Believe Jesus

Read John 5:1-6:71 “Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30-31, NASB). If I was to walk into most churches and ask that the people who believe in Jesus to raise their hands, I believe that most of the people present will raise their hands. The Christian church is a body of people who believe that Jesus died to save them from sins. Since they are saved they will die and go to heaven. However, the question for us today is not do you believe in Jesus. The question is do you believe Jesus? Is there a difference in believing in Jesus and believe Jesus? Although it is necessary for one to believe in Jesus before they can believe Jesus, it is possible for one to believe in Jesus while at the same time not believe Jesus. In this article I want to explore this thesis. Most of what I say is based on the Gospel of John. First, let me explain what I mean when I say that it is possible for one to believe in Jesus but not believe Jesus. In the Gospel of John Jesus is a controversial person. In chapter five Jesus heals a man who has been sick for thirty-eight years. John writes that the Jews object to this healing because the religious leaders teach that healing is a work done on the Sabbath Day, and this is a violation of the Law. This leads to a controversy between Jesus and the Jews. In this controversy Jesus claims to be the Son of God sent from the Father. Jesus is authorized by the Father to do the work of the Father. In this dialogue the Jews do not believe what Jesus says about Himself, but Jesus claims that Moses had written about Him and the Scriptures witness to His claim to be the One who gives eternal life. The people believe in Jesus. They believe that He is able to perform miracles of healing and they like to hear Him teaching. His words bring comfort and His miracles are exciting. People want to see Jesus in action and they follow Him. “A large crowd follows Him because they see the signs which He performs on those who are sick” (Jn. 6:2, NASB). Now, as we read this verse we notice that the crowd follows Jesus because of what they see Him do. We will see that their response becomes different when they hear what Jesus says. Jesus sits on the mountain and teaches His disciples while the crowd hangs anticipating that Jesus will perform a miracle. It is late in the day when Jesus stops teaching the disciples. Jesus knows that the people are hungry and He feeds them. The people are impressed because they see Jesus take only five barley loaves and two fish and feed five thousand. The people conclude that Jesus is “the Prophet” (v. 14), and they intended to make Him king (V.15), but Jesus escapes into the mountain. The next day the people find Jesus. Jesus tells them not to follow Him looking for food because this food will perish. ‘“Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal”’ (v. 27). The people ask ‘“What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?”’ (v. 28) “Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God that you believe in Him whom He has sent’” (v.29). The people compare the miracles of Jesus feeding the people with the bread that Moses gave to their fathers in the wilderness. It is at this point that Jesus makes a statement that upsets the people. He says, ‘“I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. ‘But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet you do not believe”’ (vv. 35-36). As Jesus continues His teaching He tells the people that He comes down from heaven to do the will of the Father who sent Him. God gives Him those who believe and He will never lose them. ‘“For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I myself will raise him up on the last day”’ (v. 40, NASB). As Jesus continues His dialogue with His disciples they say, ‘“This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?”’ (v. 60) Jesus continues to make His claim to be the one that they must believe in to have eternal life. “As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. So Jesus said to the twelve, ‘You do not want to go away also, do you?”’ (v.66, NASB) We see that the people believe in Jesus as long as he does what they want Him to do. In our churches people teach things about Jesus that meets their own concepts of who Jesus is and what Jesus does for them. Sermons are preached and lessons are taught each Sunday about the goodness of Jesus. However, like the people in this story many do not believe that Jesus is the Son of God that is the only way to obtain eternal life and go to heaven. They believe that there are many ways to God and heaven. So, while they believe in Jesus they do not believe Jesus. Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (Jn. 14:6, NASB). Do we believe that Jesus is the “logos” of God; the Word of God? Do we believe that His teachings come from the mind of God? Do we believe Jesus when He says that He has the authority of God? Do we believe that we are to obey His commandments; to observe all that He teaches us to do? Why do we praise Jesus for the things that He does for us while at the same time say that His teachings are outdated and no longer relevant for us to day? Do we believe Jesus?