The Gospel of John Quotes

“The abundance of the gifts of the Spirit . . . does not mean that the believer will be transferred from a struggling faith to a purely triumphant faith but that the believer will become a participant, by the Spirit, in the glorification of Christ,” a glorification, we recall, that entails a Cross.”
― Frederick Dale Bruner, The Gospel of John: A Commentary

“Luther put it this way in a memorable passage, LW 23:28: “We might compare this to two persons who possess a hundred guldens [gold coins]. The one may carry them in a paper sack, the other may keep them in an iron chest. But for all that, both possess the entire treasure. Thus the Christ whom you and I own is one and the same, regardless of the strength or the weakness of your faith or of mine. In Him we possess all, whether we hold Him with a strong faith or a weak faith. The entire service of God is contained in this: Believe in Christ, whom the Father has sent to you. Accept His pronouncements. You can offer God nothing more pleasing to Him in heaven or on earth.”
― Frederick Dale Bruner, The Gospel of John: A Commentary

“Generally and understandably we think that if our ministries increase, Jesus’ ministry will increase as well. John the Baptist knows better. He apparently believes that it is possible to be so consumed with Christ’s increase that one can actually be content to be less significant oneself. This is the mystery of authentic ministry. Who of us can say we have attained this poised self-diminution? It is a goal greatly to be desired.”
― Frederick Dale Bruner, The Gospel of John: A Commentary