Appointed To Bear Fruit: A 90 Day JourneyНамуна

Doing Jesus’ Works

Jesus came to fulfill God’s plan of salvation through His death on the cross and His resurrection. Once the plan was fulfilled, it was entrusted to every one of His followers to be proclaimed. This plan was so great that it would not only be the responsibility of a privileged few, but Jesus called and sent out every one of us who believes to do the works that He does. The phrase “whoever believes in me” appears several times in the Gospel of John. For example, Jesus says: “Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live” (John 11:25). Here Jesus means every believer since eternal life is for all who believe. This phrase also occurs in in John 6:35, 7:38, and 12:46. Clearly, Jesus uses this phrase to mean every believer, not just those who are His disciples or leaders of the church. 

When Jesus tells us that “whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do,” He is describing the normal Christian life. Everyone who believes should be doing what Jesus was doing. If that is the case, then we need to answer an important question: What were the works that Jesus did? Up to this point in the Book of John, Jesus performed many miracles such as turning water into wine (John 2:1–11), healing a man who was crippled for 38 years (John 5:1–9); feeding 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish (John 6:1–14), and raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:43–44). When Jesus tells us that every believer will do the works that He does, should we assume that we will also do all these things? If that is the case, then we are in big trouble. I have never raised the dead or healed a cripple. I haven’t even done the easiest one of turning water into wine! 

Focusing on the miracles of Jesus can distract us from the real meaning of Jesus’ words. Jesus’ works were meant to point people to the truth of who He is so they worship Him as their Savior and Lord. All of Jesus’ works, both the amazing, miraculous ones as well as the simple ones, were to show the lost world that Jesus is Lord. In the same way, all your works should also testify to those lost in sin that Jesus has come to save them. God has asked us to disperse into the various countries and communities of the world to testify that the Father, through the Son, has reconciled the world to Himself. We are sent out as Ambassadors for Christ to make known the love of Christ to those who are still opposing God. We are to speak His words and live a life of testimony consistent with who our King is. 

The way you trust God for your marriage, finances, and health should show the world that you serve a Risen Savior. Everything that you say and do should reflect your full confidence in Christ for your life in this world and the next. It’s your works that display the trustworthiness of Jesus. Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). The world is watching you. They want to see if Jesus is who He says He is. They want to know if Jesus can be trusted. The world must hear the news of salvation through Christ.

The work that we are to do is to show the world that Jesus is Savior and Lord. Sadly, many things in our lives do not testify to that fact. Perhaps there is something in your life that is not consistent with your faith in Christ. Don’t delay to confess your sins to God, so He will restore you to Himself, and you can continue proclaiming Christ to the world. 

Application:  How are you doing the work that Jesus did?