Christ’s Witnesses Part Two: His Work

“But the testimony which I have is far greater than the testimony ofJohn; for the works that the Father has given Me to finish—the very same works [that is, the miracles and proofs of My deity] that I am [now] doing—testify about Me, [by providing evidence] that the Father has sent Me.” (John 5:36, AMP)

In John 5, Jesus is calling attention to several sources that bear witness to His Godship. Standing in front of the Pharisees, Jesus appeals to several references that the Pharisees should affirm, either because of their position in Jewish leadership or because of their educated backgrounds. 

The first witness Jesus uses is John the Baptist. He reminds them that John declared that Jesus was the Messiah the world had been waiting for, the Promised Savior God ordained for us to put our faith in. John was like a light on a lampstand. He proclaimed the coming Christ for the whole of his life. Jesus reminds the Pharisees that they embraced John’s testimony that the Messiah had almost arrived because they were expecting God to send Jesus in a different way. 

The second witness Jesus calls upon is the work Jesus was doing. This testimony was far greater than the witness of John, because it was happening in real time. If John was an eye-witness the works– the healings, miracles, and deliverances– should have spoken for themselves. Only God could have the power to do such things.

This passage comes on the heels of Jesus healing a man that was lame for 38 years. Anyone who had ever met him, seen him, or encountered him would have known of his disability. It wasn’t just that the man got up and walked away. If he was lame for 38 years, his legs would have atrophied. For this man to not only get up, but to have enough strength to pick up his pallet and carry it out of Bethesda, this healing would have been whole and complete. His muscles would have been restored to a degree where he could pick up a burden and walk out with it. 

But of course, Christ worked wonders on more than just this man. He healed a child on his deathbed from a great distance. He delivered people who were demon-possessed for decades, ravaged and tortured. He calmed seas, multiplied meals, and transformed water to wine. None of these things could be accomplished by an ordinary man or a self-proclaimed prophet. 

But the works were not for the sake of fame or admiration. The works were done to affirm Jesus’ deity and to bring glory to God the Father. They were done to reveal the sin of the people and to point to their deeper need for salvation and grace. Jesus almost always used physical healing as a way to call attention to the deeper concern: the broken and disabled state of our souls. More than any bodily ailment, we need the Lord to transform our wills and forgive our sins.

In this way, the works of Christ themselves are a valuable witness– even more compelling than the word of John the Baptist. Even though the works were not a physical, embodied witness, they testified to Christ’s power all the same.

Likewise, for us as Christians, we should be living out our faith in word as well as deed. The nature of our works might not be the same– we may not have the power of Christ to raise the dead, stop severe weather, or cause a miraculous healing– but our works have the same ability to point to God that Jesus’ did. Our works might be more ordinary: praying for someone in the grocery store, volunteering at our local food pantry, or discipling our families to follow Jesus. All these things have the ability to point others to Christ, who by His Holy Spirit, shines His light on our sin, convicts us to turn away from it, and to put on His righteousness. 

The work we do in Christ’s name is not what saves us; Christ already did that once and for all. Instead, our work is the result of understanding God’s grace to us in forgiving our sins. It is the evidence of our having been changed by faith. They are the fruit that proves that we walk closely with the Lord.

Our works are the witnesses we can point to in order to show that we belong to Jesus. We are His chosen people. We are sent by Him to be a light to those in the dark, pointing them down the path to saving grace.

So today, let’s reflect: Can we see the fruit of a life lived in close proximity to our God? Can others see that fruit, too? Is the evidence of our submission to His will and our working towards His kingdom apparent and easily pointed to? 

If so, that’s great! Continue in that for God’s glory. Look for even more ways you can serve Him and His people, lovingly speaking to their needy soul and meeting their physical needs. If you don’t see evidence of His fruit in your life, it’s not too late to change that. Ask God to show you ways in which you can minister to those lost in darkness to honor Him. 

The things we do in the name of the Lord will never save us, but they will make for a valuable witness of who we live for.