Many people today have to carry with them an identity card that they can use to prove to others who they are. The Lord Jesus Christ did not have an identity card, but let us see how He was able to prove who He was.
This should help you not to be tricked by those who claim to be Christ, or who foolishly claim to take His place. No one can take the place of the true Christ; He alone can forgive sins and bring us to God. (Acts 4:12. 1st Timothy 2:5-6. 1st Peter 3:18.)
He warned us not to be fooled by the many others who would come along and say that they were the Christ. (Matthew 24:4-5.) Even today there are people who would claim to be the Christ!
"If I testify about Myself, My testimony is not valid," Jesus said, "There is another who testifies in My favour, and I know that His testimony about Me is valid." (verse 31.)
John the Baptist had clearly identified Jesus as "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world."(verses 33-34. John 1:29.) Jesus said, "I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent Me. And the Father who sent Me has Himself testified about Me.' (verses 35-37. Matt 3:17. 17:5.)
But, these people were not interested because they had made up their minds not to accept that Jesus was the true Messiah - the one and only Priest and Saviour whom God had given for mankind. (John 3:16-19. 1st John 4:14.)
Could it be that YOU do not want to find out that Jesus is the ONLY PRIEST AND SAVIOUR whom God has given for mankind. (Hebrews 7:24-28. Romans 3:21-26.) Maybe you are a very religious person and you have made up your mind to accept that someone else can be a priest or saviour for you instead of, or in place of, JESUS!
Jesus had this to say to those very religious people who were thinking like that: "You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about Me, yet you refuse to come to Me to have life". (verse 39.)
These people had highly honoured those who had come to them in their own name, claiming to represent God. Yet when Jesus, the true Son of God, had come to them with many proofs, they would not believe in Him and accept Him as the One who could save them. (verses 41-44.)
They were without excuse - and so are you and I today - because throughout the Holy Bible God has given many clues to help us to identify the true Messiah. Jesus said to them, "If you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?" (verses 46-47.)
What's your excuse going to be if you finally come before God having put your trust in some priest other than Jesus Christ? Eternity in Hell will be a very very long time to have to think over that foolish excuse, whatever it is! (Luke 16:22-31.) Make sure you are trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ alone as your Priest and Saviour, before it is forever too late! (John 3:36. Rev. 21:27.)
Read of Jesus proving His identity in John's Gospel chapter 5, verses 31-47.
John Nixon, Cork, Ireland. P31HD98. Contact: jnixonj@gmail.com
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