John completes his gospel with these three safeguards against false ideas regarding the only Savior who can rescue us from sin, death, and hell. In this final study from the gospel of John, we also look back at the entire book to answer the question: “Who is Jesus Christ?”

How would Simon ever become the rock of a disciple and martyr John’s audience knew him to be? John answers with the twenty-first chapter that by the grace of God Simon became who he was known for. The Lord gave him the certainty of His word, His discipleship, and His sovereignty. He persuaded Simon to follow Him.

Simon Peter had sinned grievously against the Lord. But because Jesus bore his sins on His body on the cross, there was forgiveness for him. Moreover, there was restoration waiting for him. Jesus restored this man. He could never be Rocky on his own by his own strength and will-power, but the Lord takes this man and brings him low before bringing him high. He humbles him before exalting him.

Jesus treated His disciples better than they deserved. He demonstrated to them His mercy, His provision, and His kindness. This is the Lord’s dealings with His elect. He will woo them and draw them to faith and repentance. This is indeed how the Lord deals with His elect throughout the ages. Those whom He has chosen He showers His kindness to lead them to repentance—though at times with the rod. May our hearts be warmed and led to surrender to the Lord in sweet yieldedness toward Him.

God has come in the person of Jesus Christ and He has come to deliver us from our exile and to address the root problem of sin. May the Holy Spirit open our spiritual eyes to behold our God in our Savior and God, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus calls “blessed” the faith of those who believe without ever having seen the risen Christ. In this study we explore the import of this blessed faith that it is a God-given faith, a word-based faith, and a life-giving faith. May the Lord teach us to cherish and nourish the gift of faith He has given us and may we water and fertilize that faith that it would indeed thrive, flourish, and bear much fruit for the glory of God.

The remarkable story of Thomas found in this portion of John reveals two important lessons on faith. Faith is a choice and faith is worship. May the Holy Spirit urge us on to fight the good fight of faith and be a believer every day, and may He grant us the grace to see and uphold Jesus as “my Lord and my God.”

The foretaste of the gift of the Holy Spirit is what Jesus imparts to His disciples on Resurrection Sunday. The Lord Jesus gives His own presence to His disciples, specifically in the illumination of the Word of God. We today also have the presence of Christ with us through the indwelling Spirit of God. We likewise have the illumination of the Spirit, and the Word of God is living and active to us as the Lord, through the Spirit, teaches us, reproves us, corrects us, and trains us in righteousness. May the Spirit’s presence be manifest in this God’s church as we, on our part, continually walk in the wisdom of the Word of God.