Do You Believe? - John 20

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

As we’ve been reading through John’s gospel, have you wondered, “Why these stories? Why this account? Why these events/signs/miracles?” Why did John specifically record what he did? So that we may believe. Each sign, each teaching, each moment John shares is designed to produce within its readers genuine faith in Jesus. 

Isn’t that the theme of chapter 20? The Apostles running to the tomb to see for themselves (v. 4). John going in, and from what he sees, he believes (v. 8). Mary, who believed Jesus was taken, talks to the Lord face to face (v. 16-18). Jesus appearing in the Apostles presence (v. 19-23). Thomas’ refusal to believe without the evidence (v. 25), and the Lord’s answer – providing the proof, resulting in his belief (v. 26-28). 

There’re similarities in all these. Their faith needed time to grow. Each of them had their doubts. Thomas was not the only one to doubt. Just see Mark 16:14. They needed teaching. They needed evidence. For their faith to grow, they needed help from the author of faith (Heb. 12:2). 

And we are the same. There are times like the Apostles that we don’t understand everything completely (v. 9). There are times when we doubt. Everyone has those moments. Apostles had them. Parents have them. Preacher and elders have them. What we need, like the disciples of old, is to look to the evidence, to look to the author of faith, to come and see, and believe. 

Jesus said, “blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed” (v. 29). That’s us! There’s a song we sing that conveys this thought: 

We gazed not in the open tomb

Where once thy mangled body lay;

Nor saw thee in that "upper room,"

Nor met thee on the open way;

But we believe that angels said,

"Why seek the living with the dead?"

But we believe that angels said,

"Why seek the living with the dead?"

No, we did not see the Lord. We did not feel His wounds. We did not hear Him speak. But we are not left without evidence. These things are written so that you may believe. We have the words. We have the miracles. We have the teachings. By faith, can you see Him? By faith, can you hear Him preach? By faith, can you see the empty tomb? From all that John recorded, do you believe?

Faith is a journey, not a destination. It grows. There are times it’s strong, and times when it’s weak. There are times when we soar with confidence, and times when we stumble in doubt. Don’t get discouraged. Don’t quit! God gave us something special – He gave us these words. Every word, every account, every story specifically chosen so that we would believe. Our faith is tied to this book (Rom. 10:17). Would you like a stronger faith? Are you looking to grow more confident in what you believe? Open the book. Read these words. See the Lord, and believe. 

Our Father in Heaven, thank you for the incredible gift you’ve given us through the Bible. To have your mind, your will, your plan in our hands is amazing. You truly love us, and are good to us. I was not there when Jesus came to earth. I did not see Him with my eyes, nor hear Him with my ears, but God, I believe. I believe these words. I believe that He came. I believe in His signs. I believe in the cross – the death for my sins. I believe that He rose, that He lives, and that today He reigns. I believe in Jesus. Lord, strengthen my faith. Take me to new depths, to a greater maturity, to an even firmer conviction and assurance in my trust in You. Blessed be Your name! 

Darkest Before the Dawn – John 19

John 19 is the fourth account of what may be the saddest and darkest day in humanities history. It picks up with Pilate having Jesus beaten within an inch of his life, the soldiers placing a crown of thorns in His head and beating it into place. Pilate then brings the beaten and bloodied Jesus back to the crowds hoping that was enough punishment for them as he had not found anything wrong with Jesus. But the crowds cry out “Crucify, crucify.”

Their reaction scares Pilate, and he asks Jesus one more time who He is, but receives no answer. Pilate tries to threaten Jesus but the only response given is “Pilate you have no power over me, everything that is going to happen has been determined.”

Pilate cannot deny the people what they are craving, so he hands the Son of Man over to be crucified. 

They take Jesus to Golgotha, drive stakes into his hands and feet, and place him between two truly guilty men. Pilate then puts Jesus’ crime on the cross for everyone to see, and it reads “Jesus the Nazarene, The King of The Jews.”

There He hung, the Son of Man guilty of nothing but trying to save His people. The crowd did not realize that this was their true King. They had been looking for a messiah of war, a strong,mighty military leader to bring them out from Roman rule and back to a position of power and prominence. 

What they got (and needed) was a King trying to bring the people back to a place of spiritual prominence. One who was trying to prepare them for the spiritual war with Satan. One who was trying to bring them into a kingdom of eternal joy, peace,and freedom. One who loved them so much that when He was dying, He still called out for their mercy and forgiveness to the Father. 

He then cried “It is finished” and breathed His last. He was then wrapped and laid in a new tomb, and the stone was rolled into place.  

BUT, praise the Lord this is not the end of the story! It does not end in darkness, hopelessness, and sadness. Just wait, like the apostles the disciples and ladies, for the next chapter is the rising of the Son! A new day for man, a day of heaven and hope!

Prayer: Father, your Son, had to endure so much for my sake. Thank You for sharing my burden of sin, for providing a perfect sacrifice in my stead that I may have a hope for that beautiful new day with You!

Dark Days - John 18

“…for this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world-- to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice."  John 18:37

Dark days are ahead. They are the darkest in human history. The sinless Son of God, the Word that became flesh, now faces a hateful crowd, determined to put Him to death. The people who should have anticipated and welcomed Him the most were the most adamant that He should die. 

There’s a felt tension that should exist in the heart of the reader as they read this chapter. Did you feel it? An ambush in a garden of peace. A heartless betrayal from a close friend. A reckless SLASH of desperation from a frantic apostle. A fraudulent trial from a malicious priesthood. Denied three times by One He loved. The truth of God in the hands of a clueless governor. The One who brought life now faces His death.

Yes, I’d like to think that were I there, I would have spoken up. I would have stood by His side. I would have defended His honor. I would have pleaded His case. I would have fought for His freedom. But in being honest with myself, I’ve found myself acting like the others in this chapters. Times when I betrayed the Lord through choosing sin. Times when I wound an enemy in defense of a friend. Times when the Truth is mocked and I’ve remained silent. Times when my actions denied the Lord I claimed to love. 

Oh that these painful chapters, these dark days could be erased… could be replaced with more moments of joy and victory. And then Jesus reminds us, “I came for this purpose.” From His first steps, His path has been leading to Calvary. His time has come. Through His death, real truth is revealed. Through His sacrifice, sin is removed. Through the cross the path to God is opened. Through what seems to be defeat, Christ would claim the ultimate victory. 

There’s a reason the Word became flesh… a purpose. The reason was Calvary. The purpose was the cross. The purpose was me…was you. The Light of the world stepped down into darkness – the darkness of evil… the darkness of sin… the darkness of pain… the darkness of death. 

Father in Heaven, my heart pains when I read these words. What love! What grace! What darkness that surrounded Your perfect Son. In sadness I wonder, “Did He have to be betrayed? Did He have to be denied? Did He have to suffer such pain? Did there have to be a cross?” Yet I hear Him say those words, “For this purpose I have come…”. What an amazing plan you wove together from the beginning of time! How can I question Your love? How can I doubt Your care?  Forgive my moments of weakness, when in pain I forget about Calvary. Your Son carried Your will, Your purpose to the cross. Help me today to bear Your will, to fulfill Your purpose – ever thankful, ever mindful of Your love, Your Son, of His gift of life.  

All Are One - John 17

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.  And the glory which You gave Me, I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:  I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me (John 17:20-23).

At end of Jesus’ ministry the cross is on the horizon. This evening before He is taken, He is walking with His disciples and prays.  “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word” (Jn 17:20). “I do not pray for these alone” (i.e., apostles). They had followed Him, suffered with Him, and He prayed for them. 

Therefore, He says, “That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.  And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:  I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me; but not for these alone” (John 17: 21-23). Notice the number of times He talks about being one. Yet, how many are going to be one? 

This oneness is because all believe in Christ. It is not a unity that ought to be or should be. It is an assured unity. There is a oneness of all believers. It has never been fractured. It never will be fractured. It never will be disturbed.  The reason is, it is not in our hands. It is not up to us to keep it.  If it were up to us we would mess it up.

Who is Jesus talking to when He addresses the topic of unity as the one who has something to do with keeping this unity? God. This is a prayer to God. God keeps this unity. God takes care of it. 

It is a oneness in the hands of God. It is a oneness that is based on the relationship between the Father and the Son, “But as we are one.” He is talking about They will be one, not in agreement, but in what They are.

This oneness has to do with a people who are the same as the Father. Their similarity to Him makes them one, as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one. We say there are three beings in the Godhead yet all are one. They are three separate Beings but there is a perfect oneness. All believers are going to be one because they are going to be the one and self-same thing. They are not going to be different things, different varieties, just one in being believers in same way the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all one in being what They are.

Prayer: Father, thank you for making us. We want to be believers. We want to be one with You. We know You will keep us safe.

A Chapter of Promises - John 16

Chapter 16 contains some of the final conversations and teachings between Jesus and his apostles. When you read it, you can feel the emotion coming from Jesus, how he is trying to encourage them knowing the challenge that is quickly coming for them. Jesus is about to be betrayed, wrung through a kangaroo court, and executed, and His apostles are going to flee initially, then watch from the sidelines. It is going to be a time of confusion and chaos. 

They declare to Him in vs. 30 that they know he speaks true things and is from God. They know He is a good man, guilty of nothing save for healing and helping the world. But Jesus tells them over and over again He is going to be separated from them for a time (His death), BUT this is not the end for them. He has promised He will return to them shortly but only for a brief period vs. 28 

“I am leaving the world again and going to the Father.” 

and that is not everything earlier in the chapter Jesus promises them that they will not be abandoned and forgotten. When Jesus goes to be with the Father, the Spirit is going to come to help guide and inform the apostles in all things. 

This is a promise that radiates to us even today. We too have the same promise, instead of direct revelation as the apostles had we now have the recordings from them, their letters, instructions, and guidance. We have the Bible, a compilation of stories, history, poems, prophecy, instruction, and most importantly hope.   

Hope for a beautiful eternity. A hope that if we live according to His way, we will have a place laid up for us with the Son of Man. He who had to endure so much to grant us this hope. That is what He tried to leave his apostles within these last few precious hours, and what He had recorded for us to grant us hope through time eternal. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the promise of hope. That when things look dark and hopeless, you will return to us, to give us hope and peace for greater things to come.