3 Witnesses

John 5

"...the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me." John 5:36


There is a peculiar secular tradition we have here in Canada that happens every spring. Nearly every year around Easter, Maclean’s magazine produces an article that investigates the legitimacy of Christ. How can we know that He’s really the way to God, heaven and all of that?

It comes as little surprise that Christ faced similar objections among His contemporaries. At this point in His ministry, many among the established Jewish leadership are bent on killing him. As He addresses His critics, Jesus brings to mind three things that bear witness about His authenticity.

1. The testimony of John the baptizer
2. The things He did (largely miracles)
3. The Father Himself

Out of these three, I believe in the eyes of the world, the testimony of the God of the universe is the one we would find to be the least credible. I doubt we’d give much credit to some dude living in the wilderness eating bugs and wearing camel skins either. Yet the miracles, whether we believe them to be real or not, certainly would demand our attention.

As we read through The Bible, it’s important to recognize that the words that John (the gospel writer) speaks to us, were spoken about events that were verifiable OR deniable in his day. John was writing about events that happened in his own lifetime, so there would have been others who had lived through these events who could quickly put down his claims. We have before us, whether we like it or not – The most enduring story and testimony of antiquity.

Now that we are 5 chapters into the book of John, we’ve read as Jesus has turned water into wine, healed a young man who was deathly ill, as well as an invalid. It could be tempting to think that had we been alive in His day and able to see these events for ourselves that it would have been easier to believe in Him than it is now 2,000 years after the fact. It is both sad and refreshing to know that objecting to Christ was just as much the norm then as it is now.

These same three witnesses are at work in the world today giving witness to who Jesus is; The Father Himself, The works of Christ and people like John the baptizer. I don’t eat locusts or wear camel’s hair, but I’m one of the many who are doing what they can to tell others about Jesus, and I’ve come to terms with the reality that my testimony is just as easy to deny in my day, as John’s was in his. Likewise, The Father Himself maintains His word about His Son.

As for His work in the world today, there isn’t space to tell you half of what I’ve seen Him do, although I’ve written a book in an attempt to give it a decent shot. I will concede, His works are harder to locate and recognize, because He’s not walking around earth in a human body. He’s no longer limited by location, but at work throughout the world. Look long enough, and you’ll see, if you really want to see. If you do see, what makes you think you’d believe?