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The witness of Jesus

As we come to the New Testament, we find Jesus on the scene, proclaiming to be the servant who Isaiah prophesied about. Jesus himself claims the titles of God's "witness," the "light to the nations," and even the "Son of God." One of the most shocking things about Jesus, however, is that He is claiming that God's kingdom has come to earth and that He is the one bringing it!

Jesus demonstrated that He was bringing God's kingdom through working miracles, forgiving peoples' sins (see Mark 2), and instructing people on how to live in light of this reality (see Matthew 5-7). Despite Jesus' own words and works testifying to the power of God, the Jewish leaders and others would still have him killed on behalf of their own false testimony.

During your reading today, think about the following:

1. So far, it has been the Israelites who are supposed to be serving God as His witnesses to the rest of the world. Can you think of any stories about Jesus demonstrating God's power to people who were not Israelites? How is Jesus carrying the role of Israel forward?
2. What miracles of God have you experienced in your life? What have those miracles revealed to you about God's character?