Tag: life in Jesus Name.
John’s assigned purpose!
Scripture reading for May 5: John 21
“”Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but 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 20:30-31 “This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that His testimony is true. Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” John 21:24-25
John was the youngest of Jesus’ disciples and the disciple who Jesus loved. John was assigned the task of taking care of Jesus’ mother by Jesus from the cross. John was also assigned the task of writing down the Gospel record of the book we have just read. John’s world view had been shaped by being with Jesus and following Him as the resurrected Christ now for many years. As he summarized the purpose of his book, his focus was on helping us to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. John knew that knowing Jesus in this manner would open up each person’s world view to include eternity. The greatest gift of Jesus is eternal life in God’s forever family. John’s purpose was clearly stated.
John also told how he had personally born witness to the things that he wrote down in his Gospel. He proclaimed the truth of his testimony. He also stated that his record was very limited. John proclaimed another ‘truth’ about Jesus. If all the things that Jesus said and did were to be written down, the world itself could not contain all the books that would be written! This is an amazing statement from John’s heart and world view!
Have you explored John’s purpose in writing this Gospel record of the life and miracles of Jesus? How has John’s world view affected your own understanding of Jesus’ ministry and life? If you wrote a book, what purpose would you state for writing it?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for assigning John the task of writing down some of the signs that Jesus Christ did on earth. Thank You for desiring all come to believe and John’s same focus. Use me to invest my life with that same purpose–that all might have eternal life in Jesus’ Name! Amen.
Blessed for believing without seeing!
Scripture reading for May 3rd: John 20
Key Scriptures for over-comers: John 20:29-31 “Then Jesus told him, “Because you (Thomas) have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.”
Jesus showed Himself to the disciples the first day He arose and allowed them to touch Him and see the wounds. Thomas was not there the first time and consciously decided that he would not believe unless he also could touch the wounds and see for himself. A week later, Jesus came and went directly to Thomas and offered his wounds to be touched. He encouraged him not to be a doubter but to believe! Jesus then went on to state that those who would believe without seeing would be blessed as well. Jesus gave the rest of those who would follow Him the eye-witness accounts and also the written accounts of the many miraculous signs that Jesus did that they might have ample evidence to believe. Those who believe are blessed and will receive eternal life in His name!
Observations for over-comers: God always honors faith! It is the only way we can please Him! “Blessed are those You choose and bring near to live in Your courts! We are filled with the good things of Your house, of Your holy temple.” (Psalm 65:4)