God As My Witness

Calling John, God and Moses to the Witness Stand John 5:31-47

Today we finish chapter 5 of John’s gospel.

Lesson 1: Jesus heals the lame man at the pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath.

Lesson 2: They persecute Jesus for this: and he answers them giving them a lot more than they expect.

Jesus claims:

1. God is my Father

2. My Father is working and so am I

3. I do exactly what my Father does

4. The Father loves me and shows me everything He does

5. He will show me greater things

6. He raises the dead and I can too

7. He has given me authority to judge

8. If you hear me and believe Him who sent me you have life

9. One day all the dead will hear my voice and be raised to face the judgment, those who have done good will rise to live, those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.

Could he lay it out any plainer than that?

Who on earth has a right to talk like that? Either he is lying or… he is equal with God.

What is the evidence to back his claims?

This is our lesson for today. Here in the last part of John 5 Jesus lays out his evidences and calls forth his witnesses.

John 5:31 "If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid.

Valid is a better translation than true. John 8:14 Jesus says, even if I testify about myself my testimony is true. But Jesus is doing what was legally required here and presents 3 witnesses according to Deut. In other words Jesus is saying, “I realize that in court my testimony alone won’t establish my case even though it is accurate. So I will legally present this case before you…

His first evidence is the witness of John the Baptist:

32There 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.

Jesus says, not that I accept human testimony… meaning that John’s words, while true were simply the words of a human. John was a lamp. Jesus says: you used to listen to him. I mention him so you can be saved.

John the Baptist. What did he say about Jesus?

1. He said Jesus was greater than him because he was before him

2. He said Jesus was the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world

3. He said Jesus was the Son of God anointed by the Holy Spirit of God

4. He said Jesus was authorized to baptize in the Holy Spirit

5. John 3:31 "The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33 The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him."

Jesus second evidence is the witness of the works the Father does through him:

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.

Here Jesus brings out an indisputable evidence: Look at the lame man from the pool and tell me how that happened? Is that from God or from men? You people can’t see God when he stands in front of you! You can’t hear God when he speaks directly to you. Why? You don’t believe the one he sent! And there’s more… Jesus third evidence is the witness of the Scriptures:

39You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.