Lesson Focus: Having our Faith Refreshed
Read 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.
Studying John 20:30-31
At the conclusion of John’s Gospel, he wrote that the purpose of his Book was to do more than provide a set of rules for godly living, was for more than recording the signs Jesus performed, but the central message was that readers might know that Jesus was alive and that by believing in him they could also have life in Jesus’ name. John said Jesus performed so many signs it was too much to be contained in any one book. The Scriptures say more than 500 people saw him before he ascended into heaven. Witnessed him eating, drinking, walking, talking, touching, being touched; doing the ordinary things any living person would do.
John wanted their (and our) faith to stay at that level of amazement and confident of what they (we) had witnessed, read, and experienced. That we might always think: “If God could raise Jesus from the dead, if Jesus could do all the things he did after rising from the dead, if he was alive and had all power and authority even over death, then what can’t he do in our lives and circumstances today?
Because John wrote his Gospel more than 60 years after Jesus ascended into heaven, he knew and had witnessed how a believer’s faith in the power and presence of Jesus could dwindle, be tested, and dull out. He recognized that life and the natural activities could cause us to be less aware of God’s power or the living Christ with us today. His Gospel serves to refresh our faith and give us power for receiving and enjoying life through a living Savior.
Meditating on John 20:30-31
As you meditate on John’s Gospel and why he wrote it may the Lord give you a fresh faith and make you full of confidence and joy.
Praying John 20:30-31
We need you Jesus to impart Easter enthusiasm and joy to us even today, especially today. Just because Easter is over does not mean we need to lose the amazement of the Easter story or what God the Father has done in our midst by raising you from the dead. May our faith always be fresh and enough to carry us through difficult times and days. Amen
Going Deeper:
Devotionally Yours 