John 11:38-45
“I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.” vs. 42
The whole of John’s gospel has one intent and purpose, that all who read it would come to believe that Jesus is the Christ and has been sent by God. In nearly every chapter, from beginning to end, we read stories about individuals who encounter Jesus, hear his words and see his deeds, and who become believers. No wonder then that Martin Luther, following his intense encounter with the scriptures, proclaimed John to be his favorite gospel. Luther believed that the promise of salvation that came with faith in Jesus was the central teaching of the bible and he stubbornly resisted any doctrinal pronouncement that diminished that proclamation. This passage, with its promise of resurrection and life in Jesus, became a particular favorite. In his estimation, anyone who believed in this word of grace had everything…there was nothing else required for eternal life. We may have mixed feelings about Martin Luther. He spoke and wrote from the hip, and a few of his works are downright offensive. But he did get this part right! Trusting in the Word of promise opens the door to living the resurrected life, now and forever. There are many things to worry about in our confused and terror-stricken world, but the one thing we don’t need to worry about is our salvation. That’s God’s business and not ours! And it’s all been taken care of in Jesus!
Thought for the Day: Why do some folks worry about their salvation?
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