Daily Devotional for December 17

 

December 17                                                    John 5:30-47

In today's reading Jesus calls forth witnesses to corroborate
his claim to being the Messiah: God, John the Baptist, the Scrip-
tures, and the prophecy of Moses. But the most compelling
witness is Jesus' own miraculous actions: "For the works which
God has granted me to accomplish, these very works which
I am doing, bear me witness that God has sent me."

For three years Jesus ministered to the needs of his people.
He gave sight to the blind, made the lame walk, healed the
sick, restored hearing to the deaf, gave speech to the dumb.
He multiplied loaves and fishes to feed the people, calmed
storms, cast out demons, even raised the dead. As Nicodemus
the Pharisee said to Jesus, "No one can do these signs... unless
God is with that one." (John 3:2)

Just as Jesus' works were evidence of his divine mission, so
today the primary evidence for the validity of Christianity is
what it does. If lives are transformed; if family is created where
once there was aching, empty loneliness; if hope springs up
where once there was despair; if confidence, self-esteem, and
dignity replace degradation - then there is no need for fur-
ther proof of the power of God at work in the people. Such
modern-day miracles speak for themselves, for "no one can
do these signs... unless God is with that one."

     Blessed Creator of Joy, thank you for sending Jesus
  into my life and miraculously saving me from loneliness,
     despair and degradation. I know by the works being
          done in my life that Jesus is my Saviour. As a
                 grateful recipient of your bounty, I will
                           praise you today. Amen.

​

From The Road to Emmaus - An inclusive devotional Edited by Joseph W. Houle

Emmaus House of Prayer - Washington D.C