Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples (John 20:30)

“And 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” (Gospel of John 20:30,31)

Jesus performed many miracles but John only records seven of them in his gospel account. These seven signs, or miracles, point to something of His deity (His is God) or His work to accomplish salvation. These are given that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. “Life” is given to the one who will believe. This is eternal life, the very life of the Lord Jesus. A life that we do not possess naturally. The one who has this life will spend an eternity with God and never again face death.

“Belief in Christ” is the one demand that God makes of us and He is most in earnest about it. Earlier in John’s gospel account he wrote, “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.” (Gospel of John 3:36). Eternal life or eternal condemnation hinge on “belief in Christ.” To believe in Christ is to have eternal life. Not to believe in Christ is to face eternal condemnation. My eternal destiny, according to the Bible, is based on “belief in Christ”!

How could something of such incomprehensible consequence be based on something so simple? So simple that a child could do it! It’s because God is testing the heart not the head. To believe in Christ is to trust what the Word of God declares concerning Christ. God gave the Bible that you might know the Son of God. He gave the Bible that you might trust His Son and receive forgiveness, that you might receive eternal life.

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“But he [Abraham” said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ” (Luke 16:16)

Why do we place such an emphasis on the Bible? You have probably noticed that each article begins with a verse from the Bible, followed by an explanation. Why do we do this?

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus gave the story of a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus. The rich man lived a life of pleasure and ease whereas Lazarus lived in misery. In time both died. The rich man went to “Hades,” a place of torment. Lazarus went to “Abraham’s bosom,” a place of peace, free from the pain of his former life. The rich man begged for relief form his torments. He pleaded that Lazarus might be sent “that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue for I am tormented in this flame.” But Lazarus could give no relief. There was no crossing the gulf that lay between them. Concerned now for his family he asked that Lazarus might be sent back from the dead to warn his brothers. “‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him [Lazarus] to my father’s house, for I have five brothers that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’” To this Abraham replied, “if they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’” A miracle will not work!

When Abraham referred to “Moses and the prophets,” he was speaking of the things written by them in the Bible.  Jesus gave this story to show that no miracle, no matter how great, would bring about a change in the heart when the Word of God is rejected. God is speaking today through the Bible and ONLY through the Bible. It is His desire that you hear what

He has to say. It is “good news” (the gospel) to whose heart is open to Him. Will you open your heart to hear Him?