My sister-in-law loves to go kayaking. When she gets the chance, she grabs the provisions she needs, straps the kayak on the top of her car, and off she goes to an adventure in the wilderness. Once at her destination, she unloads everything and fastens herself in. Then, with paddle in the water, she begins her journey. Sometimes it is peaceful, sometimes exciting. The water can be a turbulent thrill ride, or it can be like gliding on a sheet of glass. At such times, when the river is calm and crystal clear, it plays a trick on her eyes. As the paddle enters the water it seems to kink and go in a different direction. This is because the light rays bend as they pass through the water so that the paddle appears to hinge at the point of entry. Of course, the paddle is still straight, but her perception is altered.
In some ways this illustrates how we perceive the realities of God’s providence on this side of heaven. We do not have as clear of a picture as we ought. Our understanding is skewed, just like our view of the paddle. This is why the Apostle Paul tells us that while we are in this life we see as through a glass dimly, but a day is coming when we will see clearly (1 Corinthians 13:12). It is only when we are on the other side of the barrier between this world and the spiritual world that we can see things as they truly are.
Over the past several months we have been looking at the gospel of John. And when we think about the story of Jesus, we may wonder: why are there four gospels in the Bible? We are inclined to compare the gospels to four different versions of a major historical event. Each writer witnesses that event from a different perspective and gives their needed contribution to tell the whole story. While there may be some merit in this, something more is going on: each author has a purpose to his gospel as it relates to a specific audience. With this being the case, the individual accounts of the gospel writers are not deficient. They each tell the whole story of that which the writer wishes to communicate. Matthew’s gospel, for example, has a significant amount of Old Testament references showing that Jesus is the promised Messiah. By explaining how Old Testament prophecies meet their fulfillment in Christ, his gospel has particular relevance to the Jewish audience to whom Matthew wrote. Mark, on the other hand, has few Old Testament references because his book was written to a Gentile audience that would have little knowledge of those things. His gospel recounts Jesus’ interaction with many outside the family of Israel. His concern is to show that God’s family consists of Gentile believers along with the covenant people of Israel. Luke focuses on the inclusion of the outcast of society in his gospel. Through the example of Jesus’ care for the sick and the broken, he communicates that we are all spiritually outcast and in need of the healing the gospel brings. Each writer communicates the message of the gospel in a way best suited for their intended audience.
Even with their differences, the first three gospel writers give a similar synopsis of the story of Jesus. For this reason, they are referred to as the synoptic gospels. John’s account, on the other hand, differs significantly from Matthew, Mark and Luke. He gives us more of a spiritual perspective as he writes his gospel. Matthew Henry wrote, “John gives us more of the mystery of that of which the other evangelists gave us only the history.” John’s goal is to take us beyond the barrier of the earthly realm and open our eyes to the heavenly side of the story. If we are going to grasp the significance of John’s gospel, we must let him walk us into the heavens and show us the view of Jesus’ story from the eyes of the angels and the Father above.
It is fitting that John is the one who takes us on this particular journey. He is familiar with this territory. In the book of Revelation, which he also authored, he teaches us to see the spiritual side of the events happening in the history of the world. Things are not as they appear from an earthly perspective. Chaos seems to reign, but all the while God is in control, bringing about His purpose. This same heavenly perspective provides the framework for John’s gospel. He teaches us to see the spiritual side of events as they transpire in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. We have seen examples of this by John referring to Jesus to as the “Voice” of the Father, and by referring to the necessity of being born into a new life. This truth was especially evident as we dealt with understanding the sign in the miracles. With earthly eyes, all that could be seen when Jesus fed the 5,000 was the bread and the fish. But with spiritual eyes the deeper meaning is understood.
John wants us to have spiritual eyes as we read his entire account of Christ. Those eyes allow us to see the higher meaning of Jesus’ mission. They allow us to see that Jesus is more than just a carpenter’s son who is a great teacher, for His words have the power to impart life.
Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself (John 5:25–26).
John’s heavenly viewpoint also allows us see beyond the unjust trial of Jesus and His physical death on a cross to the greater truth of a cosmic tribunal that was taking place in heaven for the redemption of the world. Jesus explains this deeper aspect of His mission:
as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life (John 3:14–15).
I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day (John 6:38–39).
Jesus speaks of being “lifted up” in death so that He might raise us up in life. By recounting these words, John raises our understanding of Christ’s mission. The Father sent the Son into the world to endure the ultimate act of humbling Himself to death on a cross. But John’s heavenly perspective shows us this humiliation is the path of Jesus’ exaltation. God was at work in every detail of Jesus’ death to bring Jesus into His glory, the glory of redeeming a new human race out of this fallen world. As Jesus enters Jerusalem on the last week of His life, He speaks of this glory.
The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. . . . Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour . . . Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself (John 12:23, 24, 27, 31 and 32).
When we view Jesus from the earthly perspective, we see a man whose life was ended because He dared to teach the way of love. He spoke of a kingdom in which peace would reign instead of war. And for this, He was hung on a cross. From this side of heaven, His life is seen as an inspiring one, but ultimately, a failure. From the other side, from whence we can look with heaven’s eyes, the cross is seen, not as His failure, but as His greatest triumph, for that cross possessed a redeeming value for this world, and by it, Jesus defeated the powers that held us captive.
He canceled the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame by triumphing over them in it (Colossians 2:14 and 15).
Just like the skewed view of the paddle in the water, the finite barrier of this world hides the fullness of the glory Jesus entered into through the cross. Do we see that glory? Does it change the way we view our own lives? Does it change the way we view this world? Do we dare teach and live His way of love?
