Oct 22, 2021 We’ve Seen and Heard Enough to Believe – Words of Grace Blog – October 22, 2021
We are grateful for every word of the Gospel of John, all twenty-one chapters. But with the three chapters between Jesus’ first and second signs in Galilee, we have enough to believe that he is the Christ, the Son of God.
John wrote this Gospel for the purpose of leading us to faith in Jesus. Within the whole of this Gospel, John included smaller portions that show us the nature, power, and work of Jesus so that we can see him clearly and come to believe in him. John chapter 2-4 is such a portion.
Jesus went to a wedding in Cana, which is in Galilee. At the wedding he turned six stone pots of water into wine. When he did, his disciples believed in him. This was Jesus’ first sign in Galilee, which manifested his glory. (John 2:11).
In John 4, we read that Jesus is again in Cana in Galilee. An official of Herod’s court came to Jesus and asked that his son be healed. Jesus healed the son, and the official believed in Jesus. This was the second sign Jesus did in Galilee. (John 4:54).
In the three chapters between these two signs so much about Jesus is recorded by John. Jesus cleared out the temple in Jerusalem and predicted his own death on the cross and resurrection. He had the famous conversation with Nicodemus in which he said that we must be born again to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus spoke about being sent by God into the world so that all who believe in him will not perish but have eternal life.
In Samaria Jesus spoke to the woman by the well, shared living water with her, told her all she ever did, and pointed her to the way of true worship of God. The woman told her town about him, and many believed.
Then, back in Cana, the healing of the official’s son was the second sign in Galilee. John tells us the man believed. The interesting thing about belief in this account is that it clearly progresses from believing that Jesus can perform a healing to believing in Jesus himself. John wants us to know that even though we are only four chapters into this Gospel, enough about Jesus has been seen and heard to believe in him.
Here we are at Grace Community Church, thirteen weeks into our series in John. We’ve traveled with Jesus in Galilee, Judea, and Samaria. We’ve seen and heard. This seems like a good time to stop and ask if we believe.
Maybe you have been reading along, listening to the sermons, and considering Jesus with us. Are you being drawn to faith in him? Is there a growing clarity of thought about who he is, and an increasing desire to know and follow him? If so, talk to him. Pray. Ask God to lead you in this process of seeing and hearing to the place of believing. You can simply tell Jesus that you do believe and want to follow him as your Savior and Lord. If you do, please let us know by talking to us on Sunday or contacting us online or by phone. We would love to help you.
You may know someone who is on this journey of considering Jesus. Invite them to read John with you. Send them the link to the sermons on John. Pray that they will see, hear, and believe.
-Scott