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T H E K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S
“ M a n y g ood wo rk s have fr o m m y Fathe r) for which d o y e st on e m e ? ” and gave the glory for His works to the F ath e r (14 :10 )
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leaders rejected Jo h n ’s testimony and put him to death, yet g reat multitudes of the people went out to hear Him (Matt. 3:5, 6). John was a shining light— a candle to show the way to Christ. (John 1:15-34). He was a shining light, but not th e L ight for Jesus Himself is the L ight of the world. (Phil. 2:15, 16.) “ T h a t y e may b e bl ameless John saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon Jesus, and he was, therefore, a tru e witness. If our eyes are fixed upon Him and we have the personal experience which every believer is entitled to have and should have, we can also be light-bearers to the sin-burdened people all around us. (2) THE WITNESS OF HIS OWN WORKS, v. 36 “The same words . . . b e a r w i t n e s s . . A th a t t h e F ath e r h ath sent Me.” John was a good witness, but our Lord was a better witness. He witnessed by His works. The Pharisees are gab bling over the healing on the Sabbath Day and th e impotent man w ith th e two good limbs was an unimpeachable testi mony to His power. Jo h n ’s words would have been powerless had they not been given him by the Spirit of God.
a n d h a r m “ B el te ve st th ou not that 1 a m I Fath er, a n d th e F at he r I n m e ? T h t ha t I speak un to you I spea k not s e l f ) h u t th e F at he r t ha t dwe lle th h e d oet h the works.” His works were the proof th a t the F ath er had sent Him (3 :35 ) “ T h e Fa ther lo v e th - t h e S o n a n d g iv e n all t hi nk s I n t o h is h a n d .” His words and His works were in perfect harmony. They were sup er n atu ra l and gave an unquestioned proof of His sonsh p and of His power. (3) THE WITNESS OF THE FA THER, vs. .37, 38 “My F ath e r . . . hath born w itness of me.” God, th e F ather, opened the heavens and sent the angelic voice to announce His birth. He sent a sta r to guide the wise men to the feet of the child. He sent an angel to warn Joseph to take the young child and His mother and flee into Egypt (Matt. 2 :1 3 ). He sent John the Baptist to introduce Jesus as the Lamb of God (John 1:29) “ T h e ne x t d a y J o h n seet li Je sus u nt o h im , a n d sa it h, B eh o ld th e L G o d , which ta k e t h aw ay th e sin w o rl d .” The same John testified th a t'H e saw the. Holy Spirit descending like a dove upon H im (1:32, 33). The fath er spoke and announced Jesus as His Son (Luke 3:22) “ A n d th e H ol y G h o s t d e s c e n d e d bod il y sh a p e li k e a d ov e u p o n h im voice c a m e f r o m h e a v e 'h wh ich s a i art m y b elo ved S o n ) in thee I a p lea sed .” The F ath e r spoke from the cloud at the transfiguration and commanded the disciples to hear Him: (Luke 9:35) “ A n d ther e c a m e . a voic e o u t c l o u d , sa yin g, Th is I s m y b el o v e h e a r h im . ” Again the F ath e r spoke from Heaven (th e th ird tim e) as Jesus prayed, and assured Him th a t through Him He would glorify His name. (John 12:27, 28) “ N o w is m y so ul tr o u b le d ) a n d shall I . sa y? Fa ther, save m e fr o h o u r ) b u t fo r t h is cau se c a m e I u h o u r .
le ss, th e sons of G o d , wi th o ut reb u k e, in th e mid st of a c ro ok ed a n d p er ve rse n a tion , amon g w h om y e shine a s l i g h t s in the w o r l d . T H o l d i n g : forth the w o rd o f l i f e ; t h a t I may rej oi ce in th e d ay o f C h r i s t t h a t I ha ve n o t r u n in vai n , n either la b o r e d i n va in .” . .
Jesu s’ works were the m anifestation of Himself— of His Deity. In th e heal ing of the blind man He testified con cerning His words (9 :3 ) “ Je su s an sw e r e d, , N ei th er ha th t h is m a n s in ned , n o r his p ar en ts) h u t t h a t the wor ks ot G o d s h o u l d b e m a d e ma nifest I n h im . ” and again He testified to the Jews (10: 25) • “ Jesus an sw ere d th e m , I told you a n d y e believed no t) th e works t ha t I d o I n m y F at he r’ s n am e th ey b ea r w it n e s s of m e .” And when the Jews /threatened to stone Him, He said (10 :32 )
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