John 20:30-31 (ESV):"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."
So how should we read this text?
Well, today we're looking at these two verses from chapter 20 of the Gospel of John, and they might be short, but they're a pretty big deal. If you were to flick through John's Gospel, you'd notice that he's picked out specific miracles—specific signs—to show us who Jesus really is. If you've been following along with this devotional for a while, you'll know that John has structured his book, you know, the Gospel of John, according to two different books. There's the book of the signs, in which John picks out all the miracles of Jesus, and then there's the book of the passion, which is what we've actually just been reading: Jesus' last week on earth.
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Here, John basically admits that Jesus did lots more miracles that never got written down, but he tells us that what is here is for the purpose that we will see that Jesus isn't just a normal guy—He's the Christ, He's the Messiah, the one everyone was waiting for, and He is the Son of God. Jesus has this dual identity: He's the Messiah who fulfills God's promises to His people, and He's the divine Son of God, the way back to the Father.
John wants us to understand that Jesus is more than just a miracle worker—He is the divine Son of God. He has a purpose in all of this: he says these things are written so that you may believe. That's a pretty famous statement. There's quite a bit of discussion among those who study the Greek because the word "believe" could point either to someone coming to faith for the first time or someone continuing in the faith they already have. It fits both scenarios. It's like John is handing you this Gospel wherever you're at and saying, "Read these signs, look at who Jesus is, and let that shape and strengthen your trust in Him."
Another important aspect of reading this text is understanding the idea of having life in Jesus' name. There's so much more to life than just eating, breathing, and existing. We have available to us a deep, real, genuine life that flows from trusting in Jesus. John's been talking about life and light and all these big themes throughout his whole Gospel, and he wants us to see that if Jesus really is who He says He is—if Jesus is truly the Son of God—then we must put our faith in Him in order to share in this everlasting relationship with God.
John is, in a way, shining the spotlight on Jesus as the doorway back to God and the fullness of life itself. All the signs that Jesus does throughout John's Gospel point to this reality. If He can calm a storm, if He can raise the dead, then it means He can deal with the storms in our lives and give us new life too. I reckon John knows we can be skeptical sometimes, because we're so familiar with the story of Jesus that we start to forget what it's meant to do in us. Maybe, like me, you've heard about Jesus since you were a small child, or maybe you're brand new to all this. Either way, the point is the same: these things were written so that you would meet Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, and actually believe in Him, shaping your life around who He is.
So how should this text read us?
First, I think it confronts us with our own doubts—the casual attitude we sometimes have toward Jesus. We go through life like, "Jesus is cool, I guess," but never really let our hearts be convinced of His power and authority. John is saying, "Look, I've shown you more than you need. You must now come to faith in Christ." We're invited to check ourselves and ask, "Do I actually trust that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, or do I just see Him as some sort of inspirational figure?"
Secondly, there's this promise of life, and that's a massive promise because we all want a life of meaning and purpose, right? There's a deep spiritual longing in every human heart, no matter where you come from or what you've filled your life with. When it comes to Jesus, if we believe in Him, we get this spiritual life. We're stepping into a kind of life that thrives on knowing God. John wants us to realize that our hearts and souls are made for that kind of life. If we're missing out, it might be because we've shoved Jesus to the sidelines, letting other priorities overshadow Him. This passage tells us we are to see who Jesus really is and then let Him take center stage in our lives.
You don't have to be some sort of super apologist or have a theology degree to come to know Jesus like this. John says the signs speak for themselves. If you’re open to seeing what’s here, you can follow Jesus. And because "believe" has that dual sense of both coming to faith and continuing in faith, this passage reminds us that we constantly need to be refreshed in our belief. Whether we're brand new to church or we've been in church forever, it's not a one-time box we check. Belief in Jesus is this ongoing posture of trusting Him day in and day out. Some days it's easier; some days it's harder. But John's point is that when we see Jesus for who He is—when we see His life, His miracles—we will find life and continue to find life. He offers us that life freely, if only we have eyes to see. So open your eyes, see Jesus for who He really is, and make Him the Lord of your life.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for showing us Yourself through the writings of John. Thank You that You’ve done all these signs, all these miracles, and that You’ve shown us who You are in this book. Help us to see not just Your incredible power but also Your love and care for us in all of it. Help us never to get used to who You are. Help us always be amazed at Your power, Your might, and at Your love for us, being willing even to die for us on the cross. Thank You for loving us and for showing us the way to have true life in You. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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