“four Undeniable Testimonies About Jesus” Series

“Four Undeniable Testimonies about Jesus”

John 5:30-47

The human heart and mind of man is very skeptical and changeable, and when it comes to matters of faith and believing in Jesus as Savior and Lord, Jesus being equal to the Father in nature and that He is indeed a person of the Triune God, people ask for evidence; they ask for testimony that they can trust. It is the way that we are as human beings. We think that “seeing is believing” when in actuality, having to see in order to believe is UNBELIEF. Believing is TRUSTING and receiving God at His Word WITHOUT seeing and to continuing to follow Him and His Word. Today we examine four undeniable testimonies or witnesses concerning the One and only Lord Jesus Christ.

John 5:30 is a summary of everything we studied from verses19-29 concerning Jesus’ full equality with God the Father, and sent by Him. Jesus’ power to judge was fully dependent on the Father’s will and word. There we read: “By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.”

Today we read 31-40 and following, demonstrating the true witnesses who testify to the Divine character of the Son: "If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid. 32 There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is valid. 33 "You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. 34 Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. 35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light. 36 I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. 39 You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.”

The Father’s Faithful Witness

First we see “The Father’s Faithful Witness of the Only Begotten Son” (found in vs. 31-32, 37-38) Jesus isn’t expecting you to believe ONLY HIS Word about Himself. In the present context of our passage, Jesus has insisted that He and the Father are one in essential NATURE, will and purpose and that He has always lived in perfect obedience to the Father. In verse 32 he says: “There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is valid.” Here He is referring to the Father Himself, of whom Jesus reveals to us the heavenly things from the Father. (see that in 3:11-12) He does not testify of Himself but rather He testifies of His Father and the Father testifies of the Son.

Remember at Jesus’ baptism in Matthew 3:17, “a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased." (Mark 1:11: "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.") (Remember John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son.” The Beloved and Begotten Son is the one and only, unique Son sent from the Father’s side who was at the Father’s side continually and eternally. He was with God eternally because He IS God eternally. He is equal to the Father in all respects but distinctive in His Person (Jesus comes as God in the flesh to die for the sins of mankind, that whoever BELIEVES in Him…)

This is what Jesus is referring to in verses 37-38: “And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one He sent.”

Jacob had seen God’s “form” in Genesis 32 and Moses had heard God’s voice in Exodus 33:11, but no of these Jewish leaders had ever seen His form or heard His voice, and it is clear that as knowledgeable as they were in the “scriptures”, they were totally missing the fact that Jesus was the Word Incarnate, the Promised Messiah, God in the flesh, and so God’s Word was not abiding in them. This is a SERIOUS accusation against the Jews and it remains a serious accusation when it comes to answering that MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION: Who do you say that Jesus is? If you do not believe He is the eternal Son and GOD in the FLESH then He cannot be dwelling in you. THE FATHER HIMSELF TESTIFIES to the “Sonship” and Deity of Christ. Powerful proclamation!