Here's The Proof

HERE’S THE PROOF

John 5:30-47

S: Jesus

Th: Witnesses to Jesus

Pr: JESUS PROVES HIS IDENTITY.

?: How?

KW: Witnesses (appealing to witnesses)

TS: We will find in our study of John 5:30-47, four witnesses that Jesus uses to prove His identity.

The ____ witness that Jesus uses to prove His identity is…

I. PROPHET (33-35)

II. PHENOMENON (36)

III. PROVIDENCE (37-38)

IV. PROPHECY (39-47)

Version: ESV

RMBC 05 May 02 AM

INTRODUCTION:

ILL Notebook: Testimony (Great Eyesight)

There was an old man that witnessed a burglary and appeared in court. The defense lawyer asked him, "Did you see my client commit this burglary?"

"Yes," the man said. "I saw him plainly take the goods."

The lawyer added, "This happened at night. Are you sure you saw my client commit this crime?"

"Yes, I saw him do it," the man said.

The lawyer then said, "You are 80 years old and your eyesight probably is not as good as it used to be. Just how far can you see at night?"

The man said, "I can see the moon. How far is that?"

Well, this goes to prove that…

When we are looking to prove something, we desire reliable witnesses.

We want the help of those who see it right and hear it right.

We want the help of those who remember it right and get the facts right.

We want the testimony to be reliable and trustworthy.

TRANSITION:

Today, we return to our study of John and the subject of testimony is primary.

Our study of John will continue through July with a few guest speakers and interruptions here and there.

We started John 5 this past March.

And…

1. In John 5, the identity of Jesus becomes the issue after He heals on the Sabbath.

You might recall that Jesus healed a man that had been an invalid for 38 years.

But instead of rejoicing in this miracle, the Jewish leaders concluded that Jesus was a lawbreaker, because He healed on the Sabbath.

Plainly, Jesus refused to make nice with the Jewish leaders.

He broke the religious and social conventions of the day with unorthodox and staggering claims.

And when the leaders asked Jesus His rationale for healing on the Sabbath, they understood the implications of His words.

2. The Jews understood that Jesus was equating Himself with God (17-18).

[17] But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” [18] 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.

The leaders understood that when He said He was doing His Father’s work, that He was making Himself equal with the Father.

They were right.

And as we come to our text today, we see that…

3. JESUS PROVES HIS IDENTITY.

Back in March, we considered what choices we have to make about Jesus.

We can see Him as the One He says He is, which is Lord.

But if He is not Lord, then He is either a liar or a lunatic.

The truth is is that we can come to no other conclusions.

But when it comes to proving His identity, Jesus is willing to do so.

So…

4. We will find in our study of John 5:30-47, four witnesses that Jesus uses to prove His identity.

In this text, four witnesses are brought forth:

1) John the Baptist;

2) Miracles;

3) God the Father; and

4) Scripture.

So we see that…

5. Jesus is willing to produce witnesses to establish who He is (30-32; Deuteronomy 19:15).

Jesus says…

[30] “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. [31] If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not deemed true. [32] There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true.”

Simply, Jesus does nothing independent of God, for He came to do the will of God.

What is interesting though, is that as we enter this part of the conversation, Jesus recognizes that the leaders were not to going go on what He said alone.

They had a right to expect that other evidence would confirm His claims.

For as it says in Deuteronomy 19:15…

“A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.”

So let’s bring the witnesses in…

OUR STUDY:

I. The first witness that Jesus uses to prove His identity is the PROPHET (33-35).