John, Part 20
Series: The Messiah’s Confirmation, Part 5
John 5:31-39
- Continue our series: “The Messiah’s Confirmation” (part 5 of 6 today)
-- Purpose: Help us unpack teachings, miracles, & some incredible revelations
- As we study Ch 5, keep this in mind: Jesus has all authority given from God
-- Because of what He has done, He is even given authority to judge humanity
-- Probably wondering how this relates to Christmas - stick with me and you will see ... this wonderful season has NOTHING to do with a manger!!
Read John 5:31-39 / Pray
One Theme: The Messiah’s Testimony
- Consider culture (context): to confirm a truth witnesses are required! v31
• In order for testimony to be valid it needed at least two witnesses
• A man could not testify alone about himself; considered worthless
• Implied meaning: We are not considered trustworthy to testify rightly
• Why? B/C given a choice, we always promote our wants over the truth!
- In our passage, we have five witnesses that Jesus outlines:
First witness - v32
- Think of who Jesus is referring to: says “another” is testifying about Him
-- Uses “someone else”: Greek: allos; another, different (person referenced)
-- RE: The Holy Spirit is given fully to Jesus - empowered to do God’s work
-- And Jesus confirms His work: “… everything He says about me is true”
- FREE: Don’t miss: v32 uses “he”; v36 uses “Father” GR: patér; father
-- MESSAGE: Stop with the false, diabolical references to God being a woman!
-- The testimony of the Holy Spirit confirms what Jesus is sent to do!
Second witness - vv33-35
- John the Baptist bore witness to what Jesus would come to do
-- He preached the truth clearly; not watered down; not apologetic!
-- The message was meant to disrupt the norm: to bring people TO repentance
• REM: Jesus knew what was in the heart of men: John 2:24-25
• REM: He also rebuked Nicodemus; words are not enough: John 3:11
Third witness - v36
- Some of the greatest evidences we have are in the results of Jesus!
• What Jesus would do is greater than the testimony of John the Baptist
• KNOW: Everything Jesus would do was given to Him by the Father
• Jesus was appointed to do the works of God - John 17:4
- This is what allows us to have confidence; faith in His ability to rescue us
-- If He would be obedient to the Father’s will – promise to rescue encourages us!
Fourth witness - vv37-38
- The truth revealed in WHO He is! KNOW: He is the Word of God! (Jn 1:14)
- Think of it this way: Preparations were ALWAYS being made for Him to come:
• Every time God spoke: showed His care, desire, for us
• Every time God acted: showed His love, concern, for us
• Every time God appeared: showed His compassion, or care, for us
- Pay attention to the challenge: It is a rebuke of the Pharisees for legalism!
1. “You have never heard His voice …” - v37
• Calling oneself religious or spiritual is a great example of this
• APP: We are either free because of God’s gift (Jesus) or you are not!
2. “You do not have his message in your hearts …” - v38
• They had the OT (writings/prophecies/etc.) but they don’t live by them!
• FACT: They’ve created rules/bondage to control people to obey
• Control is not what God desired … He sent His Son for relationship
Fifth witness - v39
- Scripture testifies to who He is!
-- The Bible is the most physical thing that you and I have today!!
1. “You search ...” GREEK: eraunate; diligently study; pour over
- Truth: They are not seeing or realizing what it says – they deny who He is!
2. “Point to me …” GREEK: martureo; give evidence, bear record
- Truth: Those reading it don’t see or understand Who they are reading about!
- Why? The only way to receive God’s gift is to accept it FROM God’s Son, Jesus
-- Now, how does this all begin and tie into Christmas? It’s right there!
BIG IDEA
- SEE: The scriptures are written to testify about who Jesus is!
- These words are what show us how we should live; how we can be free
-- But more than that … they are the underpinning of God’s promise to each of us
- Pay attention to the promise of God - our foundational revelation today
- Scripturally, everything we stand on in 2025 begins here: Luke 1:31-33
- If this is not true … what is? What can we count on? What truly matters?
-- SEE: It all starts with His Word; believing that it is the truth we can rely on!
KNOW:
- Everything that He does is under the will (testimony) of the Father who sent Him
- This means that He has shown us what we are to do in order to live for God
- What are you waiting for in order to surrender to Him?
- Pray
