5 Witnesses Testifying On Jesus' Behalf (John 5:31-47) Series

Last week, we started working our way through John 5. In this chapter, AJ addresses two common Judean criticisms of Jesus. The first, is that Jesus is a lawbreaker-- a sinner. Jesus broke the Sabbath, and taught others to do the same. The second, is that Jesus "makes himself" equal to God.

Jesus' response to this was a little complicated. But the bottom line is that Jesus is a faithful, obedient son to his Father. His Father sent him, and Jesus went. His Father gave him the keys to life and judgment, because the Father loves him, and Jesus uses those keys exactly as his Father wants. Jesus doesn't do his own will; in everything, he does his Father's will.

The question each of us has to answer, is whether or not we accept Jesus' defense of who he is, and what he came to do. We find ourselves having only two choices when it comes to Jesus. Either Jesus is a lawbreaker, destined to be judged by God. Or, Jesus is sent from God, and the only way to God.

Crazy, right? How can this be our choice?

Maybe you find yourself drawn to Jesus. You see him giving life to people, and offering people eternal life. You feel like there's something there-- like Jesus is who he says he is, or that he might be. But you look around you, and so many people refuse to come to Jesus. And the Judeans, who should receive him-- almost all reject him.

At Billy Graham crusades, they used to put volunteers in the crowd. And when Graham gave his altar call, and invited people to the front, the volunteers would rise up and lead the way to the front. People who had heard Graham speak would see the volunteers streaming down to the front, and they'd feel the pull of that stream. They'd hear the gospel; they see others that they thought were coming to Jesus; and they'd join.

But what if no one goes first? What if streams of people, after hearing the call, walk away. Or what if they rise up, and condemn the testimony as deeply flawed, and the speaker, as heretical?

You find yourself a little stuck. You know you have to make a decision, one way or another. You can't hear Jesus' claims, and not make a choice. But what do you pick? Who do you pick?

Jesus, who can look inside of everyone, and knows their hearts, knows that you need reasons to come all the way to him, and receive him, and give your allegiance to him.

What you need, is a firm basis for coming to Jesus. Imagine that all of this is like a court case. Jesus is on the defense. You need evidence, that he is who he says he is.

And what's the best evidence? In any court case, the best evidence is witnesses. People's testimony about Jesus (H/T Andrew Lincoln, Truth on Trial. Not the safest book, or author, for evangelicals. But helpful.)

In the rest of chapter 5, Jesus offers us five witnesses (scholars divide all this differently, as 3, 4, or 5 witnesses. But content wise, this is not a tricky passage), that testify to the truth about him.

Verse 31:

(31) If I testify about myself, my testimony isn't true.

Jesus knows that he can't simply testify about himself, and prove anything. Anyone can claim to be anyone, but their testimony means nothing.

(1) Witness #1: John the Baptist

And so, in verses 32-35, Jesus calls his first witness-- John the Baptist:

(32) Another, the one testifying about me is,

and I know that, true, the testimony which he testifies about me is. [debated here-- John the Baptist, or God, is the "another"]

(33) You have sent to(ward) John,

and he has testified to the truth.

(34) Now, I don't, from (a) man, testimony receive,

but these things I say,

in order that you may/shall be saved.

(35) That one was the lamp-- the one burning and shining.

Now, you wanted to rejoice for an hour in his light.

The Judeans all believed that John the Baptist was sent by God. Who John the Baptist was, is beyond dispute.

No one wondered if he was a terrible sinner, or someone who "made himself equal to God." The Judeans sent to John, and received his testimony. And they were grateful for John-- they rejoiced in his light.

And who did John the Baptist say he was? John was the one sent by God, to point people to Jesus.

Now, Jesus makes it clear that he doesn't need John's testimony. It does nothing for him-- it doesn't help him understand who he is. He doesn't view this as a vindication of his ministry. He talks about John as a concession to them-- he knows that you need some evidence to be persuaded. And what Jesus wants, at the end of the day, is for you to be saved. So he will give you that evidence.