Day 35 – Infallible Witnesses

The apostle John declares that “Jesus is the Son of God” (1 John 5:5). How do we know for sure?

Describing Jesus as a deceiver (“that deceiver”) or as deluded (“out of his mind”) are not new (Matthew 27:63; Mark 3:21).

John wants us to know that three infallible witnesses prove that Jesus is God.

“This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement” (1 John 5:6-8).

First witness – the water. When Jesus was baptized in water, God the Father spoke from heaven: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). The Holy Spirit also descended upon him. This was God’s attestation of Jesus’ deity at the beginning of his ministry.

Second witness – the blood. When Jesus was about to be crucified, God the Father spoke from heaven again: “I have glorified it [my name], and will glorify it again” (John 12:28). When Jesus died on the cross, God displayed his power through the supernatural darkness, the earthquake, and the tearing of the temple curtain. This was God’s attestation of Jesus’ deity at the end of his ministry. No wonder the centurion cried out, “Surely he was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:45, 50-54).

Third witness – the Spirit. The Holy Spirit always points us to Christ and we can trust his witness because “the Spirit is the truth.” You and I weren’t present at Jesus’ baptism or death, but the Holy Spirit was present, and he tells us the truth about Jesus.

For a matter to be established, the Old Testament Law required the testimony of two or three witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15). The Father testified at Jesus’ baptism and at the cross, and the Holy Spirit testifies within us as believers today. All three witnesses agree: Jesus is God.

Jesus Christ is exactly who he says he is.

C.S. Lewis well-stated: “You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us.”

Action Step: Declare Jesus as your Lord! Celebrate his deity! Worship him as God!

This is God’s Word for you today,
Pastor Dave