“Thank You, Lord Jesus, that we can stand before any audience and we can speak with confidence because You are Messiah. You are the rock and You do not change. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen”
Acts 2:22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know—
Peter and the other disciples stood on the rock of Jesus. This is the principle that we must embrace in our lives as we witness, Christ, to any audience. We stand on the unshakeable rock of Jesus.
Jesus was attested by God by miracles, wonders, and signs.
John the Baptist, was held in high esteem by the people for he was not afraid to confront the religious leaders and he exposed their hypocrisy.
John’s stand against Herod was also a matter that caused the entire Jewish populace to regard John very highly.
This is the testimony of John the Baptist regarding Jesus.
John 1:29-34 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (30) This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ (31) I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.” (32) And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. (33) I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ (34) And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”
John’s testimony of Jesus was very clear. This is the basis of our witness, for we know that we stand on solid ground.
Though John the Baptist made such a strong and explicit statement about Jesus, he was himself doubtful, when he was in prison.
Matthew 11:2-6 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples (3) and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” (4) Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: (5) The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. (6) And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
The Lord is assuring John, that he need not have any doubts concerning Him. He was the Messiah and He was bringing Salvation to people. Salvation, we must keep in mind, is comprehensive. These were the works that Jesus did. His works testified of Him that He was the Son of God.
John 5:36 But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.
His works bore witness of Him that He was sent by God. His works testify that He is the Messiah.
Nicodemus was a man, held in high esteem, by the other religious leaders.
John 3:1-2 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. (2) This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
Nicodemus did not confess that Jesus was the Messiah but he acknowledged that the works that Jesus did were done because God was with Him. This was a strong position from which the other religious leaders could have sincerely sought to know if Jesus was the Messiah.
Sadly, they were determined not to surrender their lives to Christ.
John 11:47-48 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. (48) If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.”
Their personal agenda prevented them from surrendering themselves to the Messiah.
John 14:10-11 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. (11) Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.
The works that Jesus did was an affirmation that He was the One sent by God. This is the basis of our witness of who Jesus is.
John 15:23-24 He who hates Me hates My Father also. (24) *If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father.
The works that Jesus did were so critical for His identity. People have no excuse, for the works of Jesus, affirm that He was the Messiah. When people reject Jesus, they are also rejecting the God of heaven and earth, who has sent Jesus to be the Mediator for mankind and creation, to be reconciled with God.