Introduction
The Gospel of John sheds significant light on the concept of eternity as regards the life of Jesus. John describes Jesus as "God in the flesh," which means that Christ is both fully divine and fully human. Although the Gospel of John is not the first book to addresses the issue of eternal life, it does so in a manner that uniquely sets it aside from others. First, John emphasizes more on this concept compared to the other writers. Secondly, the Gospel of John is hell-bent on engendering trust in Christ and the importance of his symbol in crafting an eternal life. John also stresses the fact that eternal life can be achieved in the present compared to other books that equated it to the future. Therefore, this means that compared to other New Testament Writers, John seems to have a greater interest in the meaning of life. The phrase “life eternal” appears 17 times in the book of John hence illustrating how important it was to him. The Gospel of John discusses the concept of eternal life around the persona of Jesus Christ. The Johannine perspective emphasizes that Christ can reveal eternal life to humans because he is life in himself.
Origin of Eternal Life
The analysis of the book of John candidly reveals that eternity emanates from the life of Jesus Christ. Jesus placed himself as the bonafide custodian of eternal life while he was on earth. It is in this regard that he says, "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God, the Father has placed his seal of approval 1 " (John 6:17). Throughout the book, Jesus uses a symbolic explanation to create his authority as the custodian of eternity and the origin of this special kind of life. Some of the common analogies used include the living water, bread of life, and his flesh and blood. John also emphasizes that eternity follows a path that begins with Jesus before reaching to the Father in Heaven. John also wants the readers to appreciate that Jesus provided this kind of life courtesy of God. On a keen assessment, the reader can easily notice that Jesus often validates his assertions by referring to God. 2 The book of John justifies these assertions when Jesus says, "For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken 3 ” (John 12:49). Jesus established his authority at the backdrop of the Pharisee’s quest to attain eternity. Instead of following Christ, these individuals believed that they would attain eternal life by knowing the scriptures.
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How to Acquire Eternity
The question of how individuals can acquire eternal life is a mainstay in the Bible. For instance, the story of the rich, young ruler is depicted in the books of Mathew, Mark, and Luke. The ruler was determined to understand how he could acquire eternity in the midst of all the conflicting messages he received. The book of John stipulates several ways that individuals can acquire the much-needed eternity. The first primary way of acquiring eternal life is by paying allegiance to Jesus and allowing him to own you. In John 10:27-28, Jesus says, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow men. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, no one will snatch them out of my hand." Using the symbolism of the sheep and the shepherd, Jesus clearly explains what it takes for a person to receive the much-needed eternal life. No one will come to the Father unless they pass through Christ. More importantly, Jesus will not allow any of his acquisitions from God to be taken away from him. The second major way of acquiring eternal life is described in John 12:23-26.
In this section of the Bible, Jesus categorically asserts that, however, he who loves their life will eventually lose it. However, any person that hates their life in the world will keep it for eternity (John 12:25). However, this verse should not be taken literally. Jesus does not necessarily refer to the love and hate that comes with emotions. Here, Jesus gives the people a choice between worldly and eternal life. Essentially, he tries to make it clear that it is difficult for a person to cling to worldly possession and still claim the benefits that come with eternity. The two can, therefore, not coexist, and his followers have an important decision to make. 4 Thirdly, Jesus emphasizes that eternal life can only be acquired through the strong belief in the Son of Man. In the book of John, Jesus speaks in duality by giving his followers an option between eternity and the worldly life. The same can also be seen when Jesus says, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them 5 " (John 3:36). Those who have accepted Jesus as the Son of God shall have embraced light and neglected the darkness.
Meaning of Eternal Life
The basic tenet behind John’s meaning of eternal life is the fact that it has no end. As illustrated by Morris, “A feature of John’s understanding of life is his insistence that it has no end 6 " (p. 204). The simplest meaning of eternity is a life that does not end. However, Morris goes ahead to assert that John's perspective of eternity was more qualitative than quantitative. According to John, life eternity refers to a life that is appropriate to the age to come. Jesus provides the first context of eternal life in one of his priestly prayers. In his prayer, Jesus says, "This is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ 7 " (John 17:3). The Bible verse, therefore, provides the readers with a qualitative aspect of eternal life. Rather than merely living a life without end, John's book underscores the importance of knowing God and Christ as the main attribute of eternity. In further emphasizing the qualitative aspect of eternity, John explains the relationship between God's commandments of life without end. According to Morris, God's commandment is in itself eternity. Therefore, this debunks the assertions that obeying God's commandment leads to eternity. The two are one and the same thing.
In some sections of the book, John also remains keen to provide a straightforward assessment of what entails eternal life. Jesus makes it clear that those who accept the Son of Man will be raised on the last day and receive eternal life. Jesus goes ahead to provide an analogy by stating that the Israelites ate manna and eventually died. However, any person that feeds on the "bread of life" will live forever and will not see death (John 6:37-51, 52-58). The book of John also emphasizes that failure to acquire eternal life means that a person will experience God's wrath. Eternal life means that one lives in accordance with God's commandment. It also emphasizes that the alternative to eternal life is to face judgment and endure God's wrath (John 3:36). The famous John 3:16 also stresses the same point. According to the Bible verse, God loved his Son and gave him to the world. Any person that believes in him will evade punishment and experience everlasting life. Therefore, the book of John remains keen to remind the readers that only the two options exist. 8 Individuals are, therefore, better placed to make informed decisions regarding the kind of life they want. Based on this assessment, eternal life can be interpreted as a rescue from potential punishment for those that repent their sins and believe in God.
Conclusion
The Gospel of John discusses the concept of eternal life around the persona of Jesus Christ. The Johannine perspective emphasizes that Christ can reveal eternal life to humans because he is life in himself. Interaction with the book of John provides three different perspectives regarding the concept of eternal life. The three highlighted areas include their origin, meaning, and how to acquire it. According to John, the origin of eternal life begins with Jesus Christ. Christ draws his authority from God, and therefore any person that accepts him sets his path to eternity. Eternal life does not necessarily mean living after death. It calls on individuals to know God and his Son Jesus Christ. Failure to acquire eternal life places individuals at the wrath of God. The book of John underscores that punishment will befall any person that fails to live up to eternal life demands. Therefore, humanity has no option but to comply with God's commandments, accept his Son Jesus Christ, and repent.
References
Bible - New International Version (NIV). Holy Bible, New International Version
Köstenberger, Andreas J. Encountering John: The Gospel in historical, literary, and theological perspective. Baker Academic, 2002.
Morris, Leon. Jesus is the Christ: Studies in the Theology of John. Eerdman, 1989.
Thompson, Marianne Meye. "Eternal Life in the Gospel of John." Ex auditu 5 (1989): 35-55.
Van der Watt, Jan G. "A new look at John 5: 25-9 in the light of the use of the term ‘eternal life’ in the Gospel according to John." Neotestamentica 19, no. 1 (1985): 71-86.
1 Bible - New International Version (NIV). Holy Bible, New International Version
2 Köstenberger, Andreas J. Encountering John: The Gospel in historical, literary, and theological perspective. Baker Academic, 2002.
3 Ibid., 27-28.
4 Van der Watt, Jan G. "A new look at John 5: 25-9 in the light of the use of the term ‘eternal life’ in the Gospel according to John." Neotestamentica 19, no. 1 (1985): 71-86.
5 Ibid., 71-86.
6 Morris, Leon. Jesus is the Christ: Studies in the Theology of John. Eerdman, 1989.
7 Ibid., 52-58.
8 Thompson, Marianne Meye. "Eternal Life in the Gospel of John." Ex auditu 5 (1989): 35-55.
