The Witness of Works

Lesson #92

In this lesson we will look at the second of four witnesses given in John 5:33 – 47. These four witnesses are the witness of John the Baptist, the witness of works, the witness of the Father, and the witness of Scripture. For the witness of works we will look at John 5:36: “But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works that I do—testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me” (NASB). By this statement, Jesus is claiming that his testimony is greater than that of John because of the works he was doing that substantiated his claim. These works we have covered in previous lessons and include the miracles of creating wine from water, healing the sick and raising the dead.

This verse contains something else we should think about. The Father had work that needed to be done and he chose his Son to go to earth and in a body of flesh and accomplish that work. The work that Jesus is doing points to the work he will do on the cross. Upon each work he does he provides more evidence of who he is and what is to be finally accomplished.

Consider the following verses and see how they relate to what God expects of us. We have been “chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:1 – 2 NASB). We have been chosen to obey, but to obey what? “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8 – 10 NASB). As with Jesus, God has chosen us to do work for him that he has prepared us for. The work Jesus did established the Church and the work we have been assigned to do is to expand the church. As Jesus worked he gave evidence of who he was and as we work give evidence of who we are in Christ. How strong of evidence are we each giving by our work?

Prayer

Father, I am afraid that if the effectiveness of the western church to influence our culture is any indication of how well we are doing as your workers then I don’t think we are doing a very good job. Father, forgive me and encourage me to be a better worker, to better handle the word of God.