May 4-May 10

A DIFFERENT GOSPEL
Dr. Jim White
Omaha, Nebraska

The gospel of John represents a completely different side to Jesus’ ministry. It could be that John heard more stories of Jesus from Mary since she joined his household after Jesus’ death. Nevertheless, it starts from the very beginning of time (John 1:1—“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”) and proceeds all the way to Jesus’ crucifixion. Eugene Peterson (The Message) describes the incarnation like this: “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.” Miracles are talked of that are not mentioned elsewhere (Water to wine, John 2:1-11), rendezvous are described that are not in the other gospels (Nicodemus, John 3:1-21), and lives are changed in the most unlikely places with the most unlikely people (The Samaritan woman, John 4:1-28). We find Jesus wandering through different classes of people, taking them where they are and telling them the good news of the Kingdom. Some accept His words while others refuse them. None, however, come away unchanged. His cousin John the Baptist sums up his feelings about Jesus by saying, “He must become greater; I must become less.” (John 3:30). Indeed, John the Baptist’s call is our call in our lives today. He must become greater…and we must become less.


[Dr. Jim White is the Pulpit Minister for the Southwest Church of Christ in Omaha, Nebraska. He is married and has two children. Dr. White has also worked in Christian education for several years. He has a doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Arkansas.]