John 20:26-31

Questions

What is the point of this verse here? Is Jesus making a point to Thomas here? or making the point for those who come after who will hear these words? If Jesus' point is to Thomas, why is he telling them that those who don't see and yet believe are blessed? Is this meant as a criticism of Thomas for not previously believing? (It would seem not since Jesus starts by telling him he is blessed.)

Does "these" in "these are written" refer just to the previous verses or to the entire book?
How does this section or the book help our belief?
If the purpose of this book is to help us know that Jesus is the Anointed One (the meaning of the word "Christ") how does that differ from the purpose of other books which record history? If we think of the book as, in essence, a testimony of Jesus versus a history of Jesus, does this change how we should read it? Or how we shouldn't read it?

In context it is clear that "these" refers to the seven miracles that John has just told about.

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