Witness Protection Program Series

When your world is in chaos, do you think life is random? When your world is a snow globe shaken in every direction, do you feel as if there is no one who is in control? In the midst of chaos, Jesus steps forward to say, “I’ve got this.” We begin a series entitled “This Is Your Captain Speaking.” If you have a copy of God’s Word, turn to John 5 with me, if you will. We continue our series of walking through the Gospel of John together.

Invitation

At the conclusion of today’s message, you will be invited to respond to Jesus’ offer of a clean, fresh start. You can respond by going to the Encourager’s Room, a virtual room, or the altar. If you would like someone to pray with you, we are here. We would love to meet with you personally.

Jesus began to encounter stiff opposition, and here’s why: “This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God” (John 5:18).

Whenever you claim to be on equal footing with God, you better bring a strong resume. If you were found guilty of blasphemy in the Old Testament, the penalty was capital punishment.

Our passage has a courtroom feel to it. Jesus is going to marshal witness after witness to validate His credentials.

Today’s Scripture

“If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. I do not receive glory from people. But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?” (John 5:31-47).

What if you come and say, “Why should I believe Jesus Christ is God? I have trouble believing.” “I have trouble believing. Some people believe. I can’t believe.”

Remember that the Gospel of John was written: “But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).

This whole book was written to generate belief in Jesus. Jesus didn’t just exist like some ancient, remote figure. John presents Him as the One who has His hands on the control room of the universe. Again, I want to offer three witnesses to verify Jesus’ credentials. If you want

1. What’s it Going to Take for You to Believe?

“If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true” (John 5:31-32).

Jesus has made some tremendous claims: “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live” (John 5:25).

Ordinary people don’t run around saying they can raise the dead by the power of the voice.

Everyone is struck by these mind-boggling claims. How can they corroborate Jesus’ assertions? In a matter of minutes, Jesus offers us 3 witnesses: 1) human testimony, 2) the very things Jesus is doing, and lastly, 3) the Scriptures themselves. If you’re wondering if it’s crazy to believe Jesus is God, the same kinds of evidence they had is the same kind of evidence you have. Imagine you are in a courtroom, and you want to find out, “Who did it?” Only, it’s not “Who did it?” but “Who is He?” Who is Jesus, really? Jesus says, “If you want to really know who I am, check with these three witnesses, as they’ll give you the unvarnished truth.” Skeptical people want to know.