“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
“Then they said to Him, ʻWhat shall we do, that we may work the works of God?ʼ Jesus answered and said to them, ʻThis is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.ʼ” (John 6:28,29)
“And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:30,31)
John is clear about the purpose of his testimony of Jesus Christ (1:14). He wants action, the kind that gets results. The action he wants and expects is belief. After feeding the multitudes, Jesus tells those following him that belief in Him as the Messiah is the central “work” that God requires (6:28,29).
But who is this Jesus? John begins and ends his gospel on the message of glory. Jesus’ miracles testified of that glory: water to wine (2:11), healing the blind man (9:3), and raising Lazarus (11:4). At the Last Supper, Jesus asks for the Father to return Him to glory because of His obedience, and prays for those who believe that we would be with Jesus and see His glory. (17:1-5 and 17:22-24). John’s last chapter closes with Jesus’ encounter with His disciples on the beach, with John’s parenthetical comment (21:19) about how Peter’s death would glorify Jesus.
As we read through John’s account, do we “see” Jesus’ glory? In John 11:40, Jesus warns that seeing hinges on belief. Thankfully, John records that Christ welcomes those that are slow to believe like Thomas (John 20:27). So, stop doubting and believe.