Some simple moments in life have lasting lessons. Have you ever read John’s Gospel as if it were a first-grade reader?
I was blessed to share repeated nighttime readings of a children’s book with my daughter. Those simple moments became more than familiarity with the story characters, plot, and conclusion. It developed into lasting lessons about love, comfort, and connection.
Almost every night before bed, my daughter Kala would hand her mother or me the same well-loved children’s book, The Monster at the End of the Book. Its corners were frayed, the pages bore the wrinkles of countless readings, and Grover’s blue fur was faded from the fear of the monster. But Kala’s eyes always sparkled with anticipation.
I could recite the story by heart. Who am I kidding? Kala could perfectly recite the story without ever opening the book. [Spoiler Alert]
However, the joy was in holding the open book as her head nestled against my shoulder. I could feel the warmth of her small hand holding mine.
Years earlier, my eyes beheld her loveliness for the first time as the nurse pulled back the cover of her blanket. As I teared up with joy, Kala’s hand reached out and took hold of my little finger. I felt and heard her heart. “Hello, Dad! I love you!”
My life has never been the same.
As we read the same children’s book for the umpteenth time, Kala would chime in with her favorite lines, giggling at the silly parts, and whispering along with the quiet moments.
The story was straightforward. Grover from Sesame Street asked us not to turn the page because he was scared of a monster on the next page. He tried to stop us by giving warnings, tying knots, building walls, and stacking bricks. But each night, something more valuable happened between the pages, beyond Kala’s gentle reassurances that it was safe to turn the page.
Our nightly ritual was more than reading words on a page. It was time carved out of busy days, a nightly promise that the world could wait. Through repetition, Kala experienced peace and love. Dad learned patience, seeing how every reading brought new questions, new giggles, new discoveries.
Kala learned to recognize the words. She took over the reading. The moments became even more memorable.
Over time, Kala started to notice details she had not noticed before—She learned kindness, caring, and courage–just as her father learned about the ever-growing heart of a child.
The book became a thread weaving us closer together, a testament that love is found in small, repeated words and actions, not just big gifts or grand gestures.
Years later, when Kala had outgrown the book, she kept it tucked beside her bed. Its worn pages were a gentle reminder that lessons of love are not always loud or grand. Sometimes, they are whispered each night, in the familiar rhythm of a story shared, again and again.
My wife stored that special children’s book for future grandkids as she continued the routine with each one huddled in her lap. Full of smiles. Full of love. Full of future memories.
The opening verses of the Gospel of John are among the most profound and poetic lines in the entire New Testament. Yet, what most readers might not realize is that this book was originally written in simple, childlike Greek, captured in the English translation. This is a first-grade reader.
John’s Gospel follows the simplicity of a Learn to Read book. “See Spot run…I see a cat…The bird is blue…Jack and Jill walked up the hill.”
Matthew wrote from the perspective of a contemporary eyewitness disciple. Mark penned Peter’s account of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Doctor Luke was Paul’s missionary partner. His account comes from multiple interviews with eyewitnesses.
John also followed Jesus. He saw and heard all these things which Jesus said and did over those three years.
However, John writes from a different perspective. His gospel was recorded several decades after the extraordinary events of Jesus’ earthly life. John was an old man who spent years in reflection and narration about the importance of those times.
The landscape had changed. Jerusalem had fallen and the Temple had been destroyed by the Roman invasion. All the other disciples had died, many of them martyred.
This is an old man entrusted with eternal truth writing in simple expressions. His target audience features the present and future grandchildren of the children who lived through those years. This is Timeless Truth. This is Greatness in Simplicity.
He is sharing the most important things in life in ways a child can understand. As that child grows up, he/she realizes there is a lifetime of lessons about love, comfort, and connection which serve to lead us to join in the simple to understand but infinitely indescribable magnitude of the wonderful confession of Thomas, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).
John is well aware there are more things about Jesus beyond what this children’s book can contain. Now there are many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written (John 21:25).
Here is Greatness in Simplicity. These things are written so 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 20:31). [Children’s Homework: Check out how many times believe and life are connected in this children’s faith book. Maybe more Next Time.]
I first heard about this book as a child when I learned one verse. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son“ (John 3:16).
God loved ME.
Who among us has not had those moments feeling as if no one loves us. Why would they? We are unlovable. Messed up. Unsalvageable. Without Hope. So, we dread, fear, even believe no one does or could ever love us for who we are.
But NO! God loved ME…and YOU!
I stand amazed in the presence of my Heavenly Father and wonder how He could love me, a sinner. Are you amazed at why? Do you wonder how?
The New Testament reveals the Creator God as OUR FATHER. That is the Christian name for God. Who is His Son? His Name is Jesus. John knew Jesus and wrote a children’s book about the simplicity of His glorious greatness!
Our Father asks us to climb up in His arms and read this children’s book about Jesus. It is written in our Father’s own Word. There is not a Monster at the End of the Book. You will want to read the story again and again.
Open the first page.
John begins with, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
Each phrase uses basic vocabulary, echoing the language a young child might understand. Rather than employing complicated theological terms, John’s choice of simple words invites everyone into the mystery of Jesus’ identity.
It sounds like the beginning of the Big Book. In the beginning, God (Genesis 1:1). God spoke. His WORD was the agent of His creation.
Hebrews 1 records that God spoke His last full self-revelation to His creation. Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power (vs. 1-3).
John shares this same truth in childlike simplicity.
In the beginning was the WORD. (In Greek, the Logos.) It means much more than the logic of correct reasoning.
The WORD is the self-expression of God. God’s own revelation of Himself, His thoughts, His purpose.
John’s children’s book states it this way.
THIS IS THE POINT—WHAT JESUS SAID AND DID ARE THE WORDS AND DEEDS OF GOD HIMSELF WHEN GOD WAS WITH US.
The next verses continue this pattern: “He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” [maybe more on this Next Time}
This use of childlike Greek is significant. It reflects John’s desire for his message about Jesus—the Word, the source of life and light—to be understood by all, regardless of education or age. It is a reminder that the greatest truths are often best told in the simplest words.
These are ideas that can be pondered for a lifetime, yet they are expressed through language that is direct and clear. The simple story is divinely designed for familiarity that will make us cherish our favorite verses, smile with joy at the good parts, and ask thoughtful questions about the life lessons.
This is the fullness of God in the simplest understandable terms. It is a children’s book to be read again and again.
THIS IS A GREAT READ EVEN WHEN YOU ALREADY KNOW THE ENDING!
Simple…yet filled with the most profound and cherished statements of Jesus’ identity, divine nature, and eternal purpose. With each subsequent reading, we notice new depths to the characters, the actions, the words, and the lessons of love, comfort, and connection.
The Gospel of John is like an ocean. There are parts shallow enough for a spiritual toddler to splash around in joyful safety. There are other parts to these simple words where the deepest spiritual thinkers can spend countless hours floating in its fathomless depths.
JESUS SHOWED US GOD, And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his GLORY, glory as of the only Son from the Father, FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH.(John 1:14). [maybe more Next Time]
The first four verses of John’s Gospel continue to welcome readers of every background into the wonder and hope at the heart of the Christian faith.
I pray you will pick up John’s Gospel and climb into the arms of your heavenly Father…again. No one loves you as much as God does. Undeserved. Unlimited. Unending.
“Truly, truly, I love you so much I gave My Son for you. Child, I love you!”
OH, HOW I NEEDED TO HEAR THOSE WORDS TODAY!
I hope you will read the simple words…again.
I challenge you to read portions of John’s Gospel this week as if you are a child with a first-grade reader. Read each word slowly with childlike wonder. Read them again as you wade out into greater depths of understanding.
In…the…beginning…was…the…WORD…and…the…Word…was…with…. God…and…the…Word…was…God.
…and…we…saw…His…GLORY!
…full…of…Grace…and…Truth!
Read the Book again. There is God at the beginning and the same God at the end of the Book. As each page is turned in fear or excitement, “Do not let your heart be troubled. Believe in God and me…Believe God the Father is in me, and I am in the Father” (John 14:1,11).
Read the WORD with your Father and become amazed at the lessons of love, comfort, and connection.
EYES UP! KEEP TURNING THE PAGES! THIS IS THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD!
I pray you will hear this child’s words, “I Love you, too!”
LOVE FIRST...LOVE MOST 