This Christian Life: Believe!
John wrote the account of Jesus so you and I will believe that Jesus is who he said he is. John wrote his Gospel so we might believe and have life in the name of Jesus Christ. He desired that any man or woman who might hear about Jesus would believe and live. Do you believe?
The opening chapter gives away the entire book. Spoiler alert. The light came into the world to bring sinful mankind out of darkness and into the light. That light is Jesus Christ. It says his own people rejected him. But John proclaims, "To all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12). Do you believe?
It didn't take much for Peter and Andrew and Philip and Nathan to believe. (John 1). But Nicodemus, the Pharisee who came to Jesus from the dark left in the dark. He wouldn't believe the earthly things and failed to believe the spiritual. At the conclusion of Nicodemus' encounter with the Light, John writes, "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God" (John 3:17-18).
Another time, Jesus encouraged a Samaritan woman to believe him. Her response was very different than that of Nicodemus. She believed. Then she couldn't help but tell others. And when other Samaritans heard the good news they believed too (John 4).
An official in Capernaum believed Jesus and was blessed to see his son live. He believed, he and his entire household (John 4). Do you believe?
Jesus rebuked others for their failure to believe. After healing a man on the Sabbath, a group of Jews wanted to kill Jesus. Responding to them, Jesus said, "The Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. his voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one he has sent" (John 5:37-38).
Another time when Jesus was preaching, the crowd asked, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" (John 6:28). What a question! How many of us still ask this today? How can I do God's will? Jesus answered, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent" (John 6:29). Do you believe?
In John 8, Jesus declares that he is the Light of the World. This shouldn't be much of a surprise considering the opening of the Book of John. Then Jesus says, "I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins" (John 8:24). Again, we shouldn't be surprised. This point has been made over and over again throughout the Bible.
After Jesus healed his sight, the former blind man declared, "Lord, I believe" and he worshiped Jesus (John 9:38). Do you believe? Are you worshiping the Light, Jesus Christ?
Jesus encouraged, "The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light" (John 12:35-36).
Do you believe?
Sometimes it is not easy to believe. Thomas, an amazing man who walked with God desired to see the holes where Jesus's hands were pierced. To him Jesus said, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29).
The first requirement of the Christian life is to believe. Believe Jesus is who he says he is. Believe he is the Son of God. Believe, and be saved. Believe and worship him. Believe.