John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

John wants his readers to know why he wrote this account of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

1. To tell the world who Jesus is and to believe in Him.

2. That as a result of believing in Jesus, as the Christ, the Son of God, they can have eternal life.

John begins his gospel by introducing to the world about the Word (John 1:1). He wants his readers to know this Word is the everlasting God (John 1:1). And, in John 1:14, John declares: “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” The Word that was with God from the beginning, and became flesh (human) and dwell among man, and who was the only begotten of the Father (referring to God), was none other than the only begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ (John 1:18; 3:16).

John has more to say about the Word. The Word is not just for us to read and know about it. The Word wants us to believe so that we can have eternal life. Jesus is not just the Word; He is the Word of eternal life: “Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). Eternal life is with the Word. The Word is Christ. Hence, those who believe the Word, believe in Jesus Christ as the Christ, the Son of God, and the result is eternal life: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3).

John’s objective was not only to present the truth that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God, but to present it in such a way as to induce his readers to believe in Jesus Christ that they might have eternal life.

I hope I have made you appreciate the importance of the Word of God. Christ, the Son of God, is the centre of the Bible, and this book is no ordinary book but the book of life. It does not merely tell us about life but is eternal life. God wants man to have eternal life. All who have such faith wrought as a result of reading and believing in the Word of God will "have life through his name" (John 20:31).

Have you observed that prior to John declaring the purpose of his writing, the incident that happened just before it was Jesus appearing to doubting Thomas? And, what did Jesus tell doubting Thomas? “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:29).

If you think seeing is believing, think again. Many Jews saw Christ while He was living among them but not many believed in Him. In spite of all the miracles that they had witnessed, they remained in unbelief. It took the preaching of the word to convince many to believe in the Son of God (Acts 2:37-41). The power lies in the preaching of the Word (Romans 1:16).

I hope you can appreciate the power of the written word. The inspired word of God is given to us for our salvation: “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (John 20:31).

Eternal life is in the Word (John 5:39). What you are holding is the words of eternal life. How often do you actually make a concerted effort to spend some time in the Word of God? "Lack of time" is the general excuse for not studying the word of God. But I think it is a lack of faith and love for God that is the main reason. And, how can you increase your faith in God? The answer: Study the word of God: “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2).

Spiritual growth comes by feeding ourselves each day on the word of God. It is given for our faith and salvation (John 20:31). The more we read it the more our faith will increase and the more we are sure of our salvation. Brethren, be a diligent student of the word of God: “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97).

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.