◄ What Does John 6:69 Mean? ►

The Gospel of John is the only New Testament book that is specifically written to unbelievers. Indeed, in chapter 20, we discover the reason that John wrote his gospel: "These things are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God," he wrote, "and that by believing, ye might have life through His name."

Faith must be in the person and work of Jesus Christ, the Son of God... and it is by that faith in HIM that we have life in His name. Here, at the end of chapter 6, we read that Peter and Christ's other holy apostles, had come to that point in their lives where they trusted that Jesus was the anointed Son of the Father. They confessed that He was the promised Messiah of Israel, the holy One of God, the Son of the living God Who was sent to save His people from their sin.

The disciples of the Lord Jesus placed their faith in HIM. They trusted HIM. They believed in HIM. And Peter voiced the faith they all shared. "We believe and have come to know that JESUS is the Christ, the Son of the living God - the Holy One of Israel." Peter was the spokesman for the other disciples, but His confession of faith was shared by the others - for WE have believed, He proclaimed, and WE have come to know Jesus is all He professed to be.

It is important to notice that believing comes before knowing. The first step they took was to place their faith in Him. But once they had TRUSTED in Him, they then came to KNOW that Jesus was exactly Who He said He was - the Son of the living God Who was and is and is to come - the Almighty.

Ever since his own conversion on the road to Damascus, Paul was the apostle who strove to share the good news of the gospel of grace with others. It was by the grace of God that Paul laboured more abundantly than all the other apostles of Christ, to spread the good news with the lost - yet at the end of his life, he prayed fervently: "That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings. That I am being made conformable unto His death." Paul's fervent desire, at the end of his life of service, was... that I may KNOW HIM. This should be our fervent desire too.

Jesus is the visible representation of the immortal, invisible, omniscient God, and in order to know Him, we must first believe in Him. We must believe in our heart that He is the Son of the Father - the incarnate Word. Jesus is the earthly representative of the immortal, invisible, triune Godhead Who died to pay the price for the sin of humanity - and rose again, breaking the power of sin and death in the life of all who believe.

Today there is a living, resurrected, glorified Man seated on the right hand of the Father in majestic glory, and as members of His Body, we are eternally identified with Him and His finished Work on Calvary's Cross. Praise His holy name.

Heavenly Father, thank You that while I was still a sinner and dead in trespasses and sins, Christ died for me. Thank You that You sought me out and convicted me of my sin and my need of a Saviour. Thank You that You are the living God and that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Father. Thank You that He took the punishment on the Cross for my sin. Thank You that by faith in His name, I have been redeemed and placed into fellowship with You, through time and into the eternal ages to come. Praise Your holy name! AMEN.