6.4 The Witness of the Father
God’s Confirmation of His Son

Read John 5:36–38. What does Jesus say about the Father here?

In John 5:36–38, Jesus speaks about the testimony of His heavenly Father and establishes a profound connection between His own works and the Father’s will. The works and miracles that Jesus performed are not only evidence of His divine power but also expressions of the close unity and authority He received from the Father. These works confirm that Jesus does not act on His own initiative but on behalf of and in the power of the Father.

Jesus makes it clear that His life and ministry are living testimonies to the Father’s love and mercy. The Father Himself testifies about Jesus through the actions He performs, demonstrating that Jesus is indeed God’s messenger. The Father’s testimony is more than just words; it is shown through deeds that reveal God’s power, love, and compassion toward humanity.

This statement reminds us that true spiritual authority comes from a living relationship with God. Jesus’ life and works flowed directly from this connection and dedication to the Father. For us, this is a call to shape our lives so that our words and actions reflect what God desires from us. When we live and work in this unity with God, our actions will also testify to His character and love.

Read Matthew 3:17; 17:5; Mark 1:11; and Luke 3:22 (see also 2 Peter 1:17–18). What does the Father say about Jesus?

In the Gospel accounts, the Father speaks directly about Jesus at crucial moments in His life. At the baptism and on the mountain of transfiguration, the Father declares before those present that Jesus is His “beloved Son,” in whom He is well pleased. These words are not only a reaffirmation of Jesus’ identity but also a clear confirmation of His divine authority and special relationship with the Father. The Father points out that everything Jesus does happens in perfect alignment with His will and plan.

This divine confirmation reaches its peak in the final days of Jesus’ ministry. Facing the impending crucifixion, Jesus asks the Father to glorify His name, and the Father responds again from heaven: “I have glorified him, and will glorify him again” (John 12:28). This points to the great sacrifice Jesus will make on the cross for the sins of the world. The Father Himself testifies here that Jesus’ path to the cross is the culmination of His work and the fulfillment of the salvation plan God has pursued from the beginning.

Thus, the Father confirms Jesus’ role as the “Lamb of God,” who bears the full punishment for humanity’s sins through His sacrifice. This shows us that Jesus did not come to the world merely as a human but as God’s beloved Son who offers the greatest sacrifice out of love and obedience. The cross becomes the “hour of glory” because it reveals the depth of God’s love and justice.

For us as believers, the Father’s testimony is a source of hope and assurance. Through Jesus’ work on the cross, we are invited to receive forgiveness and new life. We do not have to bear the punishment for our sins ourselves but can live in the freedom and grace made possible by Jesus’ sacrifice. This testimony of the Father about His Son strengthens our faith in God’s love and assures us that the way to Him is open through Jesus Christ.

The connection of the Father’s testimony about Jesus with our daily lives and faith lies in the deep confirmation that God gives us through His own Word about Jesus. The heavenly testimony that Jesus is His “beloved Son” provides us with guidance and hope by bringing us closer to the meaning of Jesus’ life, work, and sacrifice. This divine confirmation can strengthen us in many ways in our daily lives and faith:

1. Trust in God’s Love and Plan The Father confirms Jesus as His beloved Son, thereby affirming His love and salvation plan for us. This invites us to trust that God also has a plan of love and redemption for us. Remembering that God Himself testified about Jesus gives us confidence in our faith and allows us to trust that God’s plan for us is good, even in difficult moments.

2. Motivation to Act According to God’s Will Jesus lived and worked in complete alignment with the Father’s will. We, too, can strive in our daily lives to seek God’s will and reflect it in our words and actions. This pursuit of unity with God means shaping our lives to show others God’s love and goodness—whether through compassion, forgiveness, or helpfulness.

3. Appreciation of Forgiveness and Grace The Father’s testimony directly points to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. This sacrifice enables us to receive forgiveness and a new life. When we make mistakes in daily life or face our own shortcomings, the cross reminds us that we can receive forgiveness and grace. This gift helps us approach ourselves and others with kindness and understanding.

4. A Life of Hope and Freedom Jesus’ sacrifice frees us from the burden of guilt and allows us to live in the freedom of faith. In moments of guilt or doubt, we can rely on the assurance that we have access to God through Jesus and do not need to earn our salvation ourselves. This awareness brings us daily joy, confidence, and the courage to live with trust and ease.

5. Invitation to a Deeper Relationship with God Through the Father’s testimony, we experience the inseparable connection between God and Jesus. This connection is a model for our own relationship with God. We are invited to deepen our relationship with Him through prayer, Bible study, and striving to live a godly life. When we live in this unity with God, it not only strengthens our faith but also shapes our actions and allows us to radiate God’s love more in our surroundings.

6. Willingness to Make Sacrifices The crucifixion of Jesus, described as the “hour of glory,” shows us that true service and love often require sacrifice. In daily life, we encounter many opportunities to stand up for others or to put ourselves aside. Jesus’ example motivates us to seize these opportunities and to approach others with love and patience.

The Father’s testimony about Jesus invites us to live in trust, gratitude, and hope that comes from God’s love and grace. It reminds us that through Jesus’ life and work, we have an unwavering foundation for our faith and an invitation to a fulfilled and transformed life.

God’s love is often shown in the unremarkable—the quiet trust, the small service, the faithful faith.

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