When you know someone well, or when you spend a lot of time with someone you don't need them to tell you what they believe - you can work it out by watching what they do.
You don't need someone to tell you whether or not they believe a chair will hold their weight - if they do they'll sit down, if they don't then they'll remain standing.
If we believed that God saw everything we did, and that He heard all that we said, and that He even knew what we were thinking then why would we behave one way when our boss/spouse/parents were watching but behave totally differently when we're 'alone'?
If we believed that this world was not all that there was and that there is another life that will last for ever then why would we be so attached to the things that we accumulate here?
If we believed that people without Jesus were going to hell then wouldn't we do more about it?
Belief is very important to John, the guy who wrote the fourth gospel. The whole reason he wrote all that stuff down was so that we might believe that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God (John 20:31). And this belief is important because it changes everything - it is the way to life, to eternal life (3:16), to an abundant and full life (10:10).
This week (Sunday 8 July 2007) we're looking at the death of Jesus (John 19:28-42). John believes that Jesus is the son of God, and yet he knows it is important that we believe that he really did die on the cross. Yet, even though he was killed, he was still God, he was still in control (e.g. fulfilment of Scripture in 36-37). And if John's first readers had any doubts it would have been possible for them to find an eye witness and check it out.
Many people today don't believe anything much about Jesus. He is of no interest to them, and they see no relevance for their lives. When we talk about 'doing evangelism' all too often we think of programmes or training that will allow members of the church to argue convincingly that Jesus died on the cross for their sin and that he rose back to life three days later...
In this passage of John there is an eye witness who simply reported what he saw. If we turn over a few pages to Acts 1:8 we learn that we are called to be Jesus' witnesses. A witness simply tells what she has seen. A witness relates their experience. And that is all that evangelism really is. It is about me telling my friends what difference God makes in my life.
The time will come when it will be appropriate to talk about the fact that Jesus really did die and that he really did come back to life - but most people don't want to know about history - they want to know about your-story, they want to know, 'yes ... but does it work?' When it comes to what God is doing in your life - you're the eye witness, your testimony is true and you testify so that others may believe.
For reflection and comment:
What does your behaviour really say about what you believe?
What is God doing in your life - and who have you told about this?
In John 19:38-42 we read about two guys who are described as secret disciples - but can you be a disciple in secret?
