Knowing God - John 5:32

(from Pastor)

Jesus said, "There is another

who testifies on my behalf ..."

John 5:32

 

Imagine that you were a first century person, trying to figure out if Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. In this passage, Jesus points to three powerful witnesses to his identity.

 

The first is John the Baptist. "35 He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light." People believed John, and John pointed to Jesus. Therefore, why not believe in Jesus?

 

The second is Jesus' "works" -- the healings and the miracles. Jesus confirmed his identity to John the Baptist -- and to us -- saying, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news brought to them." 

Jesus said,  "36 the very works that I am doing, testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me."

 

The third is the scriptures themselves. Why did John and others believe that Jesus was the Messiah? Because the works of Jesus confirmed the prophecies about the Messiah.

"39 You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf."

 

I'm tempted to ask "which 'proof' finally convicted you?" But ultimately faith is not about logic and proofs. Faith is about the person who was saying these things. Indeed faith is about a relationship with this person -- the living Lord, Jesus Christ.

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy

(which means problem-solving and proofs

comes easier than relationships

which means I have to work at faith)

 

--------------------------------------

Relationship. Faith. Trust. It all goes together doesn't it? Faith is ultimately about a relationship with Christ which means that ultimately I have to trust him with ... everything ... I'd much rather find a logical answer to this, but doubt I will.  

Life is about relationship. It all hinges on our relationship with Christ though.  We love him. obey him. follow him. Then relationships with other humans will be stronger. deeper. more loving. And maybe the illogical will start to be logical. Problems will be solved and we won't desire to see the proof anymore.