Monday, December 20

Isaiah 11:1-9

Psalms 61, 62 112, and 115

Revelation 20:1-10

John 5:30-47

Bought with a Price

"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 5:30-47)

Jesus didn't just spend His time spreading love, food, and healing across the land He was traveling; rather, He truly tried to help the Jews (God's Chosen) and in particular the Jewish leadership see that everything they had been hoping for was coming to pass, and that they needed to just open their eyes and their minds to see it. John's gospel doesn't spend as much time focused on the miracles of Jesus as he does the teachings of Jesus. In this passage Jesus, speaking to the Jews unhappy because He is healing on the Sabbath, tells them straight up that His own testimony about Himself would be invalid; however, He asks that they consider the testimony of John the Baptist (who apparently had managed to garner the respect of at least some of the Jewish), and even God the Father speaking through the OT prophets that spoke of His coming. Alas, they would not listen.

In a recent sermon, Father Bob talked about Jesus' call on all of us -- clergy and lay alike -- to be willing to offer our own testimony about Jesus. It can be, as he acknowledged, a scary thing. And yet, how many times could an innocent remark or question leave us just enough of an opening to offer words of encouragement, comfort, and strength that we can truly say we have received from our Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the God that loves us all.

This Advent, perhaps it would be a good idea to brush up on what our answer might be…after all, the miracle of the baby Jesus will be here in just five days!

Peace!

Vicki Cravens