There’s a fascinating verse at the end of the Gospel of John:
And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which, if they were written one by one, I suppose not even the world itself could contain the books that would be written. John 21:25.
What a way to end the story! It’s as though John writes, well, my story ends here, but there’s so much more that I could never tell it all.
Doesn’t that make you wonder what he left out? What are we missing? What did Jesus preach about that was never recorded? What miracles do we not know about? What did He say to the Pharisees or Sadducees? Or to the lost or hurting? What did He say to all those children He loved to be around? Imagine it: the world itself might not contain the books that could be written … wow.
The gospels, a unique new genre, are the only four books in the world in that category. And they’re not that long—all four are not as long as some of the Old Testament books. Yet, those short books have revolutionized life on earth for centuries, bringing repentance, forgiveness, hope, and eternal life to millions and millions.
And the other 62 books of the Bible have continued to bless people, transforming individuals, families, and nations, for two thousand years. The Bible, not one book, but an amazing collection of 66 different books written by over 40 different people, writers separated from each other by as much as 2,000 years—is amazingly, miraculously consistent.
The Bible seems long when you are young. But as you study it, it becomes a familiar, rich place, a destination you love to visit, a land full of life and truth and grace and peace and HOPE.
God put everything we need in those pages. Do you need wisdom? Forgiveness? Encouragement? Hope? Love? Joy? Read the Bible. Sure, God could have said more. He could have filled the world with books about His glory and power and holiness (not to mention the unreported words and actions of Jesus). But 66 books were enough. In fact, God was efficient and economical: no writer ever said more with fewer words. Bible scholars spend their lives studying the Word and never stop learning. I know that I always get something out of it. “God’s mercies are new every morning” Lamentations 3:23. Every morning the Word blesses me, no matter how many times I may have read it.
The power of the Bible is not because it is long, but because “the Word of God is living and active … able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart,” (Hebrews 4:12) and because the Holy Spirit comes to you and speaks to you EVERY TIME you read it. Sure, Jesus lived an amazing life, filled with power and miracles, many of which were not recorded. But God gave us enough.
Pray. Ask God to fill you with a love for scripture, a hunger for His Word, to make it more interesting to you every day. Ask Him to help you love it, revere it, read it, study it, and memorize it. Ask God to help you submit yourself to the authority of God’s Word. He loves you. He can’t wait to bless you the next time you open up those pages….
And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which, if they were written one by one, I suppose not even the world itself could contain the books that would be written. John 21:25.
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Household Words: 