Jesus Did More Than We Can Know, For Now

What Did Jesus Do?

Now there are also many other things that Jesus did…
John 21.25

John freely admitted that his Gospel was not comprehensive or all-inclusive, yet there was enough in it for readers to come to believe that, “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20.30-31) In other words, John doesn’t tell us all there is to know about Jesus, but he tells us enough to get us to the place where we will be able to hear, as they say, the rest of the story. The plain and simple truth is, Jesus did more than we can know, for now.

Please don’t think John a slacker for not writing a second or third volume to complete the task of telling us all about Jesus. John well understood that the whole story of Jesus is immense. In fact, even if the whole world was turned into a library devoted to subject of Jesus and what he did, it would not be big enough to hold all the books that would have to be written (John 21.25). Considering that the story of the Son of God spans from eternity past all the way through eternity future, it’s obvious, isn’t it, that all of history is not big enough to compass the telling of the tale.

The good news, that is the gospel, is that the Father has gone to great lengths, even to the sacrifice of his Son on the cross, to reveal that part of the story of Jesus sufficient for our salvation, or, as John put it, for us to have life in his name. Yes, the Son did more than we can know for now, but what we can now know is what the Father requires for our salvation: that Jesus is his Son, and that he died for the remission of our sins. This part of the story the Father graciously and freely gives us now.

Like Paul, now we know in part, with the assurance that there is a coming day when we shall know fully (1 Corinthians 13.12). And here’s the thing, as we have now come to the close of John’s Gospel, the rest of the story is still being written and as Christ’s disciples we are part of it! You see, though Jesus is indeed seated this very moment at the Father’s right hand in heaven (see Ephesians 1.20; Matthew 26.64), he is also most certainly present in the world both in his Church, and in each and every believer, by virtue of the work of the Holy Spirit. For the Church is Christ’s Body in the world; none but the Lord Jesus animates and directs her life, her worship, her work. And all believers have been crucified with Christ, so that it is no longer we who live, but Christ who lives in us (Galatians 2.20).

As I see it, the Father has given us his Word, the Bible, and we are to read that part of the story thus far revealed, so that we may believe and have life in Jesus’ name, and learn from it every day what Jesus, the Son, did. Then, in that belief and that knowledge, we should submit each day to whatever the Lord wills to do in and through us. What better question to ask than, “What did Jesus do?” as we begin the day in the Word? Then, informed by the Word as we prepare to go out into the world, a second question should direct and motivate us, “What WILL Jesus do today, in and through me?” Finally, at the close of each day, we would do well to reflect, asking, “What DID Jesus do today?” For, as the story is still being written, it is certain that Jesus is still doing!

S.D.G.

Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4