January 5, 2021 -- John 19:35 -- Testify!
/He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe.
John 19:35 English Standard Version
Have you noticed that many commercials are mini stories? You watch the story, get drawn in and ultimately there is an emotional tug on your heart when you see that product. You laugh at the idea. But I can quote “I’d like to teach the world to sing” (and how many of you thought of a cola commercial, from the 1970’s?!). Or, if I quote “taste the rainbow” how many of you think of a candy commercial with the very surreal story lines?
John, the writer of this Gospel, is telling you, the reader, the story of Jesus. How Jesus fulfils the Old Testament prophecies. How Jesus is the very radiance of God walking among the people—because the full, radiant, glory of God, should it not have been veiled in flesh, would have completely obliterated all who looked on Him. So the most important question of your life is this: How do you respond to the story of Jesus? Do you believe in Him? Or, do you despite all the evidence of Scripture, the testimony of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, and the witness of His followers through the ages, reject Him to your eternal peril?
John the Gospel writer knows he is telling the truth about Jesus. Jesus is more than a jingo, more than a salesman, He is the Son of God sent to seek and save those who are lost. Those who find Him and realize they have been found by Him, rejoice in Him. Delight in Him and His word.
Our prayer today is Psalm 73:25-28:
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength[b] of my heart and my portion forever.
27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;
you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
28 But for me it is good to be near God;
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
that I may tell of all your works.
ESV
https://youtu.be/Qx9-0v9m2Sg
