The apostle John, writing as the last of the New Testament authors, gave the world the most profound insight of any Bible writer into the mission of the Son of God to this world as our Saviour.
His Gospel more clearly and deeply probes the depth of pain Christ suffered from the rejection by "church leadership" of the people He came to save. Few if any theologians who write learned commentaries on the Gospel of John can write from personal fellowship with Christ in His sufferings.
The Lord gave Ellet J. Waggoner an unusual perspective of John's Gospel inasmuch as he had the task of enduring for years severe and unjust rejection from his contemporary brethren in ministry. The heart pain he was called to suffer forged for him a special link to the apostle's Gospel. In his unique individual way, Waggoner could at least begin to resonate. He was forced for years to meditate on the rejection and suffering Christ had to endure.
The result is a most unusual "commentary" on the Gospel of John, not academically exhaustive verse-by-verse, but more heart-warming as a series of inspirational meditations. They were written thoughtfully over a six-month period.
Best of all, Waggoner sought to be like his Lord in that he never became bitter or resentful. He followed Jesus' instructions to "pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you," Thus a sunlit ray of Christlike love illuminates Waggoner's pages on John's Gospel.
Robert J. Wieland