Another Resurrection Sunday - John 20


The trails are drying up.  A 6 mile hike this morning and venturing up to 9200 ft.  Looks promising to go higher later this week.  I am working on my new hiking map of the area and filling in some trails I couldn't get to with the snowshoes.  I am thankful for the resale hiking shop in town.  I picked up this vintage Thermos with foldable spoon and the hot soup was so delicious on the trail.  I have a new water filter to try out this year too.

Another Resurrection Sunday and I ventured into the book of John.  He tells us very plainly what the purpose or mission of this gospel in John 20:30-31 (LSB).

Therefore many others signs Jesus also did in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

John makes mention of the signs that Jesus did again in the next chapter, John 21:24-25 (LSB).

This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his witness is true.  And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written one after the other, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

What are the signs that John records that Jesus did so that we may believe that He is the Christ, the Son of God?

1.  Jesus turns the water into wine at the wedding in Cana - John 2:1-12 - He turns something into something else.

2.  Jesus heals the royal official's son in Capernaum while He is in Cana - John 4:46-54 - The 17 mile distance is no problem for Jesus.

3.  Jesus heals the lame man who has been laying by the Pool of Bethesda for 38 years - John 5:1-17 - The length of time is no problem for Jesus.

4.  Jesus feeds the 5000+ with 5 little loaves and 2 fish and they are satisfied with reserves left over - John 6:1-14 - The amount is no problem for Jesus.

5.  Jesus walks on the water and stills the storm - John 6:15-21 - The calamities of nature are no problem for Jesus.

6.  Jesus heals the blind man from birth - John 9:1-41 - What hasn't been done before is no problem for Jesus.

7.  Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead after 4 days in the tomb - John 11:17-45 - The death of our physical bodies are no problem for Jesus.

8.  Jesus causes another abundant catch of fish - John 21:1-14 - The ability to "do it again" is no problem for Jesus.

These signs were rejected by the religious leaders of Jesus' day and they are rejected by many of our day.  May the eyes of many be opened by Jesus to see Him as the Christ, the Son of God.  May many stony hearts be soften with the preaching of God's word to be replaced with hearts of flesh that turn to and love Jesus.  May there be those who find themselves at the narrow gate and respond by going through it because they see now that Jesus, the good Shepherd, has led them there.  

I pray that more will believe.

Adam




 

A simple man serving a great God and the local pastor of Stillwater Community Chapel (stillwater-chapel.org). We are in our 39th year of full time ministry. God directed us to this local body of believers on the Western Range of the Rockies to grow with them in mission and mindedness of Christ.

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