Tuesday, August 20, 2013

John 3:33

“The one who receives the testimony about heavenly things—mainly me, can certify on the basis of His first-hand experience that God is truth.” John 3:33 EFP

John, the Baptist, not the apostle, begins to wrap up his personal witness about Jesus to his disciples.  Remember, this response is John’s answer to his followers’ concerns about Jesus baptizing and preaching to the populace just like their teacher had been doing.  They are apparently concerned about the impact this might have on their ministry.

Jesus and John have been sharing ministry on the banks of the Jordan.  The two cousins see powerful manifestations of the Spirit of God working in their midst.  Lives are being changed.  People are turning from their evil ways and making commitments to living honorable lives.  The crest of the wave of John’s ministry is but a foretaste of what will become the history-changing ministry of Jesus, the Anointed One.  The transition has already begun.

John makes a heart-felt statement that sums up his feelings on this topic.  He is privileged enough to have been chosen to receive these truths from the lips of the only one who has first-hand knowledge of these realities.  Jesus can speak of things that the rest of us could never experience without his sharing them with us.  Then he says, “I certify that He is truth.”  He actually says, “God is truth” but the implication is clear—Jesus and God are One Truth.  Jesus’ purpose in coming is to reveal the truth about the Father.  The only way to reveal that truth is to be The Truth in the flesh!  Truth is best spoken using actions, not words.  We are called to carry on the task that Jesus began when he was on earth—to live the truth about God so that the world might believe and be saved!

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