What is the meaning of John 20:31? But these are written • John pauses to explain why he carefully selected and recorded certain signs of Jesus (John 21:24–25). • Scripture is God-breathed, preserved so that every generation can encounter the same eyewitness evidence (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16). • Like Luke (Luke 1:1-4) and later John in his letter (1 John 1:1-4), the apostle anchors faith in verifiable history, not myths. so that you may believe • The aim is personal faith, not mere information (John 1:7). • Faith comes through hearing the Word (Romans 10:17), so John writes to place the Word in front of us. • From the youngest child to the seasoned saint, Scripture is “able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15). that Jesus is the Christ • “Christ” means the promised Messiah. Andrew announced, “We have found the Messiah” (John 1:41); the Samaritan woman waited for Him (John 4:25-26). • Old Testament expectation—Psalm 2:2; Isaiah 9:6—is fulfilled in Jesus, and Peter preached, “God has made this Jesus… both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). • John’s signs (water to wine, raising Lazarus, etc.) verify that Jesus alone fits the Messianic profile. the Son of God • John the Baptist testified, “I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God” (John 1:34). • The title affirms full deity—Jesus shares the Father’s nature (John 5:18; Hebrews 1:1-4). • Peter’s confession, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16), becomes the rock on which faith stands. and that by believing • Salvation is received, not earned (Ephesians 2:8-9). • Belief is the God-appointed channel: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life” (John 3:36). • Trusting Jesus, not performing rituals, brings us into right standing (Galatians 2:16). you may have life • More than existence—this is abundant, eternal life (John 10:10; 17:3). • The moment we trust Him we “cross over from death to life” (John 5:24). • John later writes, “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son” (1 John 5:11-13). in His name • His name represents His person, authority, and saving power (Acts 4:12). • “To all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). • Every prayer, word, and deed finds its legitimacy “in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17; Philippians 2:9-11). summary John 20:31 lays out a gracious chain: God inspired these written signs so you can believe; believing reveals Jesus as the promised Messiah and divine Son; and believing in Him infuses you with His own eternal life, all granted through the power and authority bound up in His name. |
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