The Artist Formerly Known As // Without Any Doubt
The Greek word “eidō” is one of the most used words in the Book of John, appearing over two dozen times. It means: “to know without any doubt.” So it’s clear that the writer of this Gospel, the Apostle John, wants his readers to be sure of the point he’s trying to get across, which he articulates in the closing words of his account: “...this has been written so that you may believe [without any doubt] that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that by believing you may have life in His name.” Now, it’s no secret many of us struggle with doubt—doubt about God, the future, our place in the world. And that doubt can be debilitating and overwhelming. But it’s in the midst of that doubt that God wants to point us to the solid foundation that we can know and build our lives on—without any doubt.
Jesus didn’t claim to simply be a teacher or rabbi. His claim was far more scandalous and ground shaking—Jesus claimed to be one with Yahweh. And if any of the authors of the Gospels go to far lengths to stress this claim, it is the Gospel of John. In its 21 chapters, Jesus continually points back over and over to the truth of his identity: that he is Lord.