Your love is immeasurable oh Lord, thank you so much that, as You have revealed it to us, we may not only know about it, but can truly know it and experience it daily.
” I am indeed love, My whole being consists of love and that love is directed, in general, towards My whole creation, but especially towards the members of My kingdom where I have demonstrated that love through giving My Son to die on the cross to redeem you and everyone who would receive the gift, which I offer without reserve to the whole world. So focus today on My love and let it lift you up as on an eagle’s wings to soar above all the cares of this world.”
Reading John 20:19 – 31 we come today to the climax of the message John wanted to convey to His readers. We see the last steps as the disciples reach a much cleared idea of Jesus and His mission and come to real faith in Him.
The mission statement of John for this book is found in vv 30,31: “ Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
John recorded 10 miraculous signs in his gospel account, but by far the greatest and most important one was Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Although Jesus had warned the disciples several times that He had to die but that He would be raised from the dead, the disciples did not understand this warning and explanation.
In this passage, after the initial confusion among the women, Jesus appears to the whole group, showing His hands and side. The disciples are filled with joy when they realise that it is really He. To emphasise this important step towards full faith we have the whole story of Thomas who wasn’t there at the time. Then the final words in vs 20 “ because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen me as yet have believed.”
These disciples had known the Lord personally, yet not realised fully who He was. They now could “see” the invisible quality of this “Man”, who was/is really God. We are told in Hebrews 11 what the definition of real faith is: “ Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” So John concludes this vital lesson with the last two verses.
This is a key moment for every reader. His whole purpose in writing the gospel was to lay down a solid basis on which we could believe who Jesus is and what He has come to do, because that is the only way to eternal life.
Do you believe that? Do you really know Jesus’ love and have you really entered into eternal life?
Also in this passage in vv 21,22 Jesus gives His disciples “the great commission” and a promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit to help in accomplishing that mission. Of course that commission is intended for every believer. Each one of us has a specific purpose within the plan of His kingdom.
This is a vital passage in John’s Gospel, but also in the whole bible. Enjoy digesting it and be blessed till next week.