當美國著名歷史學家桃莉絲·基恩斯·古德溫（Doris Kearns Goodwin）決定寫一本關於美國第十六任總統亞伯拉罕·林肯的著作時，與之相關的書籍已經大約有一千四百本，這著實讓她望而生畏。關於這位深受敬愛的領袖，她還有什麼能著墨的呢？但古德溫並不氣餒，勇敢接受挑戰，最後寫出《無敵：林肯不以任何人為敵人，創造了連政敵都同心效力的團隊》。古德溫針對林肯的領導風格所提出的新見解，成就了一本極受好評的暢銷書。

使徒約翰在記述耶穌的事工與受難時，則面臨不同的挑戰。約翰福音的最後一節經文說道：「耶穌所行的事還有許多；若是一一的都寫出來，我想，所寫的書，就是世界也容不下了」（約翰福音21章25節）。可見約翰擁有的素材比他實際所能寫出來的更多！

因此，約翰的寫作策略是只聚焦於特定的幾個神蹟（記號），支持耶穌七個「我是」的宣告。這個策略的背後有一個具永恆意義的目的：「記這些事，要叫你們信耶穌是基督，是上帝的兒子，並且叫你們信了祂，就可以因祂的名得生命」（20章31節）。從大量的證據中，約翰提供許多相信耶穌的理由。今天，你可以把有關耶穌的事告訴誰呢？

When Doris Kearns Goodwin decided to write a book about Abraham Lincoln, the fact that some fourteen thousand books had already been written about America’s sixteenth president intimidated her. What could be left to say about this beloved leader? Undeterred, Goodwin’s work resulted in A Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln. Her fresh insights on Lincoln’s leadership style became a top-rated and top-reviewed book.

The apostle John faced a different challenge as he wrote his account of the ministry and passion of Jesus. The final verse of John’s gospel says, “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” (John 21:25). John had more material than he could possibly use!

So John’s strategy was to focus on only a few selected miracles (signs) that supported Jesus’ “I am” claims throughout his account. Yet behind this strategy was this eternal purpose: “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (v. 31). Out of the mountains of evidence, John provided plenty of reasons to believe in Jesus. Who can you tell about Him today?