John's Knowledge of Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection

The question of how John knew what happened to Jesus is one that gets to the heart of the nature of biblical revelation and the role of the Holy Spirit in inspiring the Scriptures. Paul writes in Romans 8:28 that "all things work together for good to those who love God," and this is particularly evident in the way that God orchestrated the events of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, and then revealed them to his apostles, including John.

The doctrine of biblical inspiration teaches that the Holy Spirit guided the authors of Scripture, including John, as they wrote about the life and teachings of Jesus, ensuring that their accounts were accurate and trustworthy. This truth matters because it underscores the reliability of the biblical account of Jesus' life and death, and highlights the crucial role that the Holy Spirit plays in revealing God's truth to his people.

The gospel connection here is that John's knowledge of Jesus' life and teachings was not merely the result of human observation or research, but was rather a gift of the Holy Spirit, who enabled John to bear witness to the truth about Jesus and to proclaim the good news of salvation to a lost world. From a pastoral perspective, this truth addresses the deep-seated human desire for certainty and reliability in matters of faith, and reminds believers that their confidence in the Bible is well-founded, because it is the inspired Word of God.