The Apostle John wrote his Gospel with primarily an unbelieving audience in mind by explicitly stating his purpose articulated in John 20:31: “but 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”.
The message of eternal life in John’s Gospel consistently presents two elements; the Gift and the Giver. John begins with this concept in John 1:1-14 which establishes Jesus’ divine identity as the Word who became flesh to give eternal life to all who believe in His name. This Gift/Giver theme continues throughout the gospel. When Jesus encounters Martha at Lazarus’ tomb (John 11), He presents the content of saving faith: “I am the resurrection and the life (Giver). He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live (Gift)”.
John’s Gospel presents signs to establish Jesus’ identity as the Giver and authenticate His message of the Gift, such as turning water into wine (John 2) and giving sight to the man born blind (John 6). These signs, combined with multiple witnesses including John the Baptist’s testimony (John 1:29-34), the miraculous signs themselves, the cross, the resurrection, God’s direct testimony, Scripture, and Jesus’ fulfilled prophecies, provide compelling evidence for Jesus’ claims.
The beauty of John’s message lies in its clarity, completeness and simplicity. A person reading through John’s Gospel needs no external references to understand and believe the message of everlasting life. The message centers on the two key elements of the Giver and the Gift. Jesus as the Giver makes audacious claims throughout John’s Gospel. He claims absolute exclusivity as the life-giver; the single source of eternal life. This is powerfully demonstrated in His John 14:6 declaration “I am the way, the truth, and the life”. Additionally, He cements this with seven statements of eternal life/belief undergirded with seven negative statements supporting assurance, the essence of saving faith.
The Gift of everlasting life is presented explicitly as something that cannot be earned by merit. As Jesus makes clear, it must be received as a free gift. This relationship between the Giver and the Gift is perhaps most clearly seen in Jesus’ exchange with Martha at Lazarus’ tomb. When Jesus declares “I am the resurrection and the life,” Martha’s response demonstrates perfect understanding that Jesus is the Christ and the one who gives everlasting life to believers.
The message is beautifully simple: eternal life comes through believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (the Giver), and that He can give eternal life (the Gift). The Gospel of John presents these truths with technical precision, clarity and brevity, making it the premier book for evangelism. One need not understand all of Jesus’ actions and teachings to receive everlasting life – only believe in the Gift and the Giver as revealed in John’s Gospel.
