Sermon Central
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The Messiah’s Confirmation, Part 5 Series
Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Dec 21, 2025 (message contributor)
Summary: Even at Christmas we must remember that everything Jesus did was accomplished under the will of the Father who sent Him. This means that He has shown us what we are to do in order to live fully for God! Will we?
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!
