Text: John 14:1-14
“Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.” —John 14:11
There have been times in my travels when my luggage ended up on a different plane than the one I was on. That happened recently while traveling to Asia. My flights encountered delays, and I was rescheduled on a different itinerary. However, my baggage went ahead of me on separate flights. As a result, my luggage landed in South Korea before I got there. Upon my arrival, I had to present my baggage claim tickets showing the receipts that I was the verified owner of the luggage.
When Jesus showed up on the scene two thousand years ago and said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me,” he was making a remarkable claim. In the Greek language, “I am” is a very intense way of referring to oneself. It would be comparable to saying, “I myself, and only I, am.” These words reflect the very name of God in Hebrew, Yahweh, which means “to be” or “the self-existing one.” It is the name of power and authority, and Jesus claimed it as His own.
The Jews clearly understood Jesus to be calling Himself God because they took up stones to stone Him for committing blasphemy in equating Himself with God. The Pharisees were calling His bluff, but Jesus showed up with receipts.
Jesus had luggage, of the prophetic sort, which had showed up long before he ever arrived. Scholars estimate that there are around 200 to 400 Old Testament prophecies that are often interpreted as referring to Jesus as the Messiah. Not only did Jesus fulfill every one of those Messianic prophecies, He brought the proof of receipt to back up His claims as the Son of God.
We find at least 37 miracle “receipts” Jesus performed in the Gospels, with John telling us there were so “many other things” which Jesus did that “the world itself could not contain the books that would be written” to hold them. And the greatest miracle of all—He rose from the dead to prove His claims as the Savior of the world. Jesus brought receipts to show that even death and the grave had no hold on Him.
He told his disciples, “Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.” His works were the receipts that attest to Jesus’ identity as Messiah and Son of God. When Mary and Martha stood at the tomb grieving over their deceased brother, Jesus gave them a monumental receipt before bringing Lazarus back to life: “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” Just a few verses later, Lazarus is reclining at a dinner table with Jesus!
Why does this matter to us? Jesus said, “for unless you believe that I am He you will assuredly die in your sins.” Jesus wants us to rightfully claim what He died to give us—new life, abundant life, resurrection life, and eternal life. The receipts for this life are found in God’s Word.
When we feel alone in the world, Jesus has receipts proving God will never forsake us. When shame tells us we’ve destroyed our lives, Jesus has receipts that prove God is bigger than our failure. When our sins stand to condemn us, Jesus points to the receipts of His nail scarred hands, saying “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” When our hope is wavering in any circumstance, we have the receipt that assures us “with God all things are possible.”
Jesus showed up with receipts, and so can we. Think about that as you seek to abide in Him this week.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, the beauty of each day brings with it new mercies and new mediations of your goodness. Thank you for sufficiently providing all things for us to experience abundant life through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion:
- When has having a receipt made a difference for you?
- What miracle signs of Jesus resonate with you personally? Why?
- Jesus began this chapter by saying, “Let not your hearts be troubled.” Is your heart troubled about something right now?
- Is there a receipt from God’s Word, a promise that you need to claim right now?
- How should the receipt of “resurrection life” shape your faith today?
Text: John 14:1-14
“Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.” —John 14:11
There have been times in my travels when my luggage ended up on a different plane than the one I was on. That happened recently while traveling to Asia. My flights encountered delays, and I was rescheduled on a different itinerary. However, my baggage went ahead of me on separate flights. As a result, my luggage landed in South Korea before I got there. Upon my arrival, I had to present my baggage claim tickets showing the receipts that I was the verified owner of the luggage.
When Jesus showed up on the scene two thousand years ago and said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me,” he was making a remarkable claim. In the Greek language, “I am” is a very intense way of referring to oneself. It would be comparable to saying, “I myself, and only I, am.” These words reflect the very name of God in Hebrew, Yahweh, which means “to be” or “the self-existing one.” It is the name of power and authority, and Jesus claimed it as His own.
The Jews clearly understood Jesus to be calling Himself God because they took up stones to stone Him for committing blasphemy in equating Himself with God. The Pharisees were calling His bluff, but Jesus showed up with receipts.
Jesus had luggage, of the prophetic sort, which had showed up long before he ever arrived. Scholars estimate that there are around 200 to 400 Old Testament prophecies that are often interpreted as referring to Jesus as the Messiah. Not only did Jesus fulfill every one of those Messianic prophecies, He brought the proof of receipt to back up His claims as the Son of God.
We find at least 37 miracle “receipts” Jesus performed in the Gospels, with John telling us there were so “many other things” which Jesus did that “the world itself could not contain the books that would be written” to hold them. And the greatest miracle of all—He rose from the dead to prove His claims as the Savior of the world. Jesus brought receipts to show that even death and the grave had no hold on Him.
He told his disciples, “Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.” His works were the receipts that attest to Jesus’ identity as Messiah and Son of God. When Mary and Martha stood at the tomb grieving over their deceased brother, Jesus gave them a monumental receipt before bringing Lazarus back to life: “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” Just a few verses later, Lazarus is reclining at a dinner table with Jesus!
Why does this matter to us? Jesus said, “for unless you believe that I am He you will assuredly die in your sins.” Jesus wants us to rightfully claim what He died to give us—new life, abundant life, resurrection life, and eternal life. The receipts for this life are found in God’s Word.
When we feel alone in the world, Jesus has receipts proving God will never forsake us. When shame tells us we’ve destroyed our lives, Jesus has receipts that prove God is bigger than our failure. When our sins stand to condemn us, Jesus points to the receipts of His nail scarred hands, saying “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” When our hope is wavering in any circumstance, we have the receipt that assures us “with God all things are possible.”
Jesus showed up with receipts, and so can we. Think about that as you seek to abide in Him this week.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, the beauty of each day brings with it new mercies and new mediations of your goodness. Thank you for sufficiently providing all things for us to experience abundant life through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion: