This morning in my devotions I came across one of my favorite little, honest, informal verses in the Bible. It is the last verse in the Gospel of John. And it is written in such a simple, almost conversational style. It is John 21:25, “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”
Isn’t that a great little verse? It is nothing overly deep or earth-shattering. It is not a big theological point or an area of doctrine. It is not a controversial topic or even something that is key to our discipleship process. But I just love it, because it reminds me that Jesus’ life here on earth was even more amazing than I already picture.
I have just finished reading through the Gospels. Almost every day for the last 29 days I have been reading in either Matthew, Mark, Luke or John for my devotions. And throughout that time I have been reminded of the amazing life of Jesus Christ.
I have marvelled at miracles like Jesus feeding the five thousand and walking on water. I have pondered His powerful teachings like the sermon on the mount and the Olivet discourse. I have seen his compassion during His visits with the Samaritan woman at the well, and the woman accused of adultery. I have read of His authority over nature when He calmed the storm, over the spiritual realm as He delivered the Gadarene demoniac, over the spiritual leaders of the day as he silenced them with His answers to their questions and even over death itself as He raised Lazarus from the dead. I have enjoyed His parables like the one about the prodigal son and the one about the lost sheep. I have witnessed His humanity as He faced temptation in the wilderness and struggled with the will of the Father in the garden before His arrest. I have been reminded of His meekness and humility as He kept silent in the face of His accusers and willingly allowed Himself to be led away. I have seen His love as He allowed Himself to be beaten, and mocked and spit upon and ultimately killed for my sins. And I have rejoiced over His victory with the stone that was rolled away and the visits with His disciples before returning to His Father’s side.
It has been a great month of reading about the amazing life of Jesus Christ. But this simple verse at the end of the book of John, this last verse of the Gospels, reminds me that there was more. There were others who were healed, other lives that were touched, other bonds that were broken, and other needs that were met. There were more lives that were forgiven, more eyes that were opened, more mouths that were fed, and more hearts that were transformed. The amazing life of Jesus Christ cannot be contained in just 89 chapters of 4 books. There is more.
What was contained for me in these Gospels is enough to compel me to believe, but it is also good to be reminded that Jesus’ life is not completely contained in those 4 books. My Savior, my Messiah, my Lord is amazing! And if there were a whole world full of books written down, I would want to read them all.