36 "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. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent.
Even the Jewish leaders of the day realized Jesus’ miracles had to have had their origin in God. Jesus’ work clearly manifested that God was with Him and working through Him. We find earlier in John, Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council, speaking the following words to Jesus which confirm this Truth:
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." John 3:1-2 (NIV)
When the Jews were about to stone Jesus – accusing Him of blasphemy - He spoke these words regarding the miracles He had performed:
Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'? 37 Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. 38 But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father." John 10:36-38 (NIV)
It is interesting to me that the testimony of works appears weightier than words in our verses for today. John’s words testified to the Jewish nation that Jesus was the Christ. Jesus’ actions, through His miracles, validated John’s testimony. This is not too surprising as words can be cheap unless validated by action. This was true in Biblical times and it is certainly true in our day and age as well. We can become disillusioned by all the claims of “truth” we hear yet very rarely have validated by action. It is quite easy to become jaded. Just a moment’s thought regarding all the products sold under the claim “Restores Youthful Appearance” should have us all agreeing. It is not too surprising that God desires for all of His children to validate their words with works. This was the meaning of the Baptist’s words when he exclaimed to the Pharisees:
8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. Matt 3:8-10 (NIV)
As Christ is the Vine, we must first be planted in Him – drawing strength and nourishment from Him through faith. Apart from Christ, we can do nothing of eternal value- we are destitute of sufficient strength and will always come up wanting. Jesus tells us in John:
3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:3-5 (NIV)
“It is not a question of our equipment but of our poverty, not of what we bring with us, but of what God puts into us.” Oswald Chambers
Do our works testify that we belong to Jesus? Or perhaps stated another way, if we were arrested for being a Christian would there be enough evidence to convict us? Are we filled with words yet live a life lacking the validity of them? While we are perhaps not all called to the works of Peter or Paul or John, we are all called to the works that God has prepared in advance for us to do. We are told by Paul in Ephesians:
10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph 2:10 (NIV)
His purpose for us is that we may walk in these prepared in advanced works. God has prepared this path of good works – a path for which He has both appointed and empowered us - as we walk by faith. This life will reflect Jesus to others and is an ongoing testimony of His faithfulness to His followers. It is a life that points to Jesus, the source of the power, not to the vessel which carries the power.
"God does not honor men and women and their deeds or their books or their organizations. The Father in heaven delights to honor His Son. It is only the Life of the Lord Jesus - His activity, clothed with you and displayed through you - that ultimately will find the approval of God." Major Ian Thomas
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Eph 3:20-21 (NIV)