(Jesus speaking) “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life. I do not accept glory from human beings, but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”

If someone were to approach you and say, “My friend, Joe, here, he is a great baseball player” — would you believe them? Maybe. You might look at me and see if I “look the part”, (I really don’t). You might ask me a few questions about my background, my experience, and who my coaches were. Now if Ken Griffey Jr. came up to you (one of the highest vote-getters of all time entering the Baseball Hall of Fame) and said this, it would carry more weight. Furthermore, if you saw me making the same kind of plays Ken Griffey Jr. did (I know this is hard to believe, but I really can’t) and hitting the baseball with the same authority, etc., then it would likely clinch this fact for you. You would be a believer.

Jesus is now going in for the kill (so to speak) with the Pharisees. He has already presented evidence of his authority and position, that he was sent by God and is the Messiah. He did this with testimony from John. Now he presents three more evidences: 1) God testified about him, 2) Moses testified about him, and 3) The work he is doing is God’s work.

How did God testify about him? He spoke out loud when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. “You are my Son whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22)

How did Moses prophesy about Jesus? Let’s look at Deuteronomy 18:15-19: “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. For this is what you asked of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, ‘Let us not hear the voice of the Lord our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die.’ The Lord said to me: ‘What they say is good. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name.’”

This is likely the passage Jesus was referring to. Moses is also a representative of the prophets and the priests who prophesied about Jesus’ coming — all throughout the Old Testament.

And finally, we have his work. Jesus did incredible miracles — ones no one had ever seen before. Changing water into aged wine. Healing a man lame from birth, by just commanding him to stand up. Healing a child on their death bed with a word spoken at a huge distance. This work demonstrates the fact that he is ALIGNED WITH GOD — he is on God’s team. In fact, it demonstrates he is God. If he was not God, as he claimed to be, God would not have given him the power to act like himself.

This brings us to a point of application … what evidence is there that I am FROM God and ALIGNED WITH God? Are their people who serve alongside me that can testify to this? God does give me power to love, serve, and heal while I am doing his work. Are there ways I have followed God that blow people’s minds?
This is the model that Jesus gave to us. It is the model we are privileged to follow. Let’s join together and transform this broken world one soul at a time!