25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
Jesus was constantly purposely busy - ever focused about His Father’s business – ever doing His Father’s will. John’s ending verse of his gospel presented today is reminiscent of our Lord’s Word recorded earlier in its pages:
17 Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working." John 5:17 (NIV)
John ended his preceding chapter as well using similar words as in our verse for today citing his purpose behind choosing what he had included – so that the reader may believe and have life in His Name:
30 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:30-31 (NIV)
The records of the works of Jesus are not exhaustive (to say the least) – we have but a mere sampling of our Lord’s accomplishments. Here John breaks out in a fervent declaration of all the wonderfully marvelous things that the Lord Jesus - His Master - had accomplished. Furthermore, all that Christ said and did when His feet walked upon this dusty earth was supremely noteworthy – He never spoke an idle Word nor did He perform an idle work – nothing He said or did was trifling. Sweet Jesus – as the writer of Hebrews describes – from everlasting to everlasting - holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens – an amazing Savior, an amazing Lord as represented throughout John’s gospel.
“This is He who is appointed and given to us by God the Father, as the fullness of all grace and truth, as the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world, as the ladder and door of heaven, as the serpent lifted up to render the poison of sin harmless, as the water which refreshes the thirsty, as the bread of life, as the light of the world, as the redeemer of God’s children, as the shepherd and door of the sheep, as the resurrection and the life, as the corn of wheat which springs up into much fruit, as the conqueror of the prince of this world, as the way, the truth, and the life, as the true vine, and finally, as the redemption, salvation, satisfaction, and righteousness of all the faithful in all the world, throughout all ages. Let us therefore pray God the Father, that, being taught by His Gospel, we may know Him that is true, and believe in Him in whom alone is salvation; and that, believing, we may feel God living in us in this world, and in the world to come may enjoy His eternal and most blessed fellowship.” Bullingers Commentary on the Gospels
Indeed, Christ’s miracles were vast, varied and copious – very copious and all intentional. Some of His miracles were repetitious with differing audiences producing an array of witnesses giving even more proof and credibility to them. As God Incarnate, Christ’s vastness surely knows no bounds. I am reminded of the words penned by the prophet Isaiah:
8 "Remember this, fix it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels. 9 Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. 10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please." Isaiah 46:8-10 (NIV)
Interestingly as well, what was divinely inspired to be included in the Gospels was exactly what the Potter wanted the clay to muse – each incident portrayed for the benefit of all mankind. We would have been no more helped or improved or increased in belief if more of our Lord’s actions had been recorded. There is enough presented for the conviction of sinners and the guidance of all who are honestly seeking genuine salvation. What we now hold is sufficient revelation of the doctrine of Christ and the proof of it – if we do not believe and apply what has already been written, more would not benefit us - only cast pearls. We must never prize the Scriptures less for Its economy of words rather we are to meditate upon what God has wisely provided.
"For it is not mere words that nourish the soul, but God Himself, and unless and until the hearers find God in personal experience they are not the better for having heard the truth." A.W. Tozer
29 The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law. Deut 29:29 (NIV)
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Tim 3:16-17 (NIV)