Many people doubt Jesus and question Christianity. They say, “How do I know that Jesus was real?” Or they might say that people just follow Christianity because they were programed to follow based on their upbringing. And for some this is true. Some people will follow a faith system not because they know for themselves that the teaching is true, but because that particular teaching is all they know.

“If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.” (John 7:17)

In Jesus’ dialogue with the crowd and religious leaders at the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus is defending the legitimacy of His Word and His Messiahship. Jesus taught with the authority of God and yet the religious leaders doubted His legitimacy. They would say, “How do we know you are the real Messiah?”

Jesus’ answer to their question was to become obedient to the will of the Father not just in word but in lifestyle. The religious leaders held to the letter of the Law from Moses but they were lacking the heart of God. As God the SON, Jesus knew the heart of God and lived according to the will of the Father, making people more important than religion. That is why when He healed on the Sabbath the religious leaders wanted to kill Him.

How can you know if Jesus is truly the Son of God? You will know when you authentically obey the will of the God and accept Jesus, God’s Son, as your Savior. Then you will know His teaching is true.  Ananias spoke these words to Paul when he was called to follow Jesus – “And he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear an utterance from His mouth.” (Acts 22:14). From that point on Paul lived unashamedly as a witness and servant of Jesus Christ. May you do the same!

Pastor Cary Wacker