When writing his gospel, John had an objective in mind. As he wrote in John 20:31, he was recording Jesus’ miracles and signs “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.”
What was John’s objective? To persuade anyone reading “that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.”
In the same book, John says that many were not convinced by miracles:
“But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” – John 12:37
John says this failure to convince was intentional on God’s part and a fulfillment of prophecy. John claims to be a first-hand witness of many miracles performed by Jesus, climaxing in the resurrection of one Lazarus, who was apparently dead for so long that “there is a stench” (John 11:39). John spends a lot of time setting the scene — many people had gathered to comfort Martha and Mary, the sisters of the deceased — pointing out that Lazarus had his own tomb, which indicates he was probably affluent and well-known – and so on. This miracle was to be very public. The result when Lazarus came out? John says many believed in Jesus, but many others did not believe, and some even saw Him as a threat – resulting in His crucifixion.
So John, writing for the specific purpose of creating belief, tells us the ultimate miracles are not enough to generate belief in everyone. “Proof” does not always convince, and those who disagree hold their beliefs as strongly as those who agree. Whatever your beliefs, have you ever been frustrated when someone just won’t come around to your view, no matter what you said? Would you be more frustrated if you were told that any argument you could make wouldn’t be good enough?
Some deny miracles because of a purely naturalistic worldview where the supernatural is not allowed in. Miracles do not exist, and never did. In this view, mankind was created through an unknowing process of natural selection and is a type of animal, although perhaps a special animal. These people have just as much conviction as I do. I could argue against those views, which really are what G.K. Chesterton called a “dogma of materialism” because proving it would require disproving every claim about a supernatural occurrence that any human has ever claimed. This is, of course, impossible. The dogma of materialism is a matter of faith, however much proponents of evolution and other “scientific” ideas claim overwhelming evidence and vast consensus. It takes faith to fill in the gaps in the evidence. Those who disagree with me are obviously willing to accept these gaps.
On the other hand, we have the oral and written testimony of many people reporting many supernatural things over the centuries. This includes John’s records of many first century miracles. However, John also testifies that a man raised from the dead was not enough to convince the skeptics on the scene. This man, Lazarus, even became the target of death threats, because he was evidence that threatened the well-being of those who made their living off the established religion.
There is more to proof than meets the eye. There is more to life than cold reason. People have reasons for believing what they do and acting how they act, and the Apostle Paul says “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood…” (Ephesians 6:12). Therefore, nothing I can write, do, or say is guaranteed to convince anyone, but I take heart that Chesterton also wrote: “When I fancied that I stood alone I was really in the ridiculous position of being backed up by all of Christendom.”
If you are a Christian – what argument can you make that is better than raising a man from the dead, then following that up by raising yourself from the dead? If Jesus couldn’t convince everyone, the best anyone can do is follow Peter’s advice to “in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.” – 1 Peter 3:15-16
What are the reasons for the hope that is in you?
Driving Toward the Morning Sun 