John chapters 19 and 20 are full of details of Jesus’ last hours on the earth, His death, and His Resurrection. These two chapters contain details of:
Jesus Sentenced to Death
The Crucifixion
The Death of Jesus
The Burial of Jesus
The Resurrection
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
Jesus Appears to Thomas
Purpose of the Book
The last two verses in John 20 tell us the Purpose of the Book of John.
The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.
John 20:30&31
John wrote this book of the Bible to a very broad audience. People believed that it was impossible for Jesus to be the Son of God and a literal human being at the same time. Through the accounts in these two chapters, the crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection, and appearances of Jesus, John is demonstrating that Jesus had power that could only come from God alone. Jesus did this to show signs that He was who He claimed to be.
John included these miracles in his gospel so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name. He included 7 specific miracles in his book. These miracles changed the lives of not only those who received the miracle but also those who were watching the miracle.
The miracles were:
- Jesus changing water into wine (2:1-11)
- how He healed a royal official’s son (4:46-54)
- how He healed a lame man (5:1-18)
- how He fed the 5000 (6:1-15)
- how He walked on water (6:16-21)
- how He healed the man born blind (9:1-41) and
- how He raised Lazarus from the dead (11:1-57).
John wrote of these specific miracles to lead people to faith in Jesus. He included evidence of the things that Jesus did to help his readers believe that Jesus was and is who He claimed to be. His miraculous actions showed Him to be the Lord of creation. And, if we choose to believe, we have life by the power of His name.
To have life is more than eternal life. It is also life now, right here where we live. It is the assurance of God’s promises and protection. It is the love and community and purpose He gives us here and now.
I came that they may have life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].
John 10:10