I flew to Michigan from North Carolina nine days ago to celebrate Mother’s Day with my mom, who turned 90 last year. I fly home today. Throughout my stay, my sister kept commenting on how cold the weather has been this week, but that it’s going to warm up after I’m gone. I said to her multiple times…. “Colleen, I didn’t come to Michigan for the weather. I came for mom. It’s all about mom.” How thankful I am for the time I had with her. We spent hours talking, playing cards, dining together, and just having fun. I also tried to engage in her activities at her place… corn hole, Bible study, Mother’s Day celebration. And the pastor who teaches the Bible study gave me the privilege of leading it yesterday. I’m leaving today full.
While my Michigan trip was all about my mom… my Christianity (and yours) is ALL about JESUS. Jesus is the key to everything… the key to abundant living, heavenly blessings, and of course, the key to eternal life in heaven. I’ve had some meaningful conversations this week. The activities director asked me several questions. One question she proposed is this… “Sheryl, I often get asked where to begin… where to begin reading the Bible. Where do I start?” I told her that it’s all about Jesus. We need to encourage people to start with Jesus.
Have you had this conversation with someone? Someone who is new to Christianity or someone who wants to grow? Do you tell them to start in Genesis and read through the Bible? Or do they begin in Matthew and read through the New Testament? Of course, the entire Bible is amazing and points to Jesus, but I encourage people to begin in the Gospel of John. Why is that? Because John is unique from the other gospel accounts and includes teachings the others do not. In fact, John said that he wrote his account “that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name” (John 20:31).
John’s account brings us face-to-face with the One who came “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). John’s account points us to the Lamb of God (John 1:29). It’s in John’s account where Jesus makes seven I am statements: I AM the BREAD of life (John 6:35); the LIGHT of the world (John 8:12); the GATE (John 10:7); the GOOD SHEPHERD (John 10:11); the RESURRECTION and the LIFE (John 11:25); the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE (John 14:6); the true VINE (John 15:1-5). All these things reveal to us who Jesus is and that He is the way to salvation. If you have such a conversation with someone, let me encourage you to lead them to the Gospel of John. And if you yourself just want to know Him more, then pour over that gospel account today.