THE MOST POWERFUL TESTIMONY

John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light. I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me. (John 5:35, 36 )

The Jews were persecuting Jesus and seeking to find a way to put him to death. How was he supposed to prove that he was telling the truth? Who will testify for Jesus? Who will speak up to bear witness that he is who he says he is? No man could testify for himself and expect to be believed. There had to be witnesses.

So Jesus pointed to John the Baptist. The Jews already had his testimony. They had sent messengers to him to get that testimony and he had given it. John was a light in the darkness and for a little while the people had flocked to him to enjoy the spiritual light he brought.

But that wasn’t the greatest testimony to Jesus’ words. The greatest testimony to the claims of Jesus was the work he did. The Father in heaven had given him a mission and Jesus was working to complete that mission. His actions spoke for themselves. Those who had ears to hear and eyes to see would recognize that he was the Christ, the Son of God. But the Jews did not have the ability to hear or see. Jesus went on to say, You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life. (John 5:37-40)

This made me think about the mission I/we have been given. We want to be missional. We want to be about the work of the kingdom. We want to complete the work that the body of Christ has been given. So what are we to do?

We live in a world of darkness. But Jesus said we are to be light. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:14, 16). We are to bear the same kind of light in our society as John bore in his. The light we bear is shown in our deeds, in the things we do. Jesus said that the greatest testimony to the truth of his claims was the work he was doing, the work the Father had given him. His deeds proved his truth. Likewise, our actions speak louder than our words!

What is it that we are doing? What kind of light is shining from our lives and from our churches? Are we acting and speaking in the love of Jesus? Are we pursuing love and unity in the body of Christ? The church of Christ is one. Our creed states, I believe a holy, catholic church. ONE holy, catholic church! Is our light clear and bright? Or is it dimmed by separatistic pride? Is it clouded by an attitude that we are right and they are wrong?

What is our testimony? What do our works say to the world? Will they know we are Christians by our love? Will they know that the claims of Jesus are true because our unity shouts it out? Or will we continue to keep things the way they have been, at least as long as I can remember?