The Pharisees and Scribes often questioned Jesus about the authority with which he performed certain actions, worked miracles, forgave sins, consorted with certain "sinners". Today's reading from St John's Gospel is part of a section where Jesus is talking about the various ways in which God shows his approval of Jesus, his beloved Son. Our reading today presents two such signs of Jesus' authenticity, namely the witness of John the Baptist and secondly Jesus' own works.

The people accepted John as a prophet, a man sent by God (Mt 21:25 cf. Jn 1:6) Therefore they would have accepted whatever John said about Jesus. John was a role model for all who believed in Jesus and felt drawn to share their faith with others.

Jesus' own works are primarily his miracles, but must be understood in a wider sense. Jesus' learned conversation with Nicodemus (John 3), his patient and guiding conversation with the poor lost woman at the well in Samaria (John 4), his dealing with his disciples, his patient conversation with Pilate - when we pray over these events, - we see Jesus continuing to carry out his Father's will by doing the work which the Father sent him to do.