Evidences
Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29) More than 500 people had the same opportunity as Thomas (1 Corinthians 15:6). After Jesus returned to heaven, earth-bound people ceased having that option. Generating that essential faith today requires being “above the cares of this life” [blessed]. Like in the parable of the sower (Matthew 13), evil intentions, lack of depth, or the disasters of life distract many. To overcome, we need to know that physical life is not all there is.
“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 wrote his gospel to provide evidence that Jesus is who He says He is, and that those who base their decision-making on that evidence can expect to be transformed into His image (His name: His essential quality).
“It seemed good to me [Luke] also, having accurately followed all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, what you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.” (Luke 1:3 – 4) Luke wrote his gospel so that future believers would have an accurate account of all that Jesus said and did on earth. Christianity is the only religion based on evidence, without fables or myths or unsubstantiated assertions.
In addition to the four gospels being the factual basis for faith, those descriptions of how Jesus demonstrated a mastery of life on earth provide us with a template for how godly character plays out in a broken world. All that can and will go wrong in earthly life can be overcome by adopting His character. Fortunately, achieving that transformation does not need to be accomplished by superior self-control, but has been promised to be manifested in the faithful through the work of the indwelling Spirit.
Thomas Theology Hub 