David Bahn – Reflections

John 21:20-25

Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” ²¹ When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” ²² Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” ²³ So the saying spread abroad among the brothers^[b] that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”

²⁴ This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

²⁵ Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

Dale Meyer, now president of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO offered a key insight at a church convention several years ago, and it has stuck with me ever since. “We know precious little about God,” he said, “but the little we know is precious.” Amen. Hold that thought; hold it tightly and deeply in your heart.

When Jesus had finished his earthly ministry, died and risen from the dead, and proven his resurrection to his followers, John leaves us with this testimony: Jesus did many things. Not all of them are written down. But what was written is true, and you have to stop somewhere.

It is as if John is saying that it’s time to stop writing – not because there is not more to write – but because it’s time to start living and doing what Jesus commanded. He is telling us that we know enough to get to following Jesus; no more needs to be added to the record. The defense rests. The case has been made. It will either convince you or not. But there is enough evidence. The defense has other things to do.

If, however, we know precious little about God, then our attitude toward him, his acts, and others must be one of humility. We don’t know it all. We know enough to believe and have life in Jesus’ name. We know enough to be sent as witnesses to the work of God. We know enough to be accountable. But we don’t know enough to presume on God or put him in any kind of box. As such our attitude will be one of  humble faithfulness to what we know.

How will you display your precious knowledge about God to others today?