Friday May 31, 2024

Today is Friday, May 31 and we are studying the Gospel of John chapter twenty.

In the morning I praise you, Lord. You are the Living God, holy and mighty is your name. All honor and glory is yours, my risen Savior Jesus, redeemer and friend. As a new day dawns I pause to seek your face. I quiet the cares of my mind, slow my breath and still the concerns of my heart. Come, show me what it means to live the Resurrection life. Amen.

Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:30-31

John concludes his Gospel account of the life of Jesus Christ with these two sentences. His story has come full circle. All along he has remained faithful to his purpose in writing – so that generations of readers may believe in Jesus and have life in his name. His intent all along was for me to believe. He cares about my faith and has presented an eyewitness account for me to consider thousands of years into the future and thousands of miles away from where these events occurred.

John presents more than his recollection of those days with Jesus. He presents a proclamation intended to influence hearts and minds so that many will put their faith in the truth of Jesus the Messiah. Those of us who were not there to witness those events are invited to believe without seeing. I am invited to enter the Christian faith without seeing the empty tomb and discarded grave clothes as John and Peter did, without hearing the Risen Christ call my name as Mary Magdalene did, without seeing Jesus enter the locked room as the gathered disciples did, and without touching his wounds as Thomas did. Jesus told Thomas, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29).

Is that me? I have not seen Jesus and yet I believe. The Lord calls me blessed. Blessed I am. I am blessed to have found the truth and gained salvation. I am blessed to have life in Jesus’ name. I am blessed to have the words of John recorded, preserved and passed on to for me to read.

Thankfully countless Christian believers maintained the writings of John, Matthew, Mark, Luke, Peter, Paul, James, Jude and others. Their words were transcribed in letters, delivered by messengers, circulated among the early churches, copied and maintained. Their testimony has been translated into nearly every language on the globe. Their words were made available to the common people through much sacrifice over the centuries. Today their words are accessible through modern technology to the masses. With one tap or click I can read God’s Holy Word and receive the witness of the Apostles. Each new generation of humans is invited to hear the story of Jesus, believe the truth and have life in his name. I am a part of the transmission of this great Gospel message – the good news of salvation for the entire world.

Ask: When did I first hear the story of Jesus? How have I shared the story of Jesus with non-believers and with the next generation?

Pause and Pray

Holy and Loving God, thank you for John’s Gospel, written, preserved and passed down to me centuries later. Forgive me when I neglect opportunities to open my Bible and be blessed by reading your Holy Word. Remind me that you have provided me with everything I need to grow in the faith and mature in the Christian life. Give me opportunities to share your truth with others. Inspire me to pass on the faith to the next generation. Amen.

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