John 21:24-25 24This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true.25And there are also many other things Jesus did, which if each one of them were written down, I suppose that not even the world itself could contain the books that would be written.
Verse 24 is still connected to the previous episode and transitions to the final verse. The voice is no longer the narrator, whom we assume has been John, the beloved disciple. This is now the voice of we, which would be John’s community, which, according to church tradition, was the church in Ephesus. These verses serve as a postscript to all the events described in this Gospel. Everything written in this book came from an eyewitness, the beloved disciple. John witnessed (martyrōn) everything in this book and carefully recorded and reflected on it.
The testimony of John was confirmed by the we who heard his teachings. John taught about Jesus and wrote his teachings down so that the listeners and readers would come to the same faith he had. The message of Jesus had spread throughout the centuries in the same way: through the faithful witness of the writings of the New Testament and the testimonies and teachings of committed disciples.
Verse 25 serves as the summary of the book and reflects back on the purpose statement of 20:30-31. This verse indicates that everything in this book had a specific purpose, namely, to call people to believe in Jesus. John could have included many more miracles, teachings, and activities of Jesus. We are left to imagine all of what took place during the few short years of his public ministry and the years before this. Not even the biggest libraries of the world could contain all that Jesus did. Indeed, today there are large theological libraries with hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of books about Jesus. These books are reflections on the primary texts of the New Testament, which contain the highest authority for Christians. Books like John were inspired by the Holy Spirit when the authors wrote them down. That same Spirit inspires them as they are read today. The Spirit teaches us and reminds us of these words, just as Jesus promised in 14:26.
The Gospel of John is a book rich in imagery and deep in theology. It teases our imaginations and challenges our hearts. The message is simple and repeated many times as it calls us to put our faith in Jesus. Its claims about Jesus challenge the greatest theologian but are simple enough for a child to understand. Those who read this book with honesty and openness will find themselves confronted with the need to make a decision about Jesus. The two outcomes of this decision are also clearly stated, both in Jesus’ words and in the lives of those who met him. Those who put their trust in Jesus and obey his commands, especially the command to love, will experience the promise of eternal life. Those who reject him will face judgment, though they are blinded by this through their hardened hearts and rejection of the Holy Spirit’s conviction. God continues to speak through this book to all who are open and willing to listen.
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