Meet Greg Brooks

Naming children is an interesting task. Some people like to choose family names or names that have a special meaning. Some friends of ours like to name their children after famous missionaries. I'm not sure what my parents' plans were when they named me, but I later looked up what my name means. And considering what I do now, I can't help but wonder if God was involved in the process without my parents' knowledge.

The name "Gregory" means "watchman" or "shepherd." My last name "Brooks" means "dweller by the brook." It's interesting to me that even though I wasn't born into a Christian family, God had plans to use me as a shepherd who would teach and lead others to the living water of Christ. That's crazy!

But not as crazy as the title John uses in John 1:1 to introduce us to the preexistent God of all creation—the Word. He is everything God wants to say to us in a person. He "was with God and was God," which reveals that He is no ordinary being (John 1:1). In fact, He is the being by whom all other beings exist (John 1:3). He is God, and His name is Jesus, which means "the Lord saves." And that, my friends, is exactly what He came to do. So that even though we all like sheep have gone astray, even though we have turned—everyone—to our own way, the Lord has laid our sin's punishment on Him because He is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for those who love Him (Isaiah 53:6; John 10:11).

As you spend the next several weeks reading through this amazing Gospel, you will see seven signs that affirm His message and purpose. You'll also read through seven "I am" statements that communicate that He is not just a message but very God of very God, sent for you and for me because God loves us (John 3:16)! So buckle up, grab your coffee, and enjoy The Journey through this amazing Gospel from John!