142 John 20:30-31 JOHNS PURPOSE IN WRITING Introduction: In verse 30 John speaks about the many signs which Jesus did. He was talking about the miraculous signs. In verse 31 John declares his purpose in writing. I. The miraculous signs which Jesus had done V. 30, "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book." John said that Jesus performed many miraculous signs which he did not record in this book. John did record some which other gospel writers did not mention at all. Likewise, there were some recorded by the other writers that were not recorded by John at all. Yet in fact, Jesus did many miracles which were not recorded in any detail by any of the writers. For instance, when Jesus miraculously fed the multitude, it was said that Jesus had spent the greater part of the afternoon and evening ministering to the people, healing the sick which were brought unto Him. Yet we are not told what any of those miracles were or how many they were. There must have been hundreds. In the course of His ministry Jesus must have healed thousands in the many cities and villages where He ministered which were not individually recorded in Scripture. If all these were individually recorded in detail the records would fill libraries. There is one thing we can say about each of these miraculous sign. Each one showed the mighty power of God at work. Each one gave mighty testimony that He is the Christ. One of the points that John made was that these many miracles were done in the presence of His disciples. They were eyewitnesses. They could testify of each miraculous nature of each of these signs. What is more, they were likewise done in the presence of many other people in addition to His disciples who were also eye witnesses. The miracles of Jesus were so numerous and witnessed by so many people that it was common knowledge throughout the land that He did them. No one person in the general public witnessed them all, as did the disciples. And there were some of the miracles that nobody in the general public saw. For instance nobody in the general public saw when Jesus spoke to the storm and calmed the winds and waves. Nobody in the general public saw when He walked on the water. But the general public witnessed so many that nobody questioned, nobody doubted that He did them when they were told. John did record some very notable miracles which Jesus did. In chapter two he recorded the first miracles done by Jesus. Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding feast. In chapter 4 he recorded that Jesus healed the son of a nobleman without even going to the house where the son lay. In chapter 5 he recorded that Jesus healed a man at the Pool of Bethesda who had been crippled for 38 years. In chapter 6 he recorded that Jesus fed a multitude of 5000 men plus women and children with only five loaves of bread and two fishes. And He had twelve baskets full of leftovers. In chapter nine he recorded that Jesus gave sight to a man who had been born blind. In chapter eleven he recorded that Jesus raised Lazarus from the grave after Lazarus had been dead four days. In chapter twenty he recorded that Jesus Himself came forth from the grave after three days and three nights in the grave. Afterwards He was seen by His disciples. Later at Galilee over five-hundred brethren at one time saw Him. In all these miracles the mighty power of God was at work. II. John's purpose in writing this book V. 31, "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God..." John said that he wrote these things in order to convince his readers that Jesus is the Christ of God, the very Son of God. He wanted all who read his book or heard it read or preached to believe that Jesus is the Christ. The miracles which Jesus did were of such mighty nature that no one could think that these things were done by a mere man. Jesus was a man, but He was and is more than a man. He is God-man. He is the Word of God and who was in the beginning with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. He is God. He is Creator God. All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made. (V. 30), "...and that believing ye might have life through his name." John further wants all who are convinced that Jesus is the Christ to have life. He was not talking about physical life. He was talking about everlasting life. He was talking about eternal life. He was talking about the life that comes in the new birth. John also wants his readers who already believe and are saved to have their faith strengthened by reading and studying the book that he has written. But keep in mind that John wrote by inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God. It was not just John who wanted men to be persuaded by this writing to be saved, but it was and is the Holy Spirit who wants men to be convinced that Jesus is the Christ and to be saved. So does God the Father, who loved you enough that He sent Jesus to the cross to die for you so that you could be saved. So does Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who went to the cross and died for you. He wants you to be saved. Conclusion: John wants you to be saved. God the Father wants you to be saved. Jesus Christ, the Son of God wants you to be saved. I think that truthfully that deep down within your heart you want to be saved. You want to be saved so that you will go to heaven when you die. You have probably had enough hell on earth to make you decide that you did not want any more of it when you die.