A Search For Magnificence Series

A Search For Magnificence

John 5:31-47

Jesus was the most magnificent person to ever walk this earth. Let that sink in: the most magnificent person. What did that look like? Was there a radiance coming off of Him? No, not usually. Were angels flying around announcing His magnificence? No. Yet, Jesus was magnificent, the most magnificent. What did that look like? Would we have even noticed it?

Have you ever met someone who is magnificent?

One day I was riding my bike to work in Chattanooga, Tennessee. All of a sudden a bunch of police cars flew by. Their lights were flashing. Their sirens were on. Everyone stopped. More police cars came, followed by several black SUVs, then other black SUVs with people hanging out the windows with cameras. It was wild. Then it was all gone. Someone in that motorcade was magnificent. Who was it? Later that day, I found out that it was Al Gore. He was in town and he was running for the U. S. Senate. Magnificence. They don’t do that for you or me.

How do you identify magnificence? When you see someone walking down the street or standing in church, how do you know if they are magnificent or not. They don’t have a police escort. They aren’t in a motorcade. Do you just ask them? “Excuse me. Are you magnificent?” “Jesus, are you magnificent?” Jesus mentioned that in the first verse of our text.

John 5:31 “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true.

John 5:32 There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true.

Anyone can say that they are magnificent. “I'm wonderful. I'm Mr. Wonderful.” That does not mean that it is true. If you want to know if someone is magnificent, don't ask them. That’s not how you find magnificence.

So how do you find it?

Today we are going to go on a search for the magnificence of Jesus. How will we find it? Where will we look? Finding that will help us find magnificence in other people. This sermon is titled, a search for the magnificence of Jesus. Magnificence is another word for glory, the glory of Jesus. There is a way to find it. First, we look at John.

1. John the Baptist Spoke About It

John 5:33 “You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth.

The Jewish leaders sent priests, Levites, and Pharisees to John the Baptist asking him who he was, if he was the Messiah. He said that he was not. He DID tell them that someone was standing among them that they did not know. This person would come next. He was a person that John was not worthy to even untie His sandals.

He was talking about Jesus. Jesus was much more important than John. This was the testimony of John. Jesus affirms that it is true. Let’s read on.

John 5:34 Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved.

John 5:35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.

It is nice when people say good things about you, but what do they know? Do they really know you? No. Do they have some hidden agenda? Is that why they are saying nice things about you? You don't know.

Jesus did not accept human testimony. He says that here. Despite that, He still mentioned John's testimony because it was correct.

At one point the Jewish leaders liked John. They liked that he was convincing masses of people to come to the temple. They enjoyed what he was doing, for a while, until he started saying things they didn't like. John spoke of Jesus' magnificence, but they didn't accept that.

In our search for Jesus’ magnificence, we can listen to what people say, but know that people do not know what real magnificence is. They may point you in the right direction. Or they may not.

John the Baptist spoke and testified of Jesus’ magnificence. But there was a greater testimony than John’s. That’s our second point.

2. The Father Showed It

John 5:36 “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me.

There is a weightier, a more valid, testimony to the magnificence of Jesus. It is God the Father Himself. He had allowed Jesus to do supernatural things, things that humans cannot do. These miracles proved that God had sent Him. They were proof that God was with Him. That is something.

These Jewish leaders had seen this. One of the miracles was the healing of the lame man. They saw with their own eyes that he was walking. It was a miracle. It was proof that Jesus was magnificent. Let’s read on.