John 5:30-47
Dear RTB’ers,
Some wonderful words today, five witnesses for Jesus:
- Himself, If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. (v. 31) “…not true…” means not acceptable, as in a courtroom, for example.
- John the Baptist, There is another who bears witness about Me, and [his] testimony … is true. You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.. (vv. 32-33) John’s testimony is true/acceptable.
- His works, … the very works that I am doing, bear witness about Me that the Father has sent Me. (v. 36b) The Jews have seen these “works” (miraculous healings). How could they not believe? Could they imagine that these healings were staged? Not possible, not when they have seen a man right there in Jerusalem who had been lame for 38 years! (v. 5:5)
- The Father, And the Father who sent Me has Himself borne witness about Me. (v. 37a) Unfortunately, the Jews have three strikes against them: His voice you have never heard, His form you have never seen, and you do not have His word abiding in you… (vv. 37b-38a)
- The Scriptures, especially Moses, You search the Scriptures … and it is they that bear witness about Me. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote of Me. (vv. 39, 46) My Study Bible listed five verses from Moses, one from each of the five books of the Pentateuch. Here’s one from Deuteronomy: The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to Him you shall listen. (Dt. 18:15)
Finally, Jesus chastises the Jews for their glory-seeking, which He, Himself was unwilling to pursue: I do not receive glory from people. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? (vv. 41, 44) Jesus, a good example to follow…
Blessings.
See also: