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The apostle John says towards the end of his gospel (cf. 20:31) that his purpose for writing his gospel was that his readers “may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.” This life that Jesus Christ offers is a quality of life that only resides in Him (cf. 1:4, 5:26). Sometimes (17 x’s) in John’s gospel it is referred to as eternal life (cf. 3:15,16,36; 4:14, etc.), which refers not just to the duration of this life, but also to its quality or nature . It is a life that Jesus Christ claims will satisfy our deepest longings (cf. 4:14, 6:35). It is a supernatural life – the very life of Christ. Twice Jesus Christ says He is this life (cf. 11:25, 14:6). Twice He says He is the “bread of life” (cf. 6:35,48). Jesus Christ makes it very clear in this gospel that He longs to give this life to us and even to give it abundantly (cf. 6:33, 10:10,28; 17:2).

The question is: How can I receive or experience this eternal life?? Well perhaps the simplest answer to this question is: we must respond to His offer. As one studies John’s or Jesus’s discussion of this life, one will find receiving or experiencing this life is always predicated on a faith response to Jesus’s offer. Often this required response is described as that of believing Jesus or believing in Jesus or believing in His name (cf. 1:12; 3:15, 16, 36; 5:24). It is absolutely crucial that we understand how John uses this verb “believe.” Many people in America would say they “believe” in Jesus, or that they believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. But they have not received, nor are they experiencing this supernatural life that Jesus offers. When John uses this word translated “believe” in our English bibles, he is not talking about mere intellectual assent. (The devil himself believes that Jesus is the Son of God). The meaning is more of that of an active continual trust in or reliance upon Jesus Christ. Also it is important to note that when John writes we must “believe in His name”, this phrase “in His name” in that day had the idea of one’s whole personality or every aspect of His nature. If you want to experience this life that Jesus offers, you must receive Him exactly as He is portrayed and revealed in scripture (i.e. He is God, man, holy, righteous, the truth, the way, the life, the only way to God, Savior, etc.).

Other metaphors that Jesus uses to help us understand this faith response that He requires are verbs like: come (cf. 5:40; 6:35), drink (4:14; 6:53,54;), and eat (6:51,53,54). Again it is crucial that one understands He is looking for a continual faith response.

If you have never actively placed your faith and trust in Jesus Christ to be saved from your sins and to receive from Him this supernatural eternal life, we invite you to do that right now. May this day for you be the start of a relationship with Jesus Christ that will never end, and that will satisfy every longing of your soul.