The Greatest Story Ever Told: John 20:30-31
The Greatest Story Ever Told • Sermon • Submitted
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I love stories. Most people like stories. My favorite stories are the awesome true stories. I am captivated by war stories, like the Alamo, where one of my TN heroes lost his life… Davy Crockett. I find stories from the revolutionary war amazing. George Washington crossing the Delaware stands out. Narratives speak to us like nothing us. Stories matter!
We get our stories a bunch of different ways. We read stories, listen stories , watch stories and tell stories.
Before COVID, in 2018 Americans spend 12 billion dollars at the box office to watch stories on the big screen. We spend 16 billion annually to watch stories on streaming services like Netflix, Hulu and Disney+.
Americans spend 5 billions dollars a year on books (and that doesn’t include the price of text books, school books or books from book clubs). And millions more listen to audiobooks.
And almost everyone has a favorite story or at least a few favorites.
But the greatest story ever told is one of those amazing true stories. It is the story of Jesus. And we are going to be spending time in going through the story together in the Gospel of John in 2021 and much of 2022. And we will be memorizing key verses from John’s Gospel along the way.
As we go through this study together, my hope and prayer is that you’ll get to know Jesus better, you’ll learn more about His purpose for your life and your love for Jesus will grow and grow. The study is called “The Greatest Story Ever Told”.
Today we will be unpacking the theme of John’g Gospel. We will start near the back of the book, in chapter 20, where John tells us why he wrote this story. And I believe it is important for us to start there because knowing the reason and purpose behind this particular story helps us better understand and apply the story.
Read John 20:30-31
30 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 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.
Let’s Pray:
LEARN about Jesus.
LEARN about Jesus.
(v. 31a) “...so that you may believe...”
One cannot truly learn without believing, understanding and applying what is discovered. Knowing without believing is merely hearing. We can hear and discover new things without truly learning. When we make mistakes over and over again, knowing what we did that caused the problem, we haven’t learned. Or at least, we haven’t learned enough to stop repeating the mistake.
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
73 Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
The Gospel of John was given to us so that we we truly learn about Jesus. That is, we would believe key truths about Him and apply them to our lives.
What are the 2 key truths about Jesus that we must truly learn and thus believe?
Jesus is God’s only begotten SON.
Jesus is God’s only begotten SON.
(v. 31b) “…the Son of God...”
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
The Son of God was not solely a Newer Testament idea...
4 Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name? Surely you know!
The significance is that John wants us to learn and believe that Jesus is not only a man, He is fully God.
30 I and the Father are one.”
Doubting Thomas learned this truth and believed:
28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
8 But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
Jesus is our only SAVIOR.
Jesus is our only SAVIOR.
(v. 31b) “…that Jesus is the Christ...”
First, the implies we need saving.
9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
The name “Christ” is the Greek equivalent of Messiah. It means “the anointed one”. Jesus was the one promised, anointed by the Father, sent to save us from our sins. And He’s the only one who could save us from the penalty of our sin.
12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
LIVE through Jesus.
LIVE through Jesus.
(v. 31c) “...and that believing you may have life in His name.”
Living through Jesus gives us life in two extraordinary ways...
Life FOREVER.
Life FOREVER.
One of the ways we have life in Christ is that we have life forever.
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 5
13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
English Standard Version Chapter 3
36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life;
47 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Life to the FULLEST.
Life to the FULLEST.
10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
You can be poor and live life abundantly in Christ.
You can be rich and have an abundance of things and never live life abundantly.
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.
20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,
9 but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”
11 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
31 “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Life to the fullest in Jesus is an abundantly life that isn’t dependent on circumstances or material things. The life Jesus gives can be enjoy right here on earth and is better than anything this world has to offer.
In closing:
We all have more to learn about Jesus and as we learn it together and believe it, we will receive the life Jesus has for us as well. Will you pray with me?