The Whole World's Too Small a Library!!

Ancient Library of Alexandria, Egypt

Modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina

One sweltering summer after-noon in Austin, I slipped into the cool recesses of the University of Texas Library. Instantly, my eyes adjusted to the shadowy foyer where a traveling exhibit of the first major book to be printed with moveable type was about to illuminate this late-career lover of scripture. Inches below my gaze lay a tome of inestimable worth, the Gutenberg Bible! Libraries are built to preserve such treasures. The cumulative contemplation, inven-ion, and recorded action of the fattest brains in planetary history are sheltered in libraries. As many as 900,000 scrolls from even earlier libraries in Uruk and Babylon, Sumeria, were collected in the ancient Library of Alexandria which tragically burned about 2,000 years ago. Its modern replacement was designed by Norwegians, completed in 2002 with the largest reading room in the world. In 2009, it was given a French donation of 500,000 volumes to occupy only a portion of its 8 million book capacity.

The Bible says that's not enough space!! The Beloved Disciple concludes his 21-chapter Gospel narration of Jesus' miracles and message feeling inept. How could he possibly record all the interventions for individuals and accomplishments for all mankind? In his last chapter and verse, John put it this way: "There are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written one after the other, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written." (John 1:25, Legacy Standard Bible)

The whole World's too small a library for all the unrecorded achievements of Christ! But, let's try a simple list of the transcendent acts of the Son of God which ARE ITEMIZED in the Gospel of John. This list ought to make very clear why Jesus Christ came to Earth and how He feels about you!! What are the first 20 achievements the greatest Man who ever lived did that are recorded in only the first three chapters of the Gospel of John??

1. Jesus created us. Our life comes from Him and He irradiates our former despondence! (John 1:1-5)

2. Believing, we become Christ's children! (John 1:12)

3. God the Son became fleshy human. He understands us! (John 1:14)

4. Jesus' life visibly explains His Father. (John 1:18)

5. The Holy Spirit Dove descended upon Jesus identifying Him as the Son of God and that Baptism into Jesus includes the life gift of the Holy Spirit. (John 1:33-34)

6. Jesus knows our name. (John 1:42)

7. Jesus calls us to follow Him. (John 1:43)

8. Jesus reads our hearts.  (John 1:47)

9. Jesus attends our social events when invited, sometimes even working miracles for their success! (John 2:2)

10. Jesus cares about our priorities enough to sometimes let them alter His own timing. (John 2:4,11-12)

11. Jesus is zealous for reverent worship of His Father.  (John 2:15-17)

12. Jesus predicted His own execution and resurrection.  (John 2:19; 20:9)

13. Jesus' miracles drew many to believe in His divinity. (John 2:23)

14. God loves the world so much that He gave His Son to provide eternal life instead of perishing. (John 3:16)

15. Jesus' mission from God was salvation for the world, not judgment. (John 3:17)

16. Some oppose Jesus, preferring to think they are righteous without Him. (John 3:20)

17. Jesus accepted John the Baptist's humility and reverence of Him. (John 3:30)

18. Jesus knew God the Father gave Him His messages. (John 3:34)

19. Jesus provides eternal life for believers then they become obedient followers. (John 3:36)

20. Friendship with Jesus makes all the difference in lifestyle and salvation! (John 3:36; 1John 5:11-12)

Jesus, Himself, confirms how we've just profiled His personality in John chapters 1-3. "'It’s the Bible which gives evidence about me,' Jesus said." (John 5: 39-40, The New Testament for Everyone) Looking for Jesus? You're sure to find Him in the pages of scripture!

The Gospel of John on One-Page

Finding Jesus in scripture is illus-trated another remarkable way in the art of Hwang Hyuk Rhee! Aided by a magnifying lens, this youthful calligrapher has transformed the entire Gospel of John's 27,000 English words into a one-page portrait! By shading some words in deeper and lighter hues, Rhee makes the likeness of Christ emerge from the text. I have printed, framed, and gifted three of my best friends who love both forms of the WORD of God [Bible and Son of God] with this art. For those who look for Him, Jesus steps right out of scripture, beckoning us to trust and walk with Him.

Close-Up of Text of John's Gospel Art by Hwang Hyuk Rhee

John the Beloved wrote that if the whole World was a library, it could not contain all the books required for an accurate composite description of Jesus Christ and His love for sinners! (John 1:25) In 1917, Frederick M. Lehman wrote timeless hymn lyrics regarding God's indescribable love. Contralto, Del Delker of The Voice of Prophcy, sang "The Love of God" hundreds of times during her long musical ministry. The third stanza says it best!

"Could we with ink the ocean fill

and were the skies of parchment made,

Were ev’ry stalk on earth a quill

and ev’ry man a scribe by trade,

To write the love of God above

would drain the ocean dry;

Nor could the scroll contain the whole,

Tho' stretched from sky to sky." 

Fathomless, the love of God is what Micah describes... "He will again have compassion on us; He will subdue our iniquities. And You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea." (Micah 7:19, Legacy Standard Bible) 

Unworthy but grateful to walk with the King of Love! Will you, too?

Pastor Dave Smith

P.S. Please click on a star corresponding to how much you cherish the love of God as described here.