To Encourage You

John 20:30-31 “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.”

Though we may not often think of it this way, the Bible is a very personal book. It’s like a letter written to each and every one of us.  This characteristic of the Bible is brought out perhaps better than anywhere else in its pages by the nature of the verses above.  This section follows immediately after an account of Jesus having appeared to His disciples after His resurrection.  In that John 20 is near the end of the gospel of John, it follows everything else that has been told to us about Jesus by John, including numerous miracles which were signs demonstrating to the world that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, the one sent by God to earth as the Savior of the world.  Most of the gospel of John is written in narrative form, with many accounts of Jesus’ interactions with both unbelievers and believers.  There are many examples of the teachings of Jesus and examples that demonstrate how He lived, thought, and prayed.  But here in John 20:30-31 the writing makes a turn to the personal.  Notice how it says of the signs that have been written about Jesus, that they were written down “so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, that that by believing you may have life in his name.”  As you read this, feel free to put your name in place of the word “you” for that’s exactly how it’s meant to be read. 

The Bible is God’s message sent through the Holy Spirit and the writers the Spirit inspired, such as the apostle John, directly to you and me.  It is God’s means to open your and my eyes to the truth that He desires for us to believe in Christ, and by that belief to have eternal life.  It’s not written just for an audience in the first century. It’s been written to you and to me, personally.  God is speaking to us in in powerful ways that are capable of bringing life to those who are spiritually dead.  Without Him, you are spiritually dead and so am I. Without Him you are hopeless and so am I, and without Him you are headed for an eternity in hell, and so am I.  But with Him, through belief in Christ, you can have eternal life, and so can I.  This message isn’t just meant for the Jews and Gentiles of Jesus’ day. It’s not just meant for your grandmother. It’s not just meant for people who are already Christians.  It’s not just meant for those who attend church somewhere, or for “good” people, or for the “religious.”  It’s meant for you. 

So, do you have ears to hear?  Have you ever read the message of the Bible in the very personal context in which it was meant to be read?  If not, it’s got your personal address on it.  You can put your name in the place of the words “you” in the verses above, for even you can have eternal life, if you will but believe in this One who loved you enough to die for you.  He has already paid the penalty for your sins and mine.  And forgiveness, cleansing from all unrighteousness, and life to the full for all eternity can be yours, if you will only believe. 

What an awesome book this is!  It’s a supernatural book written to ordinary and very natural men and women, but it is filled with supernatural signs about the supernatural Jesus given to us by the supernatural Holy Spirit to give us supernatural eternal life.  There is no other book like it on the face of the earth.  It is God’s supernatural message of supernatural love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness.  But it’s all meant to be read and experienced by common and ordinary people, just like you and me.