Becky Crenshaw

Day 11:  Witnesses to Jesus 

Jesus says, “If I were to testify on my own behalf, my testimony would not be valid.  But someone else is also testifying about me, and I assure you that everything he says about me is true.  In fact, you sent investigators to listen to John the Baptist, and his testimony about me was true.  Of course, I have no need of human witnesses, but I say these things so you might be saved.  John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were excited for a while about his message. But I have a greater witness than John—my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me. And the Father who sent me has testified about me himself. You have never heard his voice or seen him face to face, and you do not have his message in your hearts, because you do not believe me—the one he sent to you.

“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!  Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.

 “Your approval means nothing to me,  because I know you don’t have God’s love within you. For I have come to you in my Father’s name, and you have rejected me. Yet if others come in their own name, you gladly welcome them.  No wonder you can’t believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don’t care about the honor that comes from the one who alone is God.

“Yet it isn’t I who will accuse you before the Father. Moses will accuse you! Yes, Moses, in whom you put your hopes.  If you really believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. 47 But since you don’t believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?”

Devotional:  Remember, Jesus is refuting the Jews here.  After Jesus healed the crippled man near the pool, the Jews got their panties in a wad because He healed on the Sabbath.  And boy, does Jesus ever call them out in this passage.  Actually, I read it as calling out our entire culture.  Aren’t we so fascinated with people?  I mean, we have a magazine called just that, PEOPLE.  We watch reality shows about PEOPLE. Social media is created to follow PEOPLE.  And when it comes to the things of God, we are quick to follow PEOPLE before we are quick to follow GOD.  Jesus says, If others come in their own name, you gladly welcome them.  Gosh, so true.  Think of the big names floating around Christianity right now.  Some teachers are so legit.  Yet other teachers are proclaiming a painfully watered-down version of the Gospel.  It drives me nuts.  Yet our culture is fascinated by them.  Some teaching is candy-coated with a side helping of easy.   So people follow.

Let me blow some wind in your sails today, sweet reader.  YOU ARE READING SCRIPTURE.  And Jesus says above all… Scripture points to Him.  From Genesis 1.  When you read the words above, when you read John With Georgia, you are reading the very words of God.  Way to go, friend.  And these words, GOD’S WORDS, brings life. Healing. Insight. Direction.

You don’t need Oprah.  Or Joel.  And Lord knows you don’t need me.  You need only Jesus.  His Word speaks on its own.  So take a deep breath and be proud of yourself.  Your reading His Word honors Him.  And draws you nearer to the ONE TRUE VOICE of this cluttered world.  Jesus.  Let it be Him we follow.

Day 11 – John 5: 31-47

Day 12 – John 6:1-21

Day 13 – John 6: 22 – 59

Day 14 – John 6: 60 – 71

Day 15 – John 7: 1-24