of personal pronouns and other evidence leans toward this being an
editorial comment.
This actually gives greater credibility to this Gospel
account. As one commentary notes, “But
what seems fully evident is that those who represented the faithful in the
Johannine community were prepared to take a firm stand on the correct nature of
the Johannine proclamation of Jesus.
This proclamation included the fact that Jesus was the preexistent one,
the one who revealed the Father, and the one whose death and resurrection bring
salvation.”[7] This is a true testimony about Jesus Christ,
and all the evidence points toward that end.
In a skeptical age, people question the Bible’s reliability,
claiming it’s been corrupted through copying or that it reflects later myths. Yet, the Gospel of John was written within the
lifetime of eyewitnesses, when false claims could have been debunked. The early church’s immediate acceptance of
this Gospel, combined with John’s firsthand testimony, assures us that we hold
a trustworthy record. As 2 Timothy 3:16
reminds us, “All Scripture is inspired by God.” Let this truth anchor your faith and embolden
your witness.
We read everything we need to know about life and ministry
of Jesus Christ in the Gospels. These
claims are trustworthy, but does that mean they are exhaustive? Of course not! That brings us to the final point:
III.
This Gospel Only Gives us a Glimpse (v. 25)
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.
This verse echoes John 20:30, which says, “Therefore many
other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are
not written in this book.” John’s Gospel
now repeats that for clarity. John selectively
recorded seven miracles (or “signs”), such as turning water into wine (2:1–11)
and the healing of the man born blind (9:1–12). He chose these signs to fulfill the Gospel’s
purpose: to lead readers to believe in Jesus as the Christ (20:31).
John acknowledges that Jesus did far more than what he records.
The other Gospels include additional
miracles which John doesn’t always repeat, knowing that the Christian community
already has this information. Yet, even
they are not exhaustive. John knew Jesus
spent whole days healing illnesses and infirmities from town to town, which
would virtually eliminate all illness in Judea; Matthew 4:23–24 describes Jesus
healing “every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people.” There is no telling how many more miracles the
disciples all witnessed!
In fact, that makes the Jewish leaders’ rejection of Jesus
all the more amazing. As one commentary
notes, “This makes the point stronger regarding how great Israel’s unbelief and
subsequent culpability truly was, since she denied her Messiah in the face of
such a massive display of divine power.”[8] It’s just as sad that people still reject
Jesus today — not for lack of evidence but because of hardened hearts. We should pray for softened hearts and bold
faith to proclaim Christ’s works.
Consider the sheer volume of Jesus’s works here. The text says, “if they were written in
detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that
would be written.” The phrase “in
detail” suggests a comprehensive account of every word and deed of Jesus — “one after the other” (LSB). That would indeed mean that we would need
countless volumes to record the life of Christ.
Still, we might ask whether this is an exaggeration. Could such a collection overflow the
earth? Maybe it is hyperbole, akin to
someone saying he’s hungry enough to eat a horse. Yet, as some commentators remark, in this
case, this seeming hyperbole is quite literally true.[9] Jesus, as the infinite Son of God, performed
countless acts and spoke countless words during His earthly ministry. The MacArthur Study Bible notes, “Someone has
estimated that a person can read aloud Jesus’ words recorded in the Gospels in
only about three hours. But if all that the infinite Son of God said and did in
His Incarnation were pondered, the resulting commentary would be endless.”[10] It’s difficult to imagine how much material
would be needed for such a project!
John’s Gospel is selective but sufficient. As John 16:13 promises, the Holy Spirit guided
the apostles into all truth, ensuring that what John recorded is exactly what
we need to believe in Jesus and have life in His name. This should fill us with gratitude for God’s
Word and a desire to study it deeply, knowing it reveals the heart of Christ.
IV.
Conclusion
As we wrap up the Gospel of John, reflect on its purpose:
“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 20:31). This Gospel is trustworthy because it comes
from John, an eyewitness whose testimony was affirmed by the early church. It is sufficient because God has made it so, even
though it only gives us a glimpse of Jesus’ infinite glory.
I hope you trust the gospel: Let John’s testimony anchor
your faith in the historical and divine reality of Jesus Christ. I also hope all believers will share the
truth of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection with others. Finally, I hope you will worship the Savior —
standing in awe of Jesus, whose works are so vast that the world cannot contain
them.
May He be magnified in your lives!
[1] Gerald L. Borchert, John 12–21, The New American Commentary,
(Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2002), 25B:341.
[2] Ibid., 25B:341–342.
[3] F. L. Cross and
Elizabeth A. Livingstone, Eds., The
Oxford dictionary of the Christian Church, 2005, 381.
[4] “These verses also
read most naturally as an addition of John’s followers — note the first person
singular and plural pronouns versus the third-person reference to the beloved
disciple. At the same time they attribute
the book itself to John and certify its accuracy. If this reconstruction is accurate, it means
merely that God inspired multiple authors, no differently than with the books
of Ps or Pr or with the addition of the account of Moses’ death to Dt.” Ted Cabal, Chad Owen Brand, E. Ray Clendenen,
Paul Copan, J. P. Moreland, and Doug Powell, The Apologetics Study Bible: Real Questions, Straight Answers, Stronger
Faith, (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2007), 1618.
[5] Edwin A. Blum, The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An
Exposition of the Scriptures, 1985, 2, 346.
[6] This is MacArthur’s
view. John F. MacArthur Jr., John 12–21, MacArthur New Testament
Commentary, (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2008), 405.
[7] Borchert, 25B:342–343.
[8] MacArthur, 406.
[9] Ronald L. Trail, An Exegetical Summary of John 10–21,
Exegetical Summaries, (Dallas, TX: SIL International, 2018), 491.
[10] Blum, 346.
