“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.” John 21:25
Written by Jonathan Munson, Executive Director, RFTH
WARNING: Be careful not to lose your wonder of who Jesus is and what He’s done.
Losing our sense of wonder can not only happen in our relationship with Jesus, but in other relationships as well. My wife and I, for instance, have been married for 20+ years. I remember the days when I would get as excited as a lovesick puppy each time she called. Now, her text messages are so commonplace that I take them for granted. The wonder of having a wife, a sacred partner on the journey of life, has gradually diminished.
I wish this wasn’t the case, but it’s just a part of human nature.
This is why John’s words at the very end of his book are both inspiring and challenging. For the better part of three years, John was with Jesus nearly 24/7. Yet, John’s closeness with Jesus didn’t stifle his amazement of Him.
In 21 chapters, John accurately and eloquently describes the key moments of Jesus’ life and ministry. He writes with the sole purpose of proclaiming that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (20:31).
As he writes his concluding sentence, John knows he has only scratched the surface. The story of Jesus is far more glorious than one man could ever capture with pen and paper. Words can’t adequately portray the beauty of who Jesus is, nor is there a library big enough to catalog the ineffable greatness of His deeds.
The largest library in the U.S. is the Library of Congress. Home to more than 1.7 million items and occupying over 2 million square feet, John would still say it’s far too small to tell the story of Jesus.
What’s more, John had no idea how true his words would become. Throughout the ages, countless books, articles, blogs, sermons, lyrics, etc. have been written about Jesus. Granted, not all of them are theologically accurate. Some are even penned by skeptics and cynics.
But the point remains: people can’t stop writing about Jesus and never will.
We might be tempted to dismiss John 21:25 as mere hyperbole, but that’s unfair to what John wants to convey. When trying to tell the story of Someone who truly surpasses comprehension, it’s not an exaggeration to say the work cannot be contained, nor will it ever be completed.
So, why does John end this way?
• To grab our attention.
• To humble us by the grandeur of the story of Jesus.
• To awaken the wonder inside of us.
How about you? Little by little, have you lost your sense of wonder for who Jesus is and what He’s done?
Do you feel as if you’re just going through the motions?
Take a few moments and allow John’s words to rekindle your wonder of Jesus.
(By the way…in case you’re wondering, Lisa and I are happily celebrating our 21st wedding anniversary this month. We’re far from perfect. But after all these years, we’re still fighting to not lose the wonder of marriage amidst the craziness of life ☺.)
