John 20:29–31

Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

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.

Verse 29 is repeated here because it is the springboard of verses 30 and 31. Thomas has seen the risen Lord, but the readers of this gospel, written at least four decades later, haven’t. How will they believe?

John’s answer is to write this book. He wrote it that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

And, no surprise, verse 31 is a purpose construction in the Greek. John wrote this gospel [for the purpose] that you may believe.

But John notes that his gospel only describes a sampling of all that Jesus did. Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book.

The point of those many other signs, and the reason John mentions them, is to confirm who Jesus is [for the purpose] that you may believe. Those signs were only seen by a few people, but for a purpose. Their faith was strengthened.

Their faith will become a testimony that strengthens our faith.

The faith of the eyewitnesses to the resurrection is foundational to how we can know that it’s all true. Those eyewitnesses lived and died in poverty and torture without recanting. They really believed that He is who He said He is and that He rose from the dead.

Paul says this differently. Instead of, “really believe,” he says, “believe in your heart.”

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. — Romans 10:9

We sometimes give this, “believe in you heart” requirement short shrift. It’s essential that we not merely think that Jesus rose from the dead. We must have absolute—willing to die on this hill—faith.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. — Hebrews 11:1–2 (NIV)

That’s why Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book.

And that’s why these are written.

These Monday—Friday DEEPs are written by Mike Slay. The Saturday DEEPs are written by Matt Richardson. To subscribe to all the DEEPs click here:

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV stands for the English Standard Version. © Copyright 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NIV stands for The Holy Bible, New International Version®. © Copyright 1973 by International Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved. KJV stands for the King James Version.