Unwritten & Unwritable Goodnews!

John 21:20-25

Peter turned around and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them. This was the one who had leaned against Jesus at the meal and asked him, “Lord, who is going to betray you?” When Peter saw this disciple, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?”

Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain until I come, what difference does that make to you? You must follow me.” Therefore, the word spread among the brothers and sisters that this disciple wouldn’t die. However, Jesus didn’t say he wouldn’t die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I come, what difference does that make to you?” This is the disciple who testifies concerning these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.

Jesus did many other things as well. If all of them were recorded, I imagine the world itself wouldn’t have enough room for the scrolls that would be written.

Food for thought!

As we come to the end of the written gospel, we are reminded that this is not all; there is still more good news that was not written nor was writable down in human words. Indeed, most of what we have of Jesus is what he did in the last three years of his life. What, for instance, did Jesus do during his 30 years of hidden life? As we know, Jesus lived about 33 years of age, of which some 30 years, he spent at Nazareth, his home village. But as to what he did during this time, we know very little. The gospels focus on his last 3 years. This is why John confesses that "Jesus did many other things as well. If all of them were recorded, I imagine the world itself wouldn’t have enough room for the scrolls that would be written."

Are we going to feel sorry for what weren't written down? Yes, and No. Yes, because we would like to know how Jesus lived as a 7 year old, or 17 year old, or 25 years old. We only know that at 12 years old he went with his parents to Jerusalem for the Jewish festivities, and that after he stayed behind without his parents' knowledge. He was later found among religious elders teaching and learning.

But we are not sorry for what we don't have because what we have is what the heavenly Father intended for us. In other words, although we don't have all the good news of Jesus, we have all the good news of Jesus for us that we need and that God intended for us and for our salvation: John 20:30-31

30 Jesus provided far more God- revealing signs than are written down in this book. 31 These are written down so you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and in the act of believing, have real and eternal life in the way he personally revealed it. Jesus knows how we come to know about all that was not written: «I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.»

We can only content ourselves with what God deemed enough for us. And we do well to "believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and in the act of believing, have real and eternal life." The rest, we shall know when the Holy Spirit comes. By the way, tomorrow we celebrate Pentecost. As Jesus said, "when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you."

May the Holy Spirit come and open our eyes to see not only the evil in the world but also the goodnews around us, both written and unwritable. Amen.