John 20:31 But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God… To judge aright of any book, it is necessary to take into consideration the purpose of the writer. "In every work regard the author's end, For none can compass more than they intend." If we wish to understand this treatise, the so-called Gospel of John, we shall act wisely to consult the treatise itself, and learn what its author had in view as his purpose in preparing and publishing it. It has often been treated as if it were something very different from what it actually professes to be. Happily, in this verse we have clear information as to the design which the writer set before him in composing his narrative and record. I. THE WRITER'S RECORD. Many of the works of Jesus were not written in this short treatise; "but these," says John, "are written." 1. This is a record of facts, and not of "cunningly devised fables;" of events which actually took place, and of words which were really spoken. This Gospel contains neither falsehoods nor fictions; nor is it a dramatic or poetical composition wrought by the force and delicacy of imagination. 2. This is a record of facts in themselves so important as to be worthy of being held in memory. They are the events which occurred in no ordinary life, but in a life distinguished from all other lives by its commencement, by its close, and by very many circumstances in its course. In this passage the writer speaks of some of the chief events which he records as "signs." This is a designation of miracles, and it is observable that John relates at length about ten miracles performed by the Lord Jesus. But the word especially refers to the signification, the moral meaning, of Christ's mighty works; to the revelation they afford of his character, his Divine mission, his intentions of grace towards mankind. The reference is not only to our Lord's appearances after his resurrection, but to the whole manifestation of himself throughout his earthly career. 3. This is a record of facts to which the writer bears his own personal witness. What is set down is not so set down upon" hearsay evidence." John himself saw Jesus do some of the works attributed to him; John himself heard Jesus deliver some of the discourses which none else has recorded. In other cases, where he was not present, John had every opportunity of knowing what Jesus had said, from the very persons to whom he had spoken. There can be no doubt that John heard Jesus deliver the discourse recorded in the fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth chapters, that he heard Jesus offer the prayer which occupies the seventeenth chapter. That those who first read and accepted this document, and who commended it to the attention of Christian people generally, were convinced of its authenticity, appears from the imprimatur which they added, "This is the disciple which beareth witness of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his witness is true." II. THE READERS' FAITH. We read some books for the charm of their style, for the insight they afford into the author's mental peculiarities. We read other books for their sparkling wit, their delightful humor. Others, again, we read that our tenderer feelings may be awakened, or that we may be lifted out of the sordid cares and anxieties of life into a fresher, more inspiring atmosphere. There are works which are read for the sake of acquiring knowledge of a scientific, or technical, or historical character. Now, this treatise was written for one definite purpose, which is here exactly stated by the writer. If it fails of this purpose, it so far fails to effect that for which its author wrote it. In a word, John's aim was that his readers might believe aright about Jesus. 1. That they might believe him to be the Christ; i.e. the Messiah expected by the Jews, because foretold in their prophetic books; One anointed, commissioned by the Eternal to do great things for Israel and for mankind. In the course of his ministry, such inquiries were started as," Is not this the Christ?" "Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?" It is to enable all fair-minded men to come to a satisfactory conclusion upon this point that John wrote. He does not conceal his own conviction; but, on the whole, he keeps himself in the background; he sets his glorious subject in the full light of day, and he leaves his readers to form their conclusion. 2. That they might believe him to be the Son of God. If the Hebrew people were most likely to shape their inquiry as above, to the world at large the problem was less special. Has the Sovereign Ruler of the universe any interest in this human race? Is it possible that, to teach and guide and save mankind, he has sent his own Son into the world - a man, yet Divine in authority, in righteousness, in love? Before any one decides for himself upon this question, he must read the record of the son of Zebedee, and acquire the means for forming a satisfactory judgment. John's conviction was that the proper result of considering his record is faith. And in this all Christians are agreed. Theirs is a reasonable faith, based upon sufficient evidence - historical, moral, miraculous evidence - evidence which will bear all scrutiny, which has convinced the wisest and the best of men. At the same time, it is religious faith; for it is fixed upon a Divine Being, has respect to Divine government, and issues in spiritual and eternal results. This explains the memorable words of Jesus himself: "Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." III. THE RELIEVERS' LIFE. Precious as it is, faith is but the means to an end. Faith is a posture of the soul; life is a state of the soul. 1. Life is the natural result of faith. Every man's life is affected by what he believes; in fact, a man's beliefs become the principles of his conduct. It is so in politics, in literature, in art. 2. Faith in Christ is the means towards a spiritual life. If belief in fictitious, vicious deities makes men superstitious and immoral; if faith in corrupt representations of Christianity has a debasing influence; surely faith in a Being so true, so holy, so affectionate as Jesus, must have power to assimilate the believing soul to the Object of its attachment. The human nature cannot be said to live that is dead to all that is pure, unselfish, and morally beautiful. Christ came that we might have life, and that more abundantly. 3. This spiritual life is eternal. By this it is not intended to say that the mere continuance of conscious existence is linked with faith with Jesus; but rather that upon such faith depends all that makes life worth living in this and in all worlds. "More life and fuller 'tis we want." The life which is hid with Christ in God is independent of the accidents of earth and of time. It is immortal as is he who gives it. APPLICATION. Let the reader of this Gospel ask himself - Have I been led by its perusal to receive Jesus as the true God and the Eternal Life? "For better they had ne'er been born, Who read to doubt, or read to scorn." ? T. Parallel Verses KJV: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. |
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