Why I Tell Seekers to Start With John

With more than three decades in the Presbyterian pulpit, I’ve had countless conversations with people tiptoeing toward Christianity. Some are curious. Some are hurting. Some are simply trying to understand what Christians actually believe, separate from what they’ve heard secondhand. And almost every time, I make the same recommendation:

“Start with the Gospel of John.”

People are often surprised. They expect I might point them to the beginning—Genesis—or perhaps to the shortest Gospel, Mark. But John, in all its poetic depth, is the doorway through which many first encounter not just Christianity, but Christ himself.

John begins with a person, not a rule book

New believers often brace themselves for a long list of expectations and prohibitions. But John opens with a person—“In the beginning was the Word…”—and that Word becomes flesh and walks among us. Christianity, at its center, isn’t a philosophy or a moral code. It’s a relationship with the living Christ.

John makes that unmistakably clear from the first sentence.

John is honest about doubt and struggle

I’ve sat across from enough seekers to know that doubt is often their quiet companion. John doesn’t shy away from that. Thomas wants proof. Nicodemus comes at night with questions he doesn’t dare ask publicly. The Samaritan woman wrestles with her past and her place in the world.

John gives space for honest wrestling—something our modern age sorely needs.

John reveals the heart of Jesus

Each Gospel shows Christ from a different angle, but John lingers on the heart of Jesus. Here, we see him weep. We see him restore, forgive, and gently guide. We hear him pray for his followers—even those yet to come. That includes you and me.

For someone encountering Christ for the first time, John provides a portrait of a Savior who is both mighty and tender, divine yet deeply personal.

John is rich but accessible

Many first-time readers assume Scripture will be dense and intimidating. John’s Gospel has depth enough for a lifetime of study, yet its language is simple, almost musical. You don’t have to be a theologian to understand its central message:

Jesus came so that we may have life—full, abundant, eternal.

That message has brought comfort to countless seekers sitting across my office desk, often with a cup of coffee cooling between their hands.

John invites a response

John doesn’t simply tell the story—he turns to the reader and asks, implicitly and sometimes explicitly:

“Now that you’ve seen him, what will you do with him?”

For a seeker, that question is essential. Faith is not an academic exercise; it is a personal encounter. John understands this and structures his Gospel accordingly.

A gentle first step toward a lifelong journey

Christianity can feel overwhelming from the outside. There are traditions, theological debates, and centuries of history. But at its core is a simple invitation: Come and see.

John’s Gospel embodies that invitation better than any other starting point I know.

If you are curious about Christianity—or returning after years away—start with John. Read it slowly. Ask your questions. Sit with the words. And let the story introduce you not merely to a religion, but to the One who stands at its center.

After 60+ years of life, and 30+ years behind the pulpit, I can say this with confidence:

John is where countless journeys of faith have begun—and where many have discovered they were being sought long before they ever started seeking.