“In my case, I bear witness to myself—that’s one; and my Father, who sent be to begin with, He bears witness as well—that’s two.” John 8:18 EFP
I wonder at times how I would have reacted to these words of Jesus if He spoke them to me as part of a crowd of listeners living now—the twenty-first century. For one, this is a man who is asking me to accept, for all intents and purposes, his self-authenticating claim. Yes, he also uses His heavenly father as a second witness, but I have never spoken to him, at least not in dialogue. This is a leap of faith.
On the other hand, he has just performed quite a miraculous thing the previous day. But how would that event play out to my contemporaries? Smoke and mirrors? A little slight of hands? The people Jesus speaks to that day must have wrestled with the same things I must wrestle with today. I have evidence, but not so much as to eliminate a step of faith. I must believe his works, including his miracles are a result of a power outside my realm, and secondly, I must accept what he says about his direct connection to the Almighty! I must still decide today, as did those people in Palestine, if I am to take him at his word.
It sounds other-worldly. Perhaps that is because it is! Is it not the Apostle Paul who says, “The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14) Sobering, but once again, self-authenticating. That explains why the Scriptures say, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
I wonder at times how I would have reacted to these words of Jesus if He spoke them to me as part of a crowd of listeners living now—the twenty-first century. For one, this is a man who is asking me to accept, for all intents and purposes, his self-authenticating claim. Yes, he also uses His heavenly father as a second witness, but I have never spoken to him, at least not in dialogue. This is a leap of faith.
On the other hand, he has just performed quite a miraculous thing the previous day. But how would that event play out to my contemporaries? Smoke and mirrors? A little slight of hands? The people Jesus speaks to that day must have wrestled with the same things I must wrestle with today. I have evidence, but not so much as to eliminate a step of faith. I must believe his works, including his miracles are a result of a power outside my realm, and secondly, I must accept what he says about his direct connection to the Almighty! I must still decide today, as did those people in Palestine, if I am to take him at his word.
It sounds other-worldly. Perhaps that is because it is! Is it not the Apostle Paul who says, “The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14) Sobering, but once again, self-authenticating. That explains why the Scriptures say, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
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