February 8, 2021 -- John 21:24 -- Jesus is proved true

This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

John 21:24 English Standard Version

Odd snippet of text to have as the focus of this day, isn’t it? The disciple John overhead the exchanges between Simon Peter and Jesus. How Jesus restored Simon Peter and gave him the honourable task “feed my lambs, feed my sheep”. Then Jesus foretold of Simon Peter’s martyrdom—indeed, as he’d previously vowed to be faithful to Jesus no-matter-what, and failed—now Jesus told Peter he would be martyred. As the reader follows in Acts, Simon Peter he would be empowered by the Spirit of God and prayed for by Jesus so he could stand with Jesus in the days of his witnessing, testing and martyrdom.

The disciple Jesus loved, John, heard all these things and now bears witness to them. It was by the design of the Spirit that John should hear these things and preserve them. John’s witness shows to believers how Jesus takes sinful men and women and restores them. Jesus, by His Spirit, empowers those who repeatedly fail and by His redeeming sacrifice and His intercessory work (that is, Jesus’ faithful prayers for His people at the Father’s right hand) Jesus preserves those who in their own strength can never follow Him.

John’s testimony is true—because it is Spirit led. John’s testimony is true, the Bible bears it witness to it, Peter becomes a faithful witness to Jesus Christ despite persecution and imprisonment. He still stumbles, at times significantly. He still has to grow in his faith and re-learn some of the basics, but he becomes an early leader in the New Testament Church—faithful to Jesus Christ. John’s testimony is true, just as Jesus worked in Peter’s life, Jesus takes you and He works His salvation into every part of your life so that your boast is ever, always, and only Jesus Christ. He is your glory; He is the lifter of head so that His salvation is proved to be a work of your Father’s electing love. Jesus is true, He is your salvation and this is so because His Spirit will not let you go nor stumble beyond the grip of Jesus’ saving grace. This is John’s true testimony. Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Today’s prayer is the soaring Psalm 113:

Praise the Lord!
Praise, O servants of the Lord,
    praise the name of the Lord!

2 Blessed be the name of the Lord
    from this time forth and forevermore!
3 From the rising of the sun to its setting,
    the name of the Lord is to be praised!

4 The Lord is high above all nations,
    and his glory above the heavens!
5 Who is like the Lord our God,
    who is seated on high,
6 who looks far down
    on the heavens and the earth?
7 He raises the poor from the dust
    and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
8 to make them sit with princes,
    with the princes of his people.
9 He gives the barren woman a home,
    making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the Lord

Psalm 113 Biblegateway

https://youtu.be/3GH0aLQwhRY