Shalom,
We are currently being shaken by the endless-spreading Covid-19 pandemic, yet our praise and worship that we just sang may always give us courage and reminder not to lose our faith because the word of God who became flesh is always with us wherever we go. So, let’s open our hearts to listen to the living word of God and have faith in it. May the Holy Spirit work in our lives, too!
At Christmas we generally read certain verses about the birth of Jesus, our Savior, but this time we will read and meditate together what John 20:30-31 want for Christmas: “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” Indeed, these verses did not write about the birth of Jesus in a manger.
This year we have been scrutinizing the Gospel of John that contains 21 chapters of which LAI (Lembaga Alkitab Indonesia)—The Indonesian Bible Institute—divides it into approx. 71 sub- headings; and we will close this discussion on New Year’s Eve’s service. The Apostle John said that although he did not write down all of Jesus’ works after His resurrection, he reminded us to believe in everything that was written in the Gospel of John regarding (1) Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and (2) by faith we will gain life in His name.
We might say that we know Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God since we were in Sunday school. But let’s ponder why in all of his writing in the Gospel of John, the Apostle John encouraged us to believe that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God.
Introspection: We have been studying the Gospel of John since the beginning of 2020. Have we believed in every passage that we read? Is our faith still growing despite the pandemic and its aftermath concerning health, economy, and social problems? If it is, we surely remember the message we got from each passage in the Gospel of John that tells us to hold on to His promise of salvation and eternal life in His name.
The Apostle John wrote the Gospel of John by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in his 90s (85-90 AD), 60 years after Jesus ascended to Heaven. I believe he struggled to remember, write and take accountability of each event that Jesus did for three and a half years.
Lesson learned: Preachers shall not speak twaddle at the pulpit but must focus to preach about Jesus because the word of God is concerning a promise of eternal life, not merely a promise of high social status or abundant physical blessings.
Why did the Apostle John urge the readers to believe all the verses written in the Gospel of John?
- There is a possibility that the readers doubt about them.
- Challenges and threats are trying to distract us from believing that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God.
In the Gospel of John there were some people who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah or Christ (= the anointed One) and the Son of God. Those being anointed were only the priests (Exodus 29: 7, 9), kings (1 Samuel 9: 16) and prophets (1 Kings 18: 16).
Jesus became King of the Jews when He was crucified (John 19:19) but the truth is He is the King of kings (Revelation 17:14).
When was Jesus called Christ? After He has risen, God makes the crucified Jesus both Lord and Christ (Acts 2: 36).
When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples who they thought He was. Peter answered right away, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16: 13, 15-16). John must have heard of Peter’s confession and he wrote about it 60 years later that Jesus was the Messiah and the Son of the living God. Since then His writing was kept so carefully that we can still read it now. The question is “Do we truly believe in it?”
It is understandable why the Apostle John pushed the readers to believe that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of the living God. It’s because there were people out there who rejected Jesus. Who were they?
The Apostle John wrote in John 1:1-11 that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God; the true Light is coming into the world; He was in the world and the world did not know Him; He came to His own (the Jews) but His own did not receive Him. He continued further in John 3:19 that the light has come into the world but men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.
During the span of 60 years, the churches were struggling with threats as they accepted Jesus for those who rejected Him were many including the Jews. One day John the Baptist was across Jordan river when the Pharisee asked him why he baptized people if he was not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet (John 1: 24-25). He answered that he was the voice crying in the wilderness that made straight the way of the Lord (v. 23); nevertheless, He who was coming was mightier and would baptize them with the Holy Spirit and fire (Matthew 3:11). The next day, he saw Jesus came to him. He said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Suddenly, Jesus asked John to baptize Him, but he immediately refused it. Then Jesus explained that it must have been done to fulfill God’s will (Matthew 3: 13-15). Afterwards John the Baptist bore witness saying that he saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and He remained upon Him. John the Baptist then knew and testified that Jesus was the Son of God who baptized with the Holy Spirit (John 1: 29-34).
John the Baptist, the teacher of the Apostle John, believed that Jesus was the Son of God. Nathanael also believed that Jesus was the Son of God and the King of Israel (v. 49). John 3:36 says, “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
At Christmas Jesus was born as a man and the Apostle John started his writing with a proclamation that the Word became flesh (John 1: 14). Furthermore, he wrote about Jesus’ condition as an adult and His activities that manifested Him as the Messiah or Christ and the Son of God. Is there anyone out there who truly believes that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God?
When Jesus came to Bethany, He found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days (John 11: 17). Knowing that Jesus came, Martha said to Him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Then Jesus consoled her saying that her brother would rise again. At first, Martha thought that He was talking about the resurrection of the dead on the last day, which she believed that Lazarus would be included. But then Jesus revealed further, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die” (vv. 20-26). Martha answered, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world” (v. 27).
Now a great many of the Jews knew that the Lazarus was raised from death by Jesus. They who had come to Mary and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him but some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did and plotted to put Him (vv. 45-47, 53) and Lazarus to death (John 12: 10).
In another event, Jesus fed five thousand men not including women and children. They glorified Him as the Prophet who blessed them (John 6: 5-14). The next day they came to see Jesus again but not because they had seen the sign but because they had been filled. Jesus advised them to labor for the food which endured to everlasting life (vv. 22, 25-27). Moreover, Jesus introduced Himself, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh …. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life …” (vv. 51-55). What was their response? They stumbled upon His harsh saying and walked with Him no more (vv. 60, 66) except His 12 disciples. Jesus checked whether there were any among His disciples who would turn their back and leave Him. Jesus knew that one of them was Judas Iscariot who plotted to sell Him. Judas always thought of money and profit: he suggested selling the costly spikenard oil instead of using it to anoint Jesus’ feet (John 12: 3-5); he also dared to take what belonged to the Lord that is stealing the money he kept as a treasurer (John 12: 6) for his own need. What was Peter’s response? He professed that Jesus had the words of eternal life; unfortunately, in crucial moment later on he denied Jesus.
Application: Even though every one of us does the same ministry, Jesus can distinguish whose hearts have different goals. Our faith is not measured by what we do physically but by our personal relationship with the Word of God. If we believe in Him, we will always feel blessed and content even in this current situation when our lives are seemingly gripped by the deadly virus of Covid-19. On the other hand, the non-believers would be constantly worried and behave as opportunists.
As we are stepping out of 2020, how do we face the future? Do we doubt His word? Or do we keep faith while going through the ongoing upheavals and threats?
Be cautious! Not believing that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God is not an issue we can take lightly. From the beginning of the Gospel of John, it was written that God, the Creator, wanted to give life and strength to man, but rejected. Jesus prayed that none of His disciples would perish, except Judas Iscariot whose heart had rejected the word of God (John 17: 12). Jesus was crucified because He was rejected (John 18-19).
What kind of Christmas celebration do we hold? Do we celebrate it the same way as we celebrate our baby’s one-month birthday? Or do we throw a splendid party just like a sweet-seventeenth birthday party of our daughter? Joseph and Mary believed that baby Jesus would grow to be great and would be called the Son of the Highest; as such, they were willing to raise Him despite the impending risks.
Do we believe in all verses of the Gospel of John? Or do we cherry-pick the most beneficial verses and reject those that reprimand us? When Jesus died, a Roman centurion (non-Jews) acknowledged Him as truly the Son of God (Matthew 27: 54; Mark 15: 39). What about us, the Christians, do we still believe in Him? According to some different surveys, American youngsters (18-29 years old) don’t believe in Jesus anymore: 59.5% of them claim that even without God they could have high moral principles, 34% are not interested in religion, 37% don’t believe in the existence of God, and 36% are religiously unaffiliated.
Do not attempt to deny Jesus lest we end up selling Jesus as what Judas did or killing Him out of envy as done by the Jews, the chief priests, the Sadducees, and others!
Let’s not categorize or classify the word of God based on specific events such as Christmas, Passover, Pentecost, etc. (on Christmas service, we don’t necessarily meditate on the verses about the birth of Jesus only). On the other hand, we should regard the preaching of the word of God in all services as equally important and beneficial for our faith growth. This way, we would be able to acknowledge that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God and the One who gives eternal life. Amen.