December 15, 2016
SO THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE AND HAVE LIFE . . . WHAT'S IN YOUR WALLET?
John 20:19–31
Dee Elliott
Central Truth
John recorded only seven of the 35 miracles cited in the Gospels, but he set the stage for all believers to experience and document miracles and blessings in the future. Transformed lives described in personal journals record the results of grace and provide climactic proof that Jesus is God's Son.
Key Verse | 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. (John 20:30-31)
John 20:19–31
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, 1 20:19 Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
Jesus and Thomas
24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, 2 20:24 Greek Didymus was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
The Purpose of This Book
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 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.
Dive Deeper | John 20:19–31
John described the nature of Christ for early and present-day Christians as fully God from the beginning of time (John 1:1). Embedded throughout John's Gospel are proofs of Jesus’ deity and the profound importance of faith in our resurrected Lord. Included in 823 verses written before chapter 20 is John’s description of seven sign-miracles, which are provided “so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ.”
John concludes with the single-most important verse and the purpose of his book, highlighting that there were other signs that Jesus performed that were not included. It sets the stage for those of us “who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29), because with faith in the living Christ, there is a mandate for works (James 2:17).
Most of us carry items of value in a wallet. These include IDs, credit and business cards, and photos of our family. In a certain sense, they identify who we are. We may also accumulate personal items and journals memorializing family and personal milestones. But like John's recounting of the life of Jesus, these items hardly include everything. John left out many signs that Jesus performed in the presence of the disciples, but what John included was and is so that you may believe and have life in the name of Jesus.
It seems reasonable, a priori, that John could not include every sign-miracle, for it would have filled countless volumes. And the Lord has continued His work since then—even in your life and mine. This is the basis for present-day miracles, with each of us as a bit player in an eternal cast of saints on the Lord’s magnificent stage.
The Gospel accepted; forgiveness, grace, and truth extended; lives transformed; new believers mentored; relationships restored. These are miracles God is doing in our own lives so that others may believe that Jesus is the Christ. Let these fill our wallets.
Discussion Questions
1. Pause, reflect, and contemplate the miracles in your life as we close out 2016 in just 15 days. Four Gospels, 250 JTJ devotionals, 35 sign-miracles described. What were the signs and miracles in your life as a result of your claim, "My Lord and my God" (verse 28)?
2. Who has observed and experienced your expression of forgiveness, grace, and truth this past year, and who came to or increased their faith in Christ because of it? Did you engage with them to build disciples?
3. How do your commitments and resolutions for 2017 line up with your desire to follow Christ? Are you expecting the sign-miracles of a transformed life for those who need to believe and have life in Him?
4. What's in your wallet?
Editor's Note: We hope that you will take a minute and encourage Dee by posting a Journey comment about what is filling your wallet in the way of miracles of life transformation in 2016—in your own life or in the lives of others.