Mensa Otabil - That You May Believe
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We conclude our reflections on the resurrection today: John chapter 20, verses 30 and 31. «And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.»
In keeping with Jesus’s commendation of those who believe without seeing, John speaks about the purpose of the Gospel he had written, explaining why he recorded this account for future generations so that we will believe. He emphasizes a couple of points I want to focus on. First, he states that Jesus performed many signs in the presence of His disciples that are not recorded in the Gospel of John. This helps us appreciate the other three Gospels and the perspectives they bring to the entirety of Jesus’s ministry. However, even when we combine all four Gospels, they do not cover everything that Jesus did. This is important for us to understand.
Also note that all these signs John mentions were not secret signs done in the presence of His disciples, so we cannot loosely apply this caveat to any strange or bizarre behavior by a preacher who might say, «Oh, Jesus did many things we don’t know about-this could be part of it.» No, everything that qualifies as a sign or miracle must adhere to the pattern established in these written scriptures, consistent with the nature and character of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The second point John makes is that all of these things are written so that you may believe. That is where everything ultimately leads: people believing in Christ, not in a preacher, not in a prophet, and not in a man of God, but placing their faith in Christ Jesus. John also helps us understand that the miracles he recorded about Jesus are not meant to show off; they are written to bring us to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. One can be impressed by a miracle, but believing in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ is something entirely different, and that is what a miracle must help us to achieve.
Then, he states that we must believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. This belief is specific; it is not general. We can’t just believe, «Oh, I like Jesus; I think Jesus is good.» No, we must believe something specific about Him: that He is the Christ, the promised Messiah who came to take away the sins of the world by paying the debt of Adam’s sin and freeing humanity from spiritual death and eternal damnation, so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.
There is a specific faith we must have in Jesus Christ, and that specific faith is what is required.The reason I emphasize this is that many people say they are Christians, but if you ask them why they are Christians, they respond, «Oh, I go to church, I do nice things, I like people, I try to follow Jesus.» But that’s not what the scripture says. There is a specific faith you must accept about Jesus Christ: that He is the Christ, the Son of God, my Lord and my God.
Finally, John says that in believing Him, you would have life. It is in believing Him, not just in reading about Him, not just in going to church, not just in being a nice person, but in believing Him that you find life. His life becomes your life. Jesus Christ is able to give us the life He had and continues to give us that life when we believe specifically in who He is-the same Lord who was crucified, the same Lord who resurrected, my Lord and my God, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is that faith that gives us salvation. Let us pray.
Say with me: Heavenly Father, I believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. I commit to this belief for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name, amen and amen.
Well, we wrap up our resurrection deliberations today. Tomorrow, I will start a new study. I am Pastor Mensa Otabil. I’ll catch you tomorrow. Shalom, peace, and life to you.