Greetings listeners! Have you ever noticed that some moments in life change you forever? The moment you say yes to something, the moment you believe. The Gospel of John is full of those moments. A fisherman leaves his nets. A blind man opens his eyes. A grieving sister finds hope again. Each one begins with belief. Not belief as an idea, but as a personal trust in Jesus. In this final part of our series, we step into the very heart of John's gospel, the reason it was written. These are written, John says, so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. Today we'll explore what that kind of belief really means and how the signs, the cross, and the resurrection all point us to the same truth. That life, real life, is found in knowing and believing in Him. Well, welcome everyone. I'm your host, Jacqui Adewole, and this is the Bible Basics Podcast, where every two weeks we break down the basics of the Bible into understandable bite-sized chunks. Last time we listened to Jesus describe himself through his own words. I am the bread of life, the light of the world, the good shepherd, the true vine, and more. Each one of those I am statements revealed who he is: God made known, the one who brings life, guidance, and hope. Now, in this final part, we move to the heart of John's gospel, believing. John tells us exactly why he wrote this book. Quote, these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in his name. That's chapter 20, verse 31. For John, belief isn't just knowing facts about Jesus, it's personal trust, resting your whole life in who Jesus is and what he's done. Belief is more than a moment, it's a relationship that keeps growing. Throughout his gospel, John weaves together two kinds of stories, those who see Jesus' signs and believe, and those who see the same signs but turn away. Through both, he invites us to look at Jesus and decide for ourselves. Will we only admire what he does, or will we trust who he is? In this episode, we'll look at what it really means to believe and then explore the seven signs that John records, each one pointing to Jesus' identity and inviting us to faith. Early in John's Gospel, we meet Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council, the Sanhedrin. In other words, a Bible expert and community leader. That's chapter 3, verse 1. He came to Jesus one night. And why? Not just curiosity. He'd seen or heard about the signs Jesus was doing in Jerusalem during Passover, and many were starting to believe because of these signs. He also knew Jesus taught with real authority, yet he likely feared public pushback. So he came under the cover of darkness. He opens with respect. He answers the question beneath Nicodemus's words. How can I be a part of God's kingdom? Jesus says, No one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again or born from above by God's Spirit. That must have stunned Nicodemus. He thought Jesus was talking about physical birth, starting life all over again. But Jesus was speaking about something deeper, a spiritual rebirth, a brand new kind of life that begins when we trust Him. He went on to say, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Just as physical life begins with birth, spiritual life begins through the work of the Holy Spirit. It's not something we can earn or make happen ourselves. It's a gift God gives when we believe. And then comes one of the most beloved verses in all of Scripture, a single sentence that sums up the entire Gospel of John. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. That's chapter 3, verse 16. For John, believing isn't about agreeing with a set of ideas, it's trusting a person, Jesus, leaning your full weight on him as the one who gives forgiveness and life. That trust isn't a one-time act, it's a relationship that grows day by day as we keep walking with him. Now let's get to those seven signs. Throughout John's gospel, Jesus performs miracles, but John doesn't just call them miracles, he calls them signs. And that word matters because a sign isn't meant to draw attention to itself. It points beyond itself to something greater, to who Jesus truly is. These weren't meant to be spectacles that impress the crowd. In fact, at one point, Jesus said to the people of Galilee, Unless you people see signs and wonders, you'll never believe. That's chapter 4, verse 48. Each of these seven signs reveals a part of his identity, showing that he has power not only over creation, but over every kind of need we faced. The first sign happens at a wedding in Cana, where Jesus turns water into wine. That's chapter 2, verses 1 through 11. It's not a flashy public miracle. It happens quietly behind the scenes, but it shows something beautiful about God's heart. Jesus takes something ordinary and fills it with joy. It's a picture of new creation, God transforming what is plain into something overflowing with life and celebration. The second sign comes when Jesus heals the royal official's son from miles away. This is in chapter 4, verses 46 through 54. The man begs Jesus to come to his house, but Jesus simply says, Your son will live. And at that very moment, the boy is healed. This shows Jesus' authority is not limited by distance. His word alone has power to give life. By the pool of Bethesda, there was a man who had been unable to walk for 38 years. That's chapter 5, verses 1 through 9. This was the setting for the third sign. Jesus asked him a simple question. Then he tells him, Get up, pick up your mat and walk. The man obeys and strength floods his legs. Jesus restores what was broken and shows that true healing doesn't come from rituals or rules, but from relationship with him. The fourth sign is one many people know, the feeding of the 5,000, found in chapter 6, verses 1 through 14. A huge crowd had gathered, and all they have is a boy's small lunch, five loaves and two fish. Jesus blesses the food, breaks it, and everyone eats until they're full, with plenty left over. The sign connects directly to one of his I am statements. I am the bread of life. Later that night, when the disciples are caught in the storm on the Sea of Galilee in chapter 6, verses 6-21, there Jesus displayed the fifth sign. They're terrified, straining at the oars when they look up and see Jesus walking toward them on the water. The same God who parted the Red Sea in the Old Testament now walks on it. This sign reminds us that Jesus is Lord over creation itself and that he meets us right in the middle of our storms. Then Jesus encounters and heals a man born blind in chapter 9, verses 1 through 7. No one had ever heard of someone blind from birth receiving sight. Jesus makes mud, places it on the man's eyes, and tells him to wash. When he does, he could see for the first time in his life. It's another echo of creation. The God who formed humanity from dust now brings light and sight to someone living in darkness. Before the resurrection, one final sign. It's perhaps the most powerful, the raising of Lazarus in chapter 11, verses 1 through 44. Standing before the tomb, Jesus says, Lazarus, come out. And a man who had been dead for four days walks out alive. Through this sign, Jesus shows that he truly is the resurrection and the life. Now each of these signs points to a greater truth. Jesus has power over nature, sickness, need, and even death. But John includes them not just to impress us, but to invite us to trust him, to invite us to believe. Some people saw the signs and believed. Others saw the same signs and turned away. John's question for us is simple. When we see who Jesus is, how will we respond? Let's get to the ultimate sign, the cross and resurrection, in John chapters 18 through 20. After the seven signs that reveal Jesus' power and compassion, John leads us to the greatest sign of all, the cross and the resurrection. Everything in his gospel had been moving towards this moment. From the very beginning, Jesus referred to his hour. He said, My hour has not yet come. Again and again until chapter 12, after raising Lazarus from the dead. Then he says, The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. That word might catch us off guard. Glorified? Most people don't think of the cross as glory, but for Jesus, this was the moment when God's love and plan would be seen most clearly. At the cross, the good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. The bread of life is broken so that we might live. The light of the world steps into the darkness of sin and death and conquers it. When Jesus says, It is finished. The debt of sin has been paid, and the way to the Father is now open to everyone who believes. But the story doesn't end there. Early on the third day, the tomb is empty. Mary Magdalene stands outside the tomb weeping, thinking someone has taken his body. Then she hears a familiar voice say her name, Mary. She turns and sees Jesus alive. That simple moment changes everything. The teacher she loved is no longer dead. Death itself has lost its power. Later, one of the disciples, Thomas, says, He won't believe unless he sees the scars for himself. Jesus appears to him and says, Put your fingers here. See my hands. Thomas falls to his knees and says, My Lord and my God. That confession right there is the high point of the entire Gospel of John. A doubting heart becomes a believing heart. Through the cross and resurrection, all the signs and all the I am statements come together. The Creator who turned water into wine now makes all things new. The shepherd who gave his life now calls his sheep by name. The resurrection in the life now stands victorious over the grave. John wants us to see this as the ultimate sign, proof that Jesus is who he said he is, and that through him life and hope are possible for every person who believes. After the cross and the resurrection, John shows us what it truly means to believe, not just in words, but in relationship. For John, belief and life are inseparable. In chapter 17, as Jesus prays before his arrest, he defines eternal life in one simple sentence. This is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. That's such an important verse because it changes how we think about eternal life. It isn't just about living forever after death, it's about knowing God personally, right now. It's about walking in relationship with Him every day through Jesus. Pastor Tony Evans puts it beautifully. Eternal life isn't just about duration, it's about relationship. It's entering into intimate friendship with God through Jesus. A friendship that begins now and grows through eternity. That's what John means when he talks about believing. It's not simply agreeing that Jesus exists or that his story is true, it's trusting him completely, placing the full weight of your life in his hands. That kind of faith leads to real change. In John's gospel, we see people move from curiosity to conviction. Nicodemus begins by visiting Jesus at night, but later stands up for him publicly. The man born blind not only receives sight, but declares, Lord, I believe. And Mary Magdalene, who once stood outside the tomb in tears, becomes the first to proclaim, I have seen the Lord. Each story is different, but they all point to the same truth. Believing in Jesus is more than seeing a sign or hearing a message. It's meeting a living Savior who calls you by name and offers you life that begins now and never ends. This is what John has been showing us all along, the purpose he declared at the start of his gospel, that by believing in Jesus we may truly live. So as we finish this series on the Gospel of John, ask yourself, what would it look like to trust him and believe more fully today? The same voice that spoke creation into being still speaks now, inviting you to life in his name. Thank you very much for listening. If this series helped you see Jesus more clearly, share it with someone who might need that same clarity. Until next time, keep reading, keep seeking, and keep growing in your faith.