Read and Believe in Jesus.

“…these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing, you may have life in His name.” John 20:31.

REVIEW – After appearing to Mary Magdalene, Jesus, on that same day, appears to the disciples. They are locked away in a house, fearful that the Jews might come after them as well. Thomas is not with them.

Suddenly Jesus appears in their midst. They are terrified, and Jesus immediately speaks “peace” over them. He shows them His wounds, proving that it is indeed HE, Jesus, who was crucified. Then He commissions them to go out with the “good news,” just as God the Father had sent Him to the world.

Thomas disbelieves their account of the risen Jesus and refuses to change until he can see AND TOUCH Jesus himself. Compassionate Jesus does appear again when Thomas is present and encourages him to touch Him and BELIEVE! Jesus says those who believe without seeing are indeed blessed.

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John 20:30.

“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;…”

Just by reading the other three Gospel accounts, we are aware of this. Matthew alone is the longest Gospel and includes many teachings and miracles that John does not. Luke also includes details that John omits.

But John had something else in mind, writing this long after the other three gospels were finished and circulating. He wanted to methodically proclaim and prove that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God. He does this through selected “signs” (miracles) and “I AM” statements that Jesus made. Seven in all, of both. You may want to go back and read the story around these, if you have time.

The seven miracles Jesus did are;

• Water made into wine
• Healing the official’s son
• Healing the lame man by the pool
• Feeding 5,000 people with one boy’s lunch
• Walking on water
• Healing the man born blind
  Raising Lazarus from the dead
  

Jesus’ seven “I AM” statements are:

• I AM the Bread of Life
• I AM the Light of the world
• I AM the Door of the sheepfold
• I AM the Good Shepherd
• I AM the Resurrection and the Life
• I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life
• I AM the Vine

Truly, John reveals the supernatural abilities of the Messiah and the glorious and comforting attributes of the Son of God in his Gospel!

But he doesn’t simply do this as a form of literary prowess. See what he says next.

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John 20:21.

He’s written the above things (and all the actions and teaching connecting them) … so that YOU (and I) will BELIEVE that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, AND … that by believing, we may have (eternal) life in His name.

WOW! Aren’t you glad that you’ve read through John’s gospel? I am.

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(Oh, LORD, may all that I write or speak, and the way I live my life, be for the exact same reason… … that those I touch in any way, may BELIEVE in Your Son and be saved for eternity!)

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This was the intentional ENDING to John’s gospel, and what a great ending it is!

But John adds chapter 21 as an epilogue, mostly because a rumor began to circulate that he, John, would live until Jesus returned. John had to clear that up. (Yes, he lived longer than any of the others, way into his 90’s, but he did die.)

And also – remember the great friendly competition he had with Peter? He HAD to show the big fisherman’s reinstatement into leadership … through quite a humiliating interview. (That John!!) (But Peter has one last comeback, the one that started the rumor.)

Stay tuned tomorrow to read the “denouement” to the Gospel of John.