23Again, this is God’s command: to believe in His personally named Son, Jesus Christ.  

The biggest thing God asks of us, the most important rule for everyone, is to believe in Jesus Christ. We must believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that God chose Him to die for the sins of all humankind. 

We must believe that Mary was touched by the Holy Spirit and that she became pregnant and gave birth to Jesus in a humble stable in Bethlehem. 

We must believe that Jesus was on earth for 33 years and during this time performed miracles, healed people of incurable diseases, fed thousands of people with a few fish and a few loaves of bread and that there were still quite a few baskets of leftovers left over. 

We must believe that Jesus walked on water to meet His disciples on the open sea. He taught them to take the lead on the day He returned to heaven to build the church of Christ here on earth. 

We must believe and, in a way, walk the Via Dolorosa with Jesus. We must also feel the pain when the stones in the whips tear pieces of flesh from His body. 

We must believe that Jesus was nailed to the cross. It is inhuman. In fact, we cannot imagine for ourselves the pain He must have endured when the nails were driven through His hands and feet. 

We must believe that Jesus was there alone and cried out, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” There where He hung on the cross while the soldiers and others mocked Him. 

We must believe that Jesus breathed His last breath there on the cross and walked into hell. 

Fortunately, and thank God, we must also believe that after the third day Jesus broke through the chains of death, rose again and left only a few cloths in the tomb. 

Fortunately, and thank God, these enriching events took the burden of sin off my shoulders. Yes! I believe that Jesus came in my place, to bear the punishment for my sins, so that I would not have to do it. 

I believe that Jesus ascended alive into heaven and that He sits at the right hand of God the Father. There He intercedes for me and He Himself represents each and every one of God’s children in the courtroom. 

I believe that Jesus sent His Spirit to live in each of us to guide us every day. He knows where we are going, what we should do, and what we should not do. He talks to us the entire way. 

I believe that I am in a living and intimate relationship with Jesus and that I cannot go through life without Him. I believe that He knows about me and is with me all the time. 

My understanding is that the command to believe in Jesus necessitates sharing Him with the world, so that others may also hear this command, respond to the great commission, and place their faith in Jesus Christ. 

Scripture
1 John 3:18-24 

Reflection
Do you believe in Jesus?
Do you believe that He is your Saviour?
Do you live it?  

Prayer
Jesus, I do believe in You. I cannot live without You. I cannot go into life hereafter without You. I do believe in You! Amen.