.png)
John 20 vs 30&31 “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 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.”
During this pandemic, through TV, radio and newspapers, we have been ordered to maintain social distancing to save lives. We have been warned of the need to pay attention and obey. Yet, judging by the reported reckless actions of a few, it seems that they have missed the message. Possibly they may think it applies to others, not to them. That reaction is not new. There are always individuals, who though told something repeatedly, miss the message or stubbornly refuse to obey it.
That was also true two thousand years ago. The devotions on the Grand Lodge site over Easter were from John’s gospel. That gospel describes such people. They heard Christ’s loving invitations yet did not receive Him as their Lord and Saviour. Some witnessed Christ’s miracles but missed their meaning. They saw the signs but missed their significance.
John recorded seven sign miracles, not just to provide an interesting history of events in the life of Christ, but to encourage you to ‘believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through his name’[ v31].
It is a tragic possibility that you could believe that the events about Christ happened as John recorded them yet miss the purpose of them. If you fail to trust Christ as your Lord and Saviour there is no doubt you have missed the message and so miss LIFE ‘through his name’. John is referring to a quality of life not mere eternal existence.
Salvation is trusting in and receiving Christ, who is the Life. Receiving Him you receive LIFE; spiritual, abundant and eternal. There was a time you and I were not, but there never will be a time when we will cease to be. All of us will exist forever, either in heaven or hell.
Physical death comes to all. For those who obey the gospel message and trust Christ, who is the Life, physical death ushers in the enjoyment of everlasting life in heaven with Him. All who do not have Christ enter what is described as eternal death.
Don’t miss the message of John’s gospel. To do so is to miss Christ and so miss eternal life.
By Wor. Bro. Rev Ron Johnstone, Grand Chaplain