Introduction to the Gospel of John

In this episode, we will look at the Gospel of John from the perspective of The Single Eye to the Tree of Life, and I can assure you that you will never return to reading this book as the crowd does.

The Gospel of John holds a unique place within the New Testament.

John wrote his gospel account last, and in full knowledge of the other three synoptic gospels. He records events that the other Gospel writers did not, such as the Wedding at Cana and Jesus’ first miracle of turning water into the best wine in John 2, and the discussion with Nicodemus in John 3.

It is soooo important to understand this historical context. It opens your spirit to a range of revelations you may not have seen before, such as the Fig Tree referenced in John 1, which represents the covenantal blessings on the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

John was trying to provide a differing account, a more theologically focused account of Jesus’ divinity and sovereignty over all matters, a perspective not covered by the detail afforded by John.

This pilgrimage to a Single Eye will take the Gospel of John and dive into its purpose, free from any religious notions of modern Christianity.

The deepest bondage we hold today in Laodicea is not denominationalism itself, but the Reformation‑era replacement of Jesus with the Bible as the functional centre of faith.

The Gospel of John from the Single Eye dismantles that inherited architecture and reconstructs your identity around the living Christ, not the interpretive systems built around Him.

This re-centring on Jesus alone will create a profound renewal of your mind.

I use John 5:39 as the perfect anchor, because Jesus Himself names the core problem:

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that bear witness about Me.” — John 5:39 (LSB)

Jesus was in deep discussion with the Pharisees when He made this astounding statement.

It drilled home to them where their REAL identity lay.

It was not with Yahweh, who was the deliverer of their salvation, but it was with the witness He created, the Word of Yahweh, that they studied diligently and could quote at will.

But it was not the Scriptures that were the life-giver; it was Yahweh Himself, and now they had the Messiah, of whom the Scriptures had testified, right in front of them, and they could not see Him.

This verse also exposes the entire Protestant error. The Reformers made the same fatal error.

They turned the Word of God into a legalistic examination of the Scriptures as the life-giver, with interpretive skills as the key to salvation. This created the opportunity for Satan to divide and conquer, with the Messiah being divided among thousands of competing interpretations and emphasis. Opening the Scriptures to the masses, the sword of the Spirit, the key element of the Reformation of Martin Luther, had been turned inward and was wielding its destructive web among all believers.

They made the witness the destination.

They made the map the territory.

They made the Scriptures the source of life instead of the One they point to.

This pilgrimage will rebuild your identity.

The Gospel of John from The Single Eye will rebuild your identity around:

1. Union with Christ (not union with doctrine)

Identity is not:

• your denomination
• your theology
• your interpretation
• your tradition

Identity is:

• “in Christ”
• new creation
• reconciled
• beloved
• sent

2. Jesus as the living centre (not the Bible as the centre)

The Scriptures are:

• witness
• testimony
• signposts
• revelation

But they are not:

• the source of life
• the object of faith
• the destination

Jesus is.

The Gospel of John contains none of the parables contained in the other three synoptic gospels. This is further proof that John was written last, and that John’s goal was to create an account of the life of Jesus that stood apart from the other three.

However, John’s gospel is rich in a different kind of imagery. John uses metaphors to illustrate our identity in Christ and the nature of the relationship with Him.

John uses strong “I Am” statements to reinforce authority and identity markers, and metaphors such as the good shepherd, the door, the grain of wheat, living water, born-again, the bread of life, and the true vine to bring potent imagery to his readers’ minds.

As you partake of The Single Eye Pilgrimage, you will learn to question all pretexts you use to filter your understanding of the indwelling Christ.

Religion casts a long shadow from the days of Jesus on Earth, and we moved directly into the same dependency on the religious elite when we adopted Catholicism as the global religion in the 6th century.

The Reformers tried, but their interpretations of scripture impeded people’s personal holiness, leading to the institutionalisation of faith and the splintering of the core message into thousands of denominations.

Jesus was once again left on the sidewalk, leading to the prophesied Laodicean brand of lukewarmness we witness today, where doctrines are more important than living from the indwelling Christ.

Buckle up now as we take the journey through Chapter 1 of John, unpacking the crowd’s reactions and offering a Single Eye view of insights that may surprise you.