John 3:24 (This was before John was put in prison.)
They didn’t have parentheses in the first century language in which this gospel was originally composed. It is the understanding of the English translators that this was sort of a side note. What I find interesting is that, unlike the other three gospels, the story of John the Baptist being arrested and executed is not told in this gospel. Yet the writer assumes his readers will know that story. One sometimes gets the feeling that this gospel is trying to “set the record straight” concerning aspects of Jesus’ life, ministry and meaning. Not that the others were untrue, but that the writer felt there might be a better way to talk about it all, at least a way that would connect better for some people. I keep coming back in my mind to the verses near the end of the gospel that read, “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name (30, 31). It is as if the writer is saying, “You know the story but do you know its significance?” Well, do you?
Logan Memorial Presbyterian Church 