No Barriers, Placerville (Christian Study Blog)

The Gospel of John has always stood out to me as a text that is out of place with regard to other books of the new testament, particularly when juxtaposed with the synoptic gospels. My observation has been that there are verses that are critical to Christian orthodoxy that are found only in this gospel, and this has made me suspicious of it for a long time. It is the only gospel in which Jesus points to his own divinity and Godship whereas the synoptic gospels (and earlier gospels) have Jesus as the Messiah. There are very important verses such as John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me". No one comes to the Father except through Jesus? That does not quite seem the narrative of the first three gospels, particularly Mark, one would think that this verse being such an important revelation to his disciples would have merited mention in at least one of the other (earlier) Gospels. This particular verse has lead many Christia...

The Way was difficult but by Truth I was successful. I stood upon a hill elevated above my surroundings, weary from the climb. Then my enemy stood before me. Broad in physique wearing a black helmet with black horns like a bull's. He pointed with his sword to another sword at my feet, "Pick up thy weapon" he said. "Is that mine?" I asked. "I know it not." "I will test thee, pick it up." He said. "I cannot prevail against you, I do not know the way of the sword", I said. "Probably not, for though art weak, he whom I named Israel had no such doubts. Thy children will not be many as was his, for in thy cowardice ye shall surely die today." he assured me. "Is your tongue still forked Light Bringer? It was not against you that Jacob prevailed. You have fallen and your power is only in lies. If I lose to the temptation and take the bait of the sword to run you through, in your wickedness you will have already prevai...