But the witness that really confirms me far exceeds John’s witness. It’s the work the Father gave me to complete. These very tasks, as I go about completing them, confirm that the Father, in fact, sent me. (The Message)

I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish – the very works that I am doing – testify that the Father has sent me” (NIV)

Not only did John the Baptist testify to Jesus’ identity, so did ”the work” He was doing; that work given to Him by the Father. His entire extraordinary life (and death) causes us to ask, “What kind of man is this?” (Matthew 8:27). That Jesus was a man is evident, but what sort of man? What type? Ordinary men just can’t do what Jesus did. He supernaturally healed all manner of sickness and disease; He manifested extraordinary power over evil powers; He brought dead people back to life. Furthermore, after He had been executed, He returned to life three days later. So when we investigate the life of Jesus honestly, we are forced to ask, ”What manner of man is this?” How can we account for such a life if He is not God?

Furthermore, when we read the fourth gospel, we find that John has constructed it around a series of seven ”signs” (”works”) of Jesus. These signs point to Jesus’ identity. When John, towards the end of this gospel, states his clear purpose, he says:

” Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.31But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:30,31)