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.
Did these people not know the Bible? Did they not read the scriptures? Jesus says that they diligently study the scriptures. Jesus is the whole point of the Old Testament. Jesus is the central character of the whole Bible. (I saw this next piece somewhere and it fits so well I want to share it here).
See Jesus in Genesis as the creator, God who walked with Adam and Eve in the garden, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
See Jesus when you read about the Passover Lamb in Exodus. See Jesus in the book of Numbers as the smitten Rock, the One lifted up in the wilderness. See Jesus in Joshua as the Captain of the Lord’s Host.
See Jesus in Ruth as the Kinsman-Redeemer.
See Jesus in Esther as the Advocate for His people.
See Jesus in Job as the ever-living Redeemer.
See Jesus in Psalms as the Shepherd
See Jesus in the Song of Solomon as the long-awaited, beloved Bridegroom.
See Jesus in Isaiah as the Suffering Servant
See Jesus in Daniel as the Son of Man.
See Jesus in Hosea as the redeeming Husband of the fallen wife.
See Jesus in Jonah as the resurrection.
See Jesus in Haggai as the Desire of the Nations.
See Him in Malachi as the Sun of Righteousness with healing in His Wings.
See Him, our Saviour and Lord, in every page of Scripture.
The only way to truly see Jesus is to believe. And if you truly believe, you must submit to his will as your Lord and Savior, the King of kings, God in flesh and the Christ anointed for your salvation.
Jesus continues pointing to Moses and as he does he defines what is blinding them from seeing him:
41 "I do not accept praise from men, 42 but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44 How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God ? 45 "But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. 47 But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?"
Jesus lists the reasons they can’t hear or see God’s presence in him:
1. You do not have the love of God in your hearts
2. You accept those who come in their own name but reject me for coming in my Father’s name
3. You accept praise from one another and make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from God
4. You don’t believe what Moses wrote
They know the Bible well, they just don’t believe what it says.
Let me ask something here. Are there things in the Bible that you find yourself resisting? Does God say things in this book to you that you are not willing to accept? That is called unbelief. Jesus says, “If you don’t believe the Bible, you can’t believe me.” Listen to me. If you don’t trust the Book how can you trust the author?
The same God that gave us this word, came here as the living Word made flesh. If you don’t love the written word enough to spend time with it, I dare say you won’t love the living word enough to spend time with Him either.
Count up the hours you watch TV and compare them with the hours you read the Bible and tell me which one you love the most.
Count up the number of Sports figures you know the stats on and the number of scriptures you know the words to and tell me which ones you love the most.
God loves us so much he gave us his only begotten Son. His love for us is so vast and deep and wide and pure we will never comprehend it. Do you have his love in your heart today? Listen to me now! What does that look like? I’m concerned. The church used to preach hell fire and brimstone and constantly preach obedience to God. The word was, you best obey the Lord or you will burn in a sinner’s hell! Dancing, smoking, drinking, wearing shorts, mixed swimming, going to movies, playing cards, you name it, it was a sin. There was an extreme concern with purity but not much joy in the Lord or rejoicing in his salvation. In the film Oliver, Charles Dickens depicts hungry children in an orphanage and the stern frowning Director scolds when they ask for another bowl of gruel and warns them of wanting excess. In the background on the wall above the Director is inscribed in bold print, “God is Love.” We have seen what legalism can do to the joy of the Lord. A generation raised on a law centered Christian walk has produced a splintered and argumentative religious heritage where many churches are dying a painful death. Such teaching produces people who are unsure of their salvation and who are quick to condemn any variation from the code of the calling and the rules of the church, many of which are not found anywhere in God’s word.
But it seems we are seeing a pendulum swing. There is a reaction within some circles today to throw off all the luggage of the law. I’m afraid that some of that luggage includes respect for the authority of God’s word and the discipline of walking according to Jesus own teachings.
What happens when the church refuses to discipline the way God’s word says to? What happens when the church is so influenced by the flesh that her members can enjoy entertainment that is filled with moral filth and vulgar language? Now that the bondage of legalism is gone in so many churches are we healthier spiritually? Are our children closer to God? Are we more like Jesus because we tolerate sinners so much more? Are we honoring the Lord more by returning to Corinth? Is that what God’s grace is all about? Is that what having God’s love in our hearts really means?
Jesus Christ is God’s grace incarnate. He is the love of God in a person. John says, The Law came through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
How can we be sure we have God’s love in our hearts today?
1. We must never divorce the love of God from the word of God.
2. We must never let what men applaud be the measure of truth. Our guide must be what does God say in his Word.
3. We must trust in Jesus, follow Jesus, commit our very lives to Jesus, speak about Jesus with each other, pray together, open the scriptures together, not just here but in our day- to- day encounters.
4. We must seek God’s praise by striving to please him. We must believe every word of the Bible as truth and build our lives on Jesus who is found therein.
