"Living Word, Living Savior: A Portrait of Jesus Through the Eyes of John" is a book that takes readers on a personal journey through the Gospel of John. It explores the life, teachings, and divinity of Jesus Christ. John, the beloved disciple, vividly portrays Jesus as the eternal Word incarnate and the light that shines in the darkness. From the miraculous signs to the tender interactions, this book unveils the transformative impact of encountering Jesus. With deep insight, it reveals the significance of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, the Bread of Life, the Resurrection and the Life, etc. As the narrative unfolds, readers witness the deep love Jesus had for humanity, the depth of His sacrifice, and His divine purpose for salvation.
"Living Word, Living Savior" explores the deep theology in John's Gospel, focusing on themes like grace, redemption, and the eternal importance of faith in Christ. Each chapter reveals spiritual truths that relate to the reader's faith journey. It helps readers understand Jesus' teachings and how they apply to life today.
As readers immerse themselves in this compelling journey, they will find themselves drawn closer to the heart of Jesus.
"Living Word, Living Savior: A Portrait of Jesus Through the Eyes of John" is a book that takes readers on a personal journey through the Gospel of John. It explores the life, teachings, and divinity of Jesus Christ. John, the beloved disciple, vividly portrays Jesus as the eternal Word incarnate and the light that shines in the darkness. From the miraculous signs to the tender interactions, this book unveils the transformative impact of encountering Jesus. With deep insight, it reveals the significance of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, the Bread of Life, the Resurrection and the Life, etc. As the narrative unfolds, readers witness the deep love Jesus had for humanity, the depth of His sacrifice, and His divine purpose for salvation.
"Living Word, Living Savior" explores the deep theology in John's Gospel, focusing on themes like grace, redemption, and the eternal importance of faith in Christ. Each chapter reveals spiritual truths that relate to the reader's faith journey. It helps readers understand Jesus' teachings and how they apply to life today.
As readers immerse themselves in this compelling journey, they will find themselves drawn closer to the heart of Jesus.
John's Gospel started by emphasizing that Jesus Christ is truly God in human form, introducing us to His eternal and divine nature. This chapter delved deeper into what these opening verses mean theologically and spiritually.
Pre-existence of the Word:
John 1:1) In the beginning was the Word, and that Word was with God and was God himself.
Jesus Christ is pre- existent, self-existent, and eternal. He existed before creation and is an eternal part of the triune God.
The Word is the Creator
John 1:2-3) All things were made through him; without him, nothing that has ever been made was possible. He existed with God from the start of creation.
John emphasized Jesus, as the Word of God, the Second Person of the Trinity.. As Creator, He Is responsible for everything that had ever existed, from the largest galaxies to the smallest subatomic particles.
The Incarnation of God:
John 1:14) The Word became flesh and lived among us; we saw his glory, such as that of God the Father's one and only Son, who is full of grace and truth.
God, through Jesus Christ, became human. The Incarnation marks God's plan to dwell with humanity.
Divine Revelation
John 1:18) No one has seen God at any time; only Jesus Christ, who is close to his Father and is God himself, has revealed him.
The Incarnation of Christ, not only as a historical event but as a revelation of His character and nature. Jesus makes God visible and makes what may otherwise seem incomprehensible comprehensible- showing us His essence of grace, love, and truth in human form.
Word as Savior
John 1:11-12) He came to his own, yet they did not accept him. To those who did accept Him, he gave the right to become God's children through faith in his name:
This chapter vividly portrayed the tragic reaction of humanity when Jesus was introduced as a physical presence among them. While some rejected Him outright, those who accepted Him with faith underwent profound change- they became part of God's family, receiving salvation in return.
Eternity is of vital importance.
John 1:4-5) In him was life, and this life was the light of men. This light shines even in darkness; darkness has not overcome it.
These verses illustrate the eternal significance of Jesus as the Word made flesh. The light of Jesus Christ can pierced into darkness of our lives to provide hope, forgiveness, and reconciliation between humanity and God.
This chapter explores the opening verses in John's Gospel. This chapter explores Jesus Christ as the eternal Word, Creator, and Incarnate. It shows that faith brings us closer to becoming children of God. These verses reveal the essence of Christianity. God's incredible love revealed through Christ as the Incarnate Word
Living Word, Living Savior: A Portrait of Jesus Through The Eyes of John by Dr Andrew C S. Koh is an intimate portrait of Jesus Christ through the lens of John the Baptist. By walking through the gospel of John, Living Word, Living Savior: A Portrait of Jesus Through The Eyes of John dedicates a coinciding chapter to provide a summary specifically dedicated to worshipping Jesus.
The book uses simplicity in its retelling of biblical verses making it a book that serves both adults and children well. Readers using older versions of the Bible, or who are new to the faith might rely on this book as a companion to the Gospel of John. Aside from an aid, the book is also a useful way of learning of some of the key stories relating to Jesus, such as the feeding of the five thousand, turning water into Wine, walking on water, and the last supper.
Given the length of the gospel, the author might have made attempts to provide more detail per chapter. However, there is evidence of their own opinion woven throughout. What I probably appreciated most was that this was a simple presentation of facts rather than someone trying to push an agenda. The strong sense of neutrality meant there was no making a reader feel bad for not holding the same beliefs.
In terms of editing, the book showed no major concerns with spelling and grammar. There were, however, a couple of instances where an enlarged font was used. I'm not sure if it was intentional. Personally, I would keep to the same size text.
With the absence of profanity, and preaching, this book makes a good baptism/christening/ holy communion gift. It also serves as a gift for someone considering joining/converting to the Christianity faith or wanting a whistle stop tour of one of the religion's leading figures. Overall, an informative book to devour over time with time for reflection between each chapter as you read alongside the bible.