Do you finally believe?
This question from Jesus comes at a pivotal moment in His discourse with the disciples. It follows a series of teachings and revelations about His impending departure and the coming of the Holy Spirit. The disciples have expressed a form of belief, but Jesus challenges the depth and maturity of their faith. This question underscores the theme of belief throughout the Gospel of John, where faith is not just intellectual assent but a deep, transformative trust in Jesus as the Messiah. The question also anticipates the trials the disciples will face, testing the authenticity of their belief. This moment is reminiscent of other instances in the Gospels where Jesus questions the faith of His followers, such as in Matthew 14:31 when He asks Peter, "Why did you doubt?" It highlights the ongoing journey of faith that requires growth and perseverance.

Jesus replied.
The fact that Jesus replies indicates a response to the disciples' previous statements of understanding and belief. This interaction occurs during the Last Supper, a setting rich with symbolic and prophetic significance. Jesus' reply is not just a casual response but a profound engagement with the spiritual state of His disciples. It reflects His role as the Good Shepherd, guiding and correcting His flock. The reply also serves as a prelude to the events of the Passion, where the disciples' faith will be severely tested. Jesus' response is both a challenge and an invitation to deeper faith, echoing His earlier teachings in John 14:1, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me." This moment is a critical juncture in the narrative, emphasizing the necessity of genuine belief in the face of impending trials.

1. Jesus Christ
The central figure in this passage, Jesus is addressing His disciples. He is preparing them for His imminent departure and the challenges they will face.

2. The Disciples
The immediate audience of Jesus' question. They have been following Jesus and are about to face a crisis of faith as Jesus approaches His crucifixion.

3. The Upper Room
The setting for this discourse, where Jesus shares His final teachings and prayers with His disciples before His arrest.

4. The Coming Trials
The events that Jesus is preparing His disciples for, including His arrest, crucifixion, and the subsequent scattering of the disciples.

5. The World
The broader context in which the disciples will have to live out their faith, often hostile to the message of Christ.The Nature of True Belief
True belief in Jesus is not just intellectual assent but involves trust and commitment, especially in the face of trials.

The Challenge of Faith
Jesus' question highlights the challenge of maintaining faith when circumstances are difficult. Believers are called to examine the depth of their faith.

Preparation for Trials
Jesus prepares His disciples for the coming trials, teaching us that faith must be resilient and ready for testing.

The Role of Doubt
Doubt is a natural part of the faith journey. Jesus' question invites believers to confront and overcome their doubts through reliance on Him.

Community and Support
The disciples' journey shows the importance of community in strengthening faith. Believers should seek support and encouragement from fellow Christians.(31) Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe.--Comp. Note on John 1:50. Here, as there, the words do not necessarily ask a question; and, although many expositors prefer to take them interrogatively, a sense more in harmony with the context is got by understanding them as an assertion. Our Lord did not doubt their present faith (John 17:8); but He knew that the hour of their full illumination had not yet come, firmly as they believed it had. Their present light was as the flash of the meteor--brilliant, but passing away. The clear and steadfast light of day was in the future, of which He has spoken to them. They think the hour of full knowledge has come. He sees the time when they shall all be scattered and leave Him alone, close at hand. It is this thought which He expresses to them--"Now ye do believe: Behold, the hour cometh . . ."

Verse 31. - Jesus answered them, Now, at this stage in my self-revelation, do ye believe? It seems as though the whole of Christ's ministry turns on their acceptance of his claims. If he should pass from the world and return to the Father, and leave behind him none who had discovered and become intensely convinced of his Divine nature, the whole work he had done would be, humanly speaking, a failure. An almost womanlike passion of desire breathes through the inquiry, "Do ye now believe?" or, as some commentators (Gorier and Meyer) translate it indicatively, "Now ye believe." There is truly no essential difference whether it be taken interrogatively or indicatively. Both forms mean, "I have at length brought you to the point of faith. The kingdom of God is now established, and the prince of this world cast out. But a terrible trial awaits the new-born faith." Christ had warned them of the treachery of the absent one, of the approaching denial of the foremost of their number, and he now gives them another warning of the severity of the trial which awaited them all. The power and permanence of their faith may be open to doubt, but not its essential quality. Their faith may not stand firm on that awful night, but it will ultimately prevail, and Christ rejoices in the fact that his words have at last evoked this genuine response. In the prayer which follows (John 17:8) he thanks God "that they have known verily that I came forth from thee, and have believed that thou hast sent me."

Parallel Commentaries ...


“Do you finally believe?”
πιστεύετε (pisteuete)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4100: From pistis; to have faith, i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust.

Jesus
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424: Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.

replied.
Ἀπεκρίθη (Apekrithē)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 611: From apo and krino; to conclude for oneself, i.e. to respond; by Hebraism to begin to speak.


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NT Gospels: John 16:31 Jesus answered them Do you now believe? (Jhn Jo Jn)