John 19:35 “And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe.”
It is stunning to pause and recognize that we are reading the words of an eye witness to Jesus’ death. His testimony corresponds to the original. It is what
God saw, said, and did. It is the truth. Unfortunately, many today have no understanding of truth. They think it is whatever they want it to be. “It’s my truth,” they might say. John knew his account faithfully explained what is true, namely, that Jesus was the Word of God incarnate, Immanuel, who came to die as our substitute. He came to remove sins from all those who believe. As Ps. 103:12 promised, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” He suffered and died that He might bring all who believe to God.
There are many false witnesses today declaring that these things are not true. They assert that God crucifying His Son on the cross is cosmic child abuse and “their” God would never do that. They say Jesus died because He spoke truth to power. They do not believe atonement for sin was necessary because they do not believe in the original sin, but rather think man’s problem is shame that we can simply deny and cast off so we can become our true selves and be what we were meant to be. Furthermore, they think man has now progressed to have a better understanding of God and Jesus than John and those men who walked with Him.
Whose testimony shall we believe? Shall we believe the babbling of fools who were not there over an eye witness’s account? It would be foolish to do so. Don’t miss this. Those who believe John’s testimony and the testimony of the other eye witnesses, love Jesus and love with Him. It is the fruit of their lives. Those who do not believe, love themselves as God and cannot love others. If you believe in God, believe also in Jesus. He is the one and only God who has defined love by His death and resurrection life. Who do you believe?
Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com
