Jesus performed many other signs in front of his disciples. They are not written down in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. If you believe this, you will have life because you belong to him (John 20:30-31).

Contemporary Testimony: Our World Belongs to God: It is the Word of truth, breath of God, fully reliable in leading us to know God and to walk with Jesus Christ in new life (32).

Our text comes near the end of John’s account of Jesus’ life and ministry. He informs us why he included the things he chronicled. They were recorded to awaken faith in Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God.

These are two titles that have always been significant in the Christian faith. They have deep Old Testament background. Best known among Christians are the words of Isaiah, “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace (9:6).

Some of Jeremiah’s prophecies also became tied to the hope of God’s Messiah, “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land’” (23:5). Micah says it this way, “Bethlehem Ephrathah, you might not be an important town in the nation of Judah. But out of you will come for me a ruler over Israel. His family line goes back to the early years of your nation. It goes all the way back to days of long ago” (5:2).

For many Christians, Jesus’ ministry has been reduced to the forgiveness of sins. Of course, this is an essential part, as the angel told Joseph, “You must give him the name Jesus. That’s because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Recognizing our own sinfulness is central to our faith in Jesus. He forgives as he brings us back into fellowship with our Heavenly Father.

But there is more. Believing in him means we come under his reign, we enter his kingdom and all its glory. We are given life as expressed in these and so many other Old Testament passages. This life was discovered by many who met Jesus during his days on earth. Such are the stories John told.

At the end of his gospel, he then askes, “Do you believe that Jesus is the one? Do you believe that he is the Messiah, the Son of God, sent from the Father above to bring life to this world, to you?”

The Contemporary Testimony invites us to read the entire Bible from this perspective. The whole thing is God’s gift to us to reveal Jesus and through Jesus to know God and walk in the new life he offers. The whole Bible reveals that without the Holy Spirit we walk away from God, and it invites us to turn towards Jesus to receive forgiveness and walk with him in this new life.

Without the Bible, we cannot know Jesus and we cannot know this new life. Thank God for the Bible. Explore it! Ponder it! Treasure it! Let it show you Jesus. Let it show you the wonders of God’s redemption.