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John 20:30-31 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:

31 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.

Today is the National Day of Prayer for Vacation Bible School. As I pondered what to preach this Sunday God placed on my heart the need to preach our focal text. John 20:31 is the theme and focal verse for our Vacation Bible School In The Wild. Let’s read this verse again:

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.

What must we emphasize to our children – or better yet, what must we emphasize to every person we approach concerning Jesus Christ.

We Must Emphasize That Christ Is More Than Myth
More Than Man
More Than Teacher
More Than Prophet

More Than A Founder
He More Than Most Of Us Conceive
And Certainly More Than America Has Made Of Him

Christ Is More

Context is so important when you are reading the Bible. When you read the verses that we are looking at today you cannot divorce them from their context. We don’t want to ignore them – but we do want to see what’s around them.

Just before John wrote these words he spoke of an incident that occurred with another disciple named Thomas. A few weeks ago I preached a message from our series “Faith of our Fathers” on the Apostle Thomas. I’m not going to preach that again. If you want a copy of that sermon see me after Church. But I do want to speak to the text.

Thomas – like many today – was not where he was supposed to be when Jesus rose from the dead.

Yes, Jesus rose from the dead. Jesus is more than Man, more than death itself. Jesus told all the disciples before He died on Calvary:

Matthew 26 … when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples, 2 Ye know that after two days is the feast of the Passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.

Jesus knew He was going to die. When the woman with the Alabaster box of ointment anointed Him (Matthew 26:12) Jesus knew He had to die. Jesus also knew why He had to die. At the end of the Feast of the Passover the Bible says Jesus took the cup and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (Matthew 26:28). Jesus Christ is the payment …

1 John 2:2 … for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

John 3:16 … that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Jesus told His disciples He was to die. He knew why He was to die. But He also knew He would rise again. Jesus told His disciples:

Matthew 26:31-32 … All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. 32 But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.

When Jesus rose from the grave an Angel told Mary Magdalene:

Matthew 28:6-7 {Jesus} is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

Jesus died on that Cross, but He was more than death. He was more than Prophet or mere Man. Jesus Christ is much more.

Jesus told His Disciples “I Will Rise From The Grave”
Jesus told His Disciples “I will meet you in Galilee”
Jesus had His secretary – an angel – remind Mary that “I will meet you in Galilee”

If you want to see Jesus, you need to be in Galilee. Thomas was not in Galilee. The other ten disciples (minus Judas Iscariot the traitor) were in Galilee. Jesus always does exactly what He says He will do. Jesus is not limited by time or space. He is, was, and always will be. The Scripture says:

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Jesus Christ is the “Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8)

So many who proclaim Christ as Lord and Savior are not where they need to be. I often talk to those who profess Christ as Lord and Savior, who tell me “I am a Christian”, and yet are devoid of the very power of God in their daily lives. Beloved, if you wish to be empowered of God you need to be where Jesus tells you to be. Listen to me, all you THOMAS Christians. Jesus died for your sins, praise God forever. But Jesus is MORE.

Jesus is MORE than Lamb of God.
Yes, He is Lamb of God.
Yes, He is the Payment for your sins.
Yes, He is Heaven’s Key.
Yes, He is the Door to glory.
But He is also SHEPHERD OF THE SHEEP.
He is also KING OF HIS KINGDOM.
He is also RULER OF HIS CHURCH.

Oh, how I wish you would hear me. Oh, how I wish the Spirit of God would open your eyes. Oh, how I pray the Spirit of God will open the eyes of these children during Vacation Bible School. Jesus is MORE.

When Thomas got where he needed to be, when he got to Galilee and gathered with his brothers in Christ, THEN Jesus appeared to him. When you are in God’s directed place doing God’s directed work,
God will be there.

When Thomas was where he was supposed to be

… he saw Jesus,
…he heard Jesus,
… he touched Jesus,
… he experienced Jesus.

Then and only then did Thomas begin to understand that Jesus is MORE. It was at this point that Thomas said:

My Lord and my God (John 20:28)

Evangelists today are selling Jesus as if He were a “Seen on Television Utility”. You know what I’m talking about. Jesus is like the Popeil Pocket Fisherman of the 70’s which looked good but was useless for fishing. Jesus is like the K-tel Veg-O-Matic which dices, slices, chops, and purees … for about 30 minutes, then it breaks. Jesus is a Sav-O-Matic. You walk an aisle, get a little wet, then like the Ronco Rotisserie & BBQ you can “set it and forget it”. When it’s time to die Jesus, like a Cosmic Chauffeur, will drive up in His spiritual chariot and pick up your soul, taking you into Heaven.

No Beloved, Jesus is more. Jesus said Matthew 28:18:

“All power (or authority) is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”

Jesus is the Only Savior, but He is also more. Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. When we receive Him as Savior we receive Him as Thomas did, saying, My Lord and My God. Jesus becomes the Lord of your life when you are saved by Him. Jesus becomes the Shepherd of the Sheep, not the Sheep of the Sheep. Jesus is the Leader and King of His people. But Jesus is More. The Bible tells us several times:

1 Timothy 6:14-15 … until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ … who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

Revelation 17:14 … the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the Ruler of His people. He is the Savior of those who receive Him as Lord and God. He is our Mediator, our Redemption, our Master.

And we serve Jesus. The Christian who is a Christian indeed lives serving the Jesus Who is “My Lord and My God!”. Author and Minister Ollie Fobbs writes:

“Fundamentally, the idea of Jesus being King of kings and Lord of lords means that there is no higher authority. His reign over all things is absolute and inviolable. God raised Him from the dead and placed Him over all things, “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:21–23).”

The Bible Is More

John 20:30-31 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ…

What is this Book we call “The Bible”? This Bible is more than a human authored Book. Dr. Charles Stanley writes:

“The Bible is more than just another book because it is timeless. The truths of Scripture are never outdated and are still applicable for any situation we might face. {The Bible} is infallible. Since Scripture is the revelation of the one true God, it has no errors. Because He is all powerful, He has the ability to speak through men, guiding them to write only what is true. There may be concepts we don’t understand, but that never invalidates the fact that God’s Word is {without error}.”

Our text tells us that “these things are WRITTEN that you MIGHT BELIEVE”.

The Bible is not a collection of myths and legends.
It is not a story book.
It is not a Children’s Fable.
It is God’s Word from beginning to end.

The Scribes and Pharisees – the religious crowd of Jesus’ day – thought the Bible to be just a book. They prided themselves on knowing the Book, the Bible, but never applied that Bible to their lives. Jesus said of this mindset:

Matthew 5:17-20 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets {the Bible}: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

The Bible was written by God through Prophets and Apostles and about Jesus. These things are WRITTEN that you MIGHT BELIEVE that JESUS IS THE CHRIST. Jesus told the Pharisees and Scribes:

John 5:46-47 … had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of Me. 47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

The Bible is all about Jesus. It is God’s Word about Jesus, and righteousness, and what God expects His people to do. The Bible teaches of Jesus – Old Testament and New Testament. It is a reliable Witness of God.

When Peter preached the first Church Age sermon on the Day of Pentecost what did Peter preach from? Did He preach from a Reader’s Digest or from his opinion? Absolutely not! Peter preached harsh truth and Scripture text to those listening. Peter preached…

Acts 2:23-28 {Jesus}, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. 25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: 26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: 27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.

Peter preached Christ from the Old Testament text of Psalm 16:8-11. Preaching and believing the Word of God some 3000 people were saved that day. Beloved, this Bible we have is the Word of God. It is THE Word of God. There is no other. These things are WRITTEN. The Bible says:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God {theopneustos = God Breathed} and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

The Bible is written by the hand of set apart people, but is GOD BREATHED. It is the very Word of God.

Scripture Is The Very Exhale Of God
That Breathes Life Into The Believer

As the Scripture comes from God, it is trustworthy. Jesus Christ always countered the errors that He found in humanity around Himself with the Scripture. In the New Testament we see the phrase “as it is written” 31 times. That’s right, 31! When Jesus taught He referenced the Scripture.

Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, {Jesus} explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. (Luke 24:27)

{Jesus said} all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled (Luke 24:44)

Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote–Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” (John 1:45)

Luke 4:17-21 … there was delivered {to Jesus} the book of the prophet {Isaiah}. And when he had opened the book, {Jesus} found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

The Bible is God’s Book. It is through it – faith in it – that we are changed from children of Adam to children of the living God. We come from Satan’s kingdom of darkness and are translated into Christ’s Kingdom of light when we believe in Him of Whom the Scriptures speak.

Belief Is More

John 20:31 … 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.

Belief is more than a head nod or a mental assent to a truth. We all believe in gravity. I believe in gravity. But it was not until is was walking into my work shop one day that I slipped and fell, cracking my head on the ground. Then I REALLY BELIEVED in gravity. Gravity to me was a truth, a truth I believed and was taught. But saving belief is more than mental assent. It is soul deep.

Belief that saves understands that I am a sinner.
Belief that saves knows that I am destined to hell.
Belief that saves sees Jesus Christ as my only hope.
Belief that saves bends the knee to Him Who loves me.
Belief that saves obeys Jesus as Lord and God.
Belief that saves surrenders to the Savior.
Belief that saves does as Jesus says.

Jesus said “Why do you call Me Lord, Lord, and not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46). If you come to Jesus and do as He says He promises that the storms of life will not destroy your lives. But Jesus said:

Luke 6:49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

God wants these little children to be Christ’s little children. He wants you to be His little child. Will you come to Him Who gave Himself for you TODAY? The Bible says TODAY is the day of SALVATION (2 Corinthians 6:2). Tomorrow may never come. Come to Him – to Jesus – today. May God the Holy Spirit use this text for God’s Glory and the salvation of many souls! Amen!