The first half of John 5 displays Jesus at work! The second is Jesus explaining why he’s working.
It’s a simple observation, but Jesus only does what he sees the Father doing. So the work that Jesus does is the work and will of the Father. That means God is on a mission to restore and save the world THROUGH His Son.
Over and over you hear Jesus repeatedly say that the Father has sent him and his works bear witness. The Son does the works that testify that God had sent him. His work is that of salvation. The Father is saving broken humanity through the Person and works of His Son.
God is on mission to save by sending and witnessing through His Son. That same pattern continues. God is on mission to save through the finished work of His Son THROUGH those Jesus has saved. Salvation, in part, has the distinct purpose of being sent by God to bear witness about the salvation accomplished by His Son.
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
– John 5:24
This was Jesus’s mission and we who believe have the same mission to tell the gospel to others that they too might hear and believe and have eternal life with Jesus!
How can you make steps towards being on mission with God to make known this glorious gospel?
I had a friend of mine remind me of the purpose of the story of David and Goliath. It’s not about selecting the right stones. It’s not about facing your giants. But rather it is so that the nations would know that there is a God in Israel! (1 Sam. 17).
Who has the Lord put in your path and/or on your mind that needs to hear the gospel? God is on mission through you. You have been sent to bear witness about Jesus!
Is that something you are thankful for or something you dread? I have prayed for every person that reads this blog post to gladly go and make disciples of Jesus. As I was reminded from John 6 this morning: Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” – John 6:27
The Word Is Not Imprisoned 
Leave a Reply