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However, these have been written so that all of you [readers] may believe1 that Jesus is the Christ,2 the Son of The God.3 And, because of believing, you [readers] may have Life because of his name.4
| 1 | These have been written so that all of you [readers] may believe: The Greek is the plural “you” and suggests his readers. |
| 2 | Jesus is the Christ: John lists two factors to this belief as the reason he wrote the Gospel. The first is that Jesus the Nazarene is the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed. This is drawn mainly from Psalm 2:1, Isaiah 61:1, and Daniel 9:25, 26. |
| 3 | The Son of The God: The second point of conviction is that Jesus is more than the Messiah; he is also the Son of God. This is based on the prophecies of Psalm 2:6, 7 and Psalm 89:26. Had John’s entire presentation been for the purpose of declaring Jesus God he has full opportunity here to state it simply – “these things have been written so that you will believe Jesus is God Himself.” |
| 4 | You [readers] may have Life because of his name: John has in mind a specific kind of life, the same Paul teaches in 2 Corinthians 5:1-4. Note the use of the word “life” in 1 John. |
Dear Friends of the Nazarene,
We choose John 20:31 as the theme verse for chapter twenty for it explains the whole purpose of John’s Gospel. The chapter begins with the announcement of Mary Magdalene, “They have taken him!” [1, 2] The disciples find an empty tomb. [3-10] The Risen Master – mistaken for the gardener – tells Mary to bring the good news to the apostles. [11-18] Jesus appears to the apostles and says, “Receive holy spirit.” [19-23] Thomas doubts. [24, 25] Jesus says, “Blessed are those who believe and have not seen me.” [26-29] John gives the purpose of his Gospel – that readers may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of The God. [30, 31]
Abba our Father bless believers who have never seen Christ.
[18 December 2002]
This is the object of all the gospel histories. They aim to so reveal Christ as to produce faith in him. He is the one object of belief. He is the Christian’s creed. Faith in him, a faith that takes him as the Christ, saves the soul. All who have such faith wrought by the word of God will “have life through his name.”
