THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE
As the apostle John closed his gospel, he gave its purpose statement, namely, that his gospel was written that its readers might believe. Believe what?
First, believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed One, the fulfillment of God’s promise to redeem humanity. He is the Son of David and the fulfillment of the Old Testament’s messianic prophecies.
Second, believe that Jesus is the Son of God. John began his gospel describing Jesus as the “Word,” saying, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). Now, near the end of John’s gospel, he concludes as he began, asking us to to believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
Finally, John calls us to believe that eternal life is found by believing in the name of Jesus, that there is life-giving power in His name. For His name means, “God saves.” It is not the power of our faith that saves, but the power of His name that delivers us from death to life.
John was an eyewitness to all that he wrote and his writings concerning Jesus call for a faith response. Some will read or hear the gospel and reject it outright or otherwise attempt to discredit it. Some will hear it and consider it a good story, worthy of admiration, but not applicable to themselves.
Yet others will hear John’s good news concerning Jesus and respond as he intended. They will make a decision to place their total trust in Jesus, believing in His name for eternal life.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for giving us the gospel of John that we might believe in Your Son, Jesus. Indeed, thank You for the entire Word of God that leads us to knowing You through Your Son. Bless us this day with opportunity to tell others about Jesus, so that they might believe. In Jesus’ name, amen.