That we may believe
Text: John 20:30-31
Let’s take our Bibles and open them up to John 20. This morning, we’re going to look at John’s purpose statement. He’s going to tell us why he wrote this Gospel account. John 20:30-31 (READ).
Ok, so there it is… Why did John write this? 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. And John says, “Jesus did many other signs… BUT THESE SIGNS are written so that you may believe.”
That word “sign” is the Greek word “Semeion” and it literally means – “A token, a proof, or a deed done with the intention of proving something or pointing to a previously hidden truth.”
The sign, in and of itself is NOT the thing… it’s pointing to the thing.
So how many of you remember, back in chapter two, where Jesus turned water into wine? It’s John 2:1-11. If you were to go back and read that, you’d see that in verse 11 John says, “This was the first of His signs that Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested His glory. And His disciples believed in Him.” And we went over that… we talked about belief, and how John, over and over again, uses that word in different ways. The disciples believed something about Jesus, but at that point they did not believe UNTO salvation.
Then, in John 4:43-54 we are told about Jesus healing the officials son who was near death. And verse 54 says “This was the second sign Jesus did.”
In John 5:1-47 we read about Jesus healing a lame man at the Pool of Bethesda, and in that instance, Jesus equated Himself with the God of Moses. He told the Pharisees that if they believed Moses they would believe in Him, because He Himself was the God that Moses believed in. They wanted to kill Him for that…
John 6, Jesus feeds 5000 people (more than 5000 actually), and He walks on water. Do you remember? And the people walked along the coast of the Sea of Galilee and followed Him, and Jesus actually rebuked them. Let me just turn there and read it, so it’s fresh in our minds. It’s John 6:26-37 (READ).
So, again, people seeking the signs, seeking the wonders, seeking the miracles, seeking the free meals, the hand out, the gifts… and totally missing what (WHO) all of those signs are pointing to. In John 9 Jesus healed a blind man… in John 11 He raised Lazarus from the dead… And then finally, He Himself was raised up from the dead.
Signs… but those aren’t the only signs. Those are miraculous signs… but we also read about things like Jesus being baptized by John in the Jordan to fulfill the Law. We read about Jesus being anointed at Bethany, Jesus, cleansing the temple, Jesus riding on a young donkey at the Triumphal Entry… We know about the trial and crucifixion and burial of Jesus… all of those are signs of fulfilled prophecy – signs that God had previously told us His Sent One, the Messiah would do and accomplish. Just like His being born of a virgin. Being born in Bethlehem, His flight to Egypt to escape Herod. His return. All of it was foretold in the Old Testament, and was spoken of, and given as signs people should look for – when the Messiah, the Savior, the Christ comes.
Now I don’t have to say this, we all know it, but I will. We live in a postmodern time where there is a very negative attitude towards anything that has to do with objective truth. The world is always attempting to put us into a mold that says tolerance is the supreme virtue and everything else is a secondary issue at best. There are even some churches where that is the case. They take the attitude of, “Oh hey, we’re not going to make dogmatic claims about what’s true or false, what’s real faith or false faith. It doesn’t really matter what you believe, we’re just happy that you’re here, and hopefully we all somehow make it to heaven.”
That kind of makes me want to gag. But it’s really the mindset of our world today. And its completely counter to what the Bible says and teaches. It’s completely counter to what Jesus has said and taught. Jesus said, very clearly I might add, that He is the only way to God the Father, and no one comes to the Father except by Him, or through Him. Jesus very clearly said, that if you do not believe that HE is the I AM, you will die in your sins (we read that in John 8:24 BTW).
And so, in our world, where making objective truth claims is seen as the most heinous of sins when we see John say what he says here in our text this morning, we’re left with a choice. It’s one or the other.
Jesus really is the Son of God, or He isn’t. There’s no middle ground, or ambiguity. You’re either in the Ark, or out.
So, in our text John says, “I wrote this, so that you might believe.” And really, that’s the whole purpose of all the Bible. The entire Bible is about Jesus. It prophecies about Him, it promises His coming (both first and second), it tells us why He came, and what He accomplished, and why He did what He did. The Old Testament is entirely about Jesus! It talks about the Savior that God would send to redeem sinners, and restore His creation, and eradicate sin, and set all things right. It tells us that Jesus is the Lamb who was sent to shed His blood for the forgiveness of sin. It tells us that Jesus is the Redeemer, the Savior, the One who heals, the One who protects, the One who helps, the One who provides, the One who enters into covenant with the Father, and then fulfills that covenant requirement son our behalf. So what God demands, God supplies, through the Person of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
I love it when people try to tell me that God’s not fair. I usually say, “Hmmm… maybe so. It’s not fair that Jesus had to come and live the righteous life that we should’ve lived. And it’s not fair that Jesus had to die the death that we should’ve died. That should’ve been us on the cross, bearing the wrath of God, paying for our sins. It’s not fair that we get forgiveness, and eternal life, even though we deserve eternal, never ending, unceasing wrath.” And then I’ll ask, “So do you want God to treat you fairly, or with grace?”
So John says, “I wrote this down, so you that you may believe.” And remember, John was an eye witness to what he’s written here. He even says, “Jesus did a lot more than what I’ve written, but these that I’ve given you, should be more than sufficient.”
Who of you can turn water into wine? Who of you can heal a boy whose 20 miles away with just a word? Who of you can feed over 5000 people with a few loaves of bread and a couple of fish, or walk on water? Who of you can give sight to a man who was born blind, or raise someone from the dead who’s been in a tomb for 4 days? The answer is – NONE OF US CAN! None of us can do any of those things! So why wouldn’t we believe in Jesus? Why wouldn’t we believe in the only ONE who can do those things?
And let me just say this… when Jesus did those things, He wasn’t doing it so that people would come and give a lot of money to His ministry. Remember, these are signs – pointing to the greater reality that HE IS THE SAVIOR! It was to get the people – and us – to realize – “Wow! Jesus is God in flesh. Jesus is the Anointed One. He is the Messiah! He is the Christ our Savior! We should repent of our sin, and trust in Him alone for salvation. We should follow Him, and live for Him, and worship Him, and love Him. We should put all the worldly things aside, our worldly passions and pursuits, and follow Him.”
So what John has done here is offer us an account… evidences if you will of the very first claims he made in this Gospel account. John started out by saying, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, and Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” That’s the first thing John tells us, and now he’s saying, “I wrote down all these signs so that you can believe that.”
And why does John want us to believe that?
So that you may have life in His Name.
And isn’t it interesting that John puts this right after Thomas’ statement of faith. Go back up to verse 28 (John 20:28), and look at that… “Thomas answered Him, ‘My Lord and my God.’”
Now understand, this is a Jewish man, a devout follower of Yahweh God, who is now saying, “Jesus you are God.” And if He is God, He should be Lord. Lord of our lives and all aspects of it.
So what does that mean practically speaking? It means you follow Him, you serve Him, you obey Him. You bring your desires and life under His rule and reign. It means that in this world you will have trouble… in this world – for the 70, 80, or 90+ years that you are allowed to be here, you may suffer persecution, but in eternity you’re with Him forever.
What kind of person gives us eternity for 80 or 90 years? The same kind of person who gives up their birthright for a bowl of stew… and Essau kind of person.
EVERYTHING this world offers, whether it’s fame or fortune, wealth or pleasure.. it’s temporary.
It’s passing away. It will not, and cannot last. What Jesus is offering is eternal. Eternal life, unending joy, peace without end.
Jesus said to Thomas, “Have you believed because you have seen Me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” And immediately John writes, “I’ve written this so that you may believe…”.
NO ONE, and I mean NO ONE can say that they refuse to believe because there isn’t enough evidence or proof. They refuse to believe because to believe that Jesus is the Christ, means that He is to be your LORD. People love the Savior part… they want the Savior part… but not the Lord part.
The miracles are exciting, they excite our flesh. The healing is great! Free food – count me in. Set us free from oppressive leaders and politicians, yup – I’m down with that! A life of comfort and ease. Where do I sign up… wait a second… take up a cross and follow You – Now just hold on a second Jesus. What? Go and tell others to repent and trust in you – that makes me really uncomfortable… where’s the Jesus who gives me comfort and ease? Do not forsake the assembly? Well when do I get “me time”? Repent of sin… but I like my sin… that’s why I do it… Die to self – I don’t know about all that?
Turn with me, real quick, back to John 1:12-13 (READ).
Church, basically what John has done in this Gospel account is say, “Jesus is God, come in the flesh, to be our Lord and Savior, and die for our sins. Repent and believe in Him or remain in your unbelief and sins and perish. I’ve given you the evidence. There’s no excuse. Jesus is Lord, Savior and God – take it or leave it.”
CLOSING
