Believe and Have Life
- Easter Bible Verse for Kids
But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John 20:31 is one of the most special verses in the entire Bible because it tells us exactly why the Easter story was written down. The apostle John - who walked with Jesus, watched Him die, and saw the empty tomb with his own eyes - chose to write everything down with one clear purpose. He wanted you to read it. He wanted you to believe. And he wanted you to have life.
This verse sits at the very end of John's Gospel, just after the resurrection accounts, like a personal letter from the author to every reader who would ever open its pages. For children, John 20:31 is one of the most important Easter scriptures for kids because it makes the entire Easter story deeply personal. The Gospel was not written as history to admire from a distance - it was written so that you, reading it right now, would believe and receive life in Jesus's name.
John 20:31 for kids in one sentence: John wrote the entire Easter story down - every miracle, every detail of the cross and empty tomb - specifically so that you would believe Jesus is the Son of God and receive eternal life by trusting in His name.
John 20:31 has four powerful ideas that every child can understand and hold onto. Here is each one explained simply and clearly:
These Are Written
John wrote the Easter story down on purpose - for you. Every detail he recorded was chosen carefully so that readers everywhere would have the evidence they need to believe. You are holding the reason it was written.
That You May Believe
The whole point is belief. Not just knowing facts about Jesus, but truly trusting Him with your heart. Easter gives us every reason to believe - the miracles, the cross, the empty tomb, the risen Jesus seen by hundreds of people.
Jesus Is the Son of God
This is what we are believing - that Jesus is not just a good teacher or a kind man. He is the Messiah, the Son of God. Easter proved it beyond all doubt when He rose from the dead and death could not hold Him.
Have Life in His Name
Belief leads directly to life - real, eternal, never-ending life. Not just life after death but a richer, fuller, more meaningful life right now. All of it comes through the name of Jesus - the most powerful name in the universe.
💡 Kid-friendly summary: John wrote the whole Easter story for YOU - so you would read it and believe that Jesus is truly the Son of God. And the moment you believe, something incredible happens - you receive life in Jesus's name. Life that is fuller now and goes on with God forever. That is why the Easter story was written. That is why it matters for every child who reads it.
Here is a careful phrase-by-phrase breakdown of this important Easter Bible verse for kids:
| Part of the Verse | What It Means for Kids |
|---|---|
| "But these are written" | John is explaining why he wrote his Gospel. Everything in it - every miracle, every word of Jesus, every detail of Easter - was recorded deliberately for a specific purpose. |
| "that you may believe" | The goal is belief. John wrote so that readers would move from not knowing to fully trusting - that they would believe with their whole heart, not just their head. |
| "that Jesus is the Messiah" | Messiah means the promised one - the one God had been promising to send for thousands of years. Jesus is the one the whole Old Testament pointed toward. Easter is the proof. |
| "the Son of God" | Jesus is not just human - He is God's own Son. This is the most extraordinary claim in history. The resurrection is God's confirmation that it is completely true. |
| "and that by believing" | Belief is the key. Not works, not being perfect - simply trusting Jesus. It is the simplest and most powerful act any child can make. |
| "you may have life in his name" | Life - real, eternal, abundant life - comes through the name of Jesus. Not rules, not rituals. Just Jesus. His name is the key that opens the door to everything Easter promises. |
One of the most remarkable things about John 20:31 is what it reveals about the Gospel writer's heart. John was there. He walked with Jesus for three years. He was at the cross when Jesus died. He ran to the empty tomb on Easter morning. He saw the risen Jesus with his own eyes. He had everything he needed to believe without writing a single word down.
But he wrote it anyway - for you. For every child who would never walk those roads in Galilee. For every person who would never stand at the empty tomb themselves. John recorded the Easter story so that people across every generation would have the same opportunity he had - to encounter Jesus through the written word and believe. That means when a child reads the Easter story today, they are reading something written personally for them, with the specific hope that they would believe and receive life. That is how much John - and God - cares about every reader.
🌸 Easter connection: The empty tomb, the risen Jesus, the appearances to hundreds of people - John wrote all of it so you would believe. John 20:31 is the purpose statement of the whole Easter Gospel. Everything points toward one simple, life-changing invitation - believe, and have life.
Here are five creative activities to help children understand what it means to believe and have life in Jesus's name:
Written for You Letter Activity ✉️
Help each child write a short letter that begins "Dear [child's name], I am writing this so you will believe..." Then read John 20:31 together and explain - this is exactly what John did. He wrote the Easter story as a personal letter to every reader. Children who understand the Gospel was written for them personally connect with it in a completely different way.
Evidence Board Activity 🔍
Create an "Easter Evidence Board" with sticky notes. On each note, write one piece of evidence from the Easter story - the empty tomb, Jesus appearing to Mary, appearing to the disciples, appearing to 500 people. Arrange them all on a board and ask - what does all this evidence point to? Lead children to the conclusion John reached in John 20:31.
What Does Believe Mean Game 💛
Sit in a circle. Hold up a chair and ask - do you believe this chair will hold you? Now sit on it. Explain - that is belief. Not just thinking something is true but actually trusting it and acting on it. Then apply it to Jesus - believing in Jesus means trusting Him so completely that you actually live your life differently because of it.
I Believe Declaration Card 📜
Give each child a card and help them write their own declaration of belief based on John 20:31: "I believe Jesus is the Son of God. I believe He rose from the dead at Easter. And I receive life in His name." Decorate with Easter colours, sign their name, and keep it as a personal Easter keepsake that can be returned to whenever doubt comes.
Life in His Name Acrostic 🎨
Write the letters of JESUS vertically on a page. For each letter, help children think of a word or phrase that describes what life in Jesus's name looks like - J for Joy, E for Eternal life, S for Saved, U for Understood by God, S for Safe forever. This turns John 20:31's promise into something children can see, say, and remember.
🧠 How to Help Kids Memorize John 20:31
Focus on the heart of the verse - the two key actions and their result:
Action 1: "These are written" - mime opening a book
Action 2: "that you may believe" - point directly at the child (YOU)
Result: "and have life in his name" - spread both arms wide open
Then add the middle: "that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God." Practice the actions first for two days - open book, point at child, arms wide. On day three, add the full words. The pointing gesture is the most powerful part - it makes the verse personal and helps children feel that John literally wrote Easter down for them.
A Simple Prayer Based on John 20:31
"Dear God, thank You that John wrote the Easter story down for me. Thank You that I get to read about Jesus - His miracles, His death, His resurrection - and believe. I do believe. I believe Jesus is Your Son. I believe He rose from the dead. And I receive the life that comes in His name - life that is fuller now and goes on with You forever. Thank You for writing it all down just for me. Amen."
Loved this verse? Here are more Easter scriptures for children from our full collection:
