The Light Shines in the DarknessSample
God the Father confirms that Jesus is the Son of God
And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” (John 1:32-34)
Some people make the wildest claims about themselves or about celebrities. So, when John the Baptist claims that Jesus is the Son of God, is his witness reliable? Or is he just a fan exaggerating the greatness of his hero?
Today’s verses describe a supernatural sign supporting John’s words. When Jesus was baptized by John, God the Father sent the Holy Spirit from heaven like a dove, and He remained on Jesus. Moreover, people heard a voice from heaven proclaiming: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). This event was a clear confirmation for John himself, but also for the crowds watching.
Later in the story, Jesus argued with some Jewish leaders. “If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true”, He said. But that was not the case. The miracles that Jesus did and the holy Scriptures that the Jewish leaders knew, both bore witness about Him that the Father had sent Him. So, Jesus concluded, “the Father who sent Me has himself borne witness about Me” (John 5:37).
Are you convinced that Jesus is the Son of God?
About this Plan
The apostle John wrote a book about Jesus, “so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31). This reading plan goes through many Scripture verses, and the first chapters of John’s gospel, to discover who Jesus is.
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