Why Did John Write This Gospel?
John actually tells us, right near the end of his Gospel (John 20:30–31):
Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.
So, why did John write this book? He chose specific signs and stories to include because he believed they were enough to help his readers believe. He could have written a lot more, but what he included was intentional and purposeful. His goal was clear: that we would believe.
What Does John Want Us to Believe?
John’s message centers on one big idea: that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
First, John wants us to believe that Jesus is the Christ. “Christ” is the Greek word for “Messiah,” the promised one from the Old Testament. The Messiah was someone the Israelites had been waiting for: a king like David, a prophet like Moses, and the suffering servant Isaiah described. This was the one who would establish God's eternal kingdom. John is saying Jesus is that person.
Second, John wants us to believe that Jesus is the Son of God. This wasn’t just a poetic or honorary title. In Jesus’ time, calling someone the Son of God was understood to mean they were claiming to be equal with God. And John wants to make it clear that Jesus is God, living among us as a human.
All throughout his Gospel, John presents evidence for both of these claims. He’s not just telling stories. He’s building a case.
Why Does John Want Us to Believe?
Because believing leads to life.
John says it plainly: he wants his readers to believe so that they may have life in Jesus' name. If belief leads to life, then the opposite is also true, namely, without belief, there is no life. John makes that contrast clear in his Gospel, showing what’s at stake.
Who Is John Writing To?
John never comes right out and says who his audience is, but we can make some educated guesses.
Maybe he was writing to:
Believers, to encourage and strengthen their faith.
Israelites, to convince them that Jesus really is the Messiah they’d been waiting for.
Unbelievers, to help them come to faith in Jesus.
Which is it? Honestly, it could be all of the above.
Here’s why I think John had a broad audience in mind. During that time, many Jewish believers had been forced out of Jerusalem and were now living among Gentiles. They were facing persecution and may have started to question whether they were believing the right thing. John’s Gospel would have been a powerful encouragement to them.
But John also includes stories like Jesus revealing Himself to the Samaritans, people outside of Israel, and telling them He is the Messiah. And he quotes John the Baptist saying Jesus is the one who “takes away the sin of the world,” not just Israel.
So, it seems John’s message is meant for everyone. No matter your background, this Gospel is written to help you "believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you can have life in His name."
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