Now let us look back at Chs.20 & 21 and see if we can see what John was trying to show us in the witnesses of those written about:

MARY MAGDALENE --

Out of whom Jesus had cast seven demons, a life undoubtedly lived previously in great desperation, and likely rejected by all around her. No conflict seen here between a woman of past ill-repute now in close association with the well respected and loved Mary, mother of Jesus. Lowliest of followers, yet chosen by Jesus, the least expected to be the first to tell the Resurrection Story. No accident here in Jesus honoring her love for Him! Whom Jesus accepts, we must accept and love also, regardless of the life of sin they came from.

THOMAS --

Who would bow before no other. Sold out to the Saviour. Willing to die for his Master. Not disbelieving, but not taking lightly either the identification of this new claimant to be Christ, having been forewarned of false messiahs. He will not be deceived by any false one. And, so, we are grateful for his serious inquiry into the legitimacy of this same Jesus pierced to the Cross, now clearly alive forever more. There can be no doubt! Thank you, Thomas.

PETER --

And finally Peter, lovable Peter, the pinnacle of positions in followers, fallen so low, yet fully restored by His Lord. To both ends of the spectrum of followers, Mary Magdalene in Ch.20 and Peter in Ch.21, Jesus appears for a personal touch to secure full faith. No different today, don't you see? He is Lord of all who will love Him, follow Him and love all who follow Him.

It has been customary that I use this space and time to summarize and tie together the preceding and forthcoming Chapters, but we have reached the end of our study in John's wonderful Gospel. Though he is gone now, we are grateful for his life, especially for the way he has so uniquely shown us this Second Adam, his Lord, and his message: His Lord, this Adam, is still alive! If he were here now, I believe I could see him passing his pen to each of you for you to write your own next Chapter (22), as Christ's life continues to unfold in your life as it did in theirs. What would it say? And how will it compare? If you have not yet allowed Him to be fully Lord in all areas of your life, decreasing as He increases in you (as John the Baptist stated), it is my prayer you may do so now; for He is worthy (Rev.5:11-13). Jesus. Saviour. Lord. King. There is something in that name -- Jesus.

On the remainder of this page, right now with pen in hand, while the mind is fresh and the heart is open, please write your heart's thoughts from the study you received from the pen of John's testimony and offer them to Jesus in prayer. You will never be at this point in life again, as time continues to move you down this detour in eternity, ever closer to that final moment when you will see Him face to face to bow and call Him Lord. Give Him Glory now, won't you?

And if John's personal friend and resurrected savior, verified by his own life's commitment, is not yet yours, he can be in this moment simply by believing and receiving. (Romans 10:9-10) It is my prayer, as it was his, that God's Spirit usher you into Jesus right now, to begin also that walk with this Second Adam who has at last come to lead all who will back to His Father who still stands at the Gate waiting. John lived to be an old man, never regretting his decision, loving Jesus more with each passing day of his life in his walk Home; so too will your joy be as his, if you trust and walk with Him as well in this same journey. Consumed in the Joy of his Lord's Love, his favorite sermon in old age, taken from the text of his Lord's Command, though breathed only in a whisper in his final days, yet spoken with the Strength and Power of Jesus' Spirit, still echoes in the air of Earth today.

Let John's own words be his final summary here: