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Background:
Jesus has healed a man who was lame for 38 years. This is a wonderful sign! However, he did it Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath. To the Pharisees, a group of religious men who studied and wanted to follow the Word of God to a ‘T’, this was wrong. They had defined this act as ‘working’ on the Sabbath. So, instead of rejoicing in what Jesus had done for this man, and the sign Jesus performed in fulfilment of the prophecies concerning Him, they were persecuting Jesus.
Jesus responded by letting them know that God was at work, and so He—the Son of God—was also at work.
This infuriated the Pharisees even more! They knew that Jesus was claiming to be equal with God.
Jesus responded with three “Truly, truly I say to you...” teachings.
John 5:19-23 - The Son does what the Father does; they are equally God
John 5:24 - whoever hears and believes HAS eternal life and will not be condemned, but has crossed over from death to life
John 5:25-30 - The Son resurrects to life, now spiritually, and in the future physically
These three truths are crucial to us as believers. We will never thrive in our Christian lives if we do not receive these teachings from Jesus.
We must know and believe that Jesus is fully God!
We must understand that we Have, right now, eternal life. We have a relationship with God that we did not have when we were dead in sin. We need to live in that relationship. To many people live in doubt… When living in doubt of our new life, we are crippled and helpless to live in the joy and work we were called to do!
We must understand and live in the fact that Jesus has raised us out of the deadness of our sinful lives to live to righteousness!
Just as a man cannot live the same way he did before he was in a marriage relationship, so we should not live the same way before we were in a relationship with our God and Savior!
Jesus wants us to know these truths that can set us free to experience the resurrected life He has given us!
I encourage you to go back and review what we have been studying, and the homework from the past couple weeks.
Today, we are going to look at the rest of John 5—verses 31-47.
Let’s read it together.
“If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true.
There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true.
“You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth.
Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved.
John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.
“I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me.
And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form,
nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent.
You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,
yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
“I do not accept glory from human beings,
but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts.
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.
How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
“But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set.
If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.
But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”
How do we know it’s true?
How do we know it’s true?
As Jesus was teaching these men, they were apparently not receiving it. They already had Jesus labelled as an law-breaker. So when Jesus tries to teach them, I imagine they were asking the same question many people still ask today about Jesus— “How do we know it’s true?”
Jesus knows what is in men’s hearts, and He speaks directly to them. That is why there is this transition from Jesus speaking about being the one to resurrect the dead, to talking about testimonies and truth.
Testimonies
Testimonies
The way we know what is true about most of what we know is by the testimony of others, whether they be our parents, teachers, friends, coworkers, etc.
In verses 31-39 the root word for testify or testimony is used 10 times! That is what this portion is all about! Jesus wants them to know that what He is teaching is true. There is a witness to verify Him as the Son of God, equally God, the giver of Eternal life, the One who resurrects the dead!
Let’s see who it is...
“If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true.
What? Jesus has just told us about Himself when He said He is the Son of God. Is that not true?
Jesus’ testimony about Himself is true, but it would not be considered valid to these men because it was from Jesus, and not verified by two other witnesses.
Jesus’ testimony about Himself is not untrue, but rather ‘not valid’, which is another way the Greek word here can—and probably should—be translated here. In fact, that is the way this word is translated in John 8:14.
Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going.
On that occasion Jesus was telling them that His testimony about Himself is indeed valid, because He knows the truth about Himself. However, here in John 5, Jesus realizes they would not consider His testimony about Himself valid, so He is going to go on and give other witnesses who will testify and be considered valid.
There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true.
Who is this one who will testify to Jesus?
Testimony 1: John the Baptist
Testimony 1: John the Baptist
“You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth.
As we saw in John 1:19-28, the Pharisees had sent some of their members to John to ask John who He was, and John already testified to Jesus. He said clearly,
I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”
John did testify and it was true. But that was not the testimony Jesus was refering to when He said there was another who testified.
Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.
Jesus did not need the testimony of a man. Not that John was, but men can lie. In fact, that is what these religious leaders would eventually use to try to condemn Jesus.
Jesus has One greater than any man who will testify for Him, but He did mention John because these men had already sent to John, and in some way respected John and his ministry. So, Jesus uses John’s testimony in hope that these men would remember John’s testimony and be saved.
“I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me.
Testimony 2: The works
Testimony 2: The works
These men did not want to believe Jesus. Yet the very act that precipitated this interaction with Jesus was a witness to the truth of who Jesus is! Who else could make a man who was lame for 38 years walk by simply saying, ‘Get up!’?
Who else could heal a boy who was over 8 hours travel distance away by simply saying he was healed? Who else could do all of the miracles that Jesus did, healing the lame, the blind, the deaf, the dead? No one but God!
Who else could forgive sin and give eternal life, and then validate the truth of what He did by making the lame walk? No one but God!
The things Jesus did were witnesses testifying to the truth that Jesus is God, the giver of eternal life, the One who frees from condemnation, the One who brings the dead to life!
And more than just the works, the Father Himself testified to Jesus!
And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent.
Testimony 3: The Father
Testimony 3: The Father
When did God testify to Jesus? All through the Old Testament when He prophesied about Jesus coming! He prophesied about Jesus coming and healing the lame, the deaf, the blind.
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.
And, He also prophesied that the coming Messiah would be born as a man, but would be the Almighty God!
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
God did testify, and these men read and knew these prophecies. They had the opportunity to hear God’s voice through the scriptures, but they would not hear.
They also had the opportunity to see the appearance of God (that is what that word form refers to, the outward appearance or form of something). How?
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus became flesh to reveal the Father. And Jesus says later in John...
Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
If they had the opportunity to hear and see, why didn’t they?
With these witnesses giving solid testimony,
How could they search and not find?
How could they search and not find?
This is the question we need to ask today. God has given witness in the scriptures, and through the works of Jesus. Yet many today, including people claiming to be Christians, seek and yet fail to find Eternal Life. We do not want to be like them. So let’s learn from these Pharisees mistakes. What kept them from finding when they searched?
And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form,
nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent.
Nor does his word dwell in you… That was a charge that these men would have bucked against.
The Pharisees prided themselves in memorizing the Word of God. As the Psalmist says in Psalm 119:11...
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
They hid the word in their hearts so they would not sin. This is a good thing.
So why would Jesus say the word did not dwell in them?
Because though they knew the words, it did not penetrate their heart. They had the form of religion, but denied its power.
And, though they knew the words, they did not believe the message...
nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent.
Though they knew the prophecies, and so much of the scriptures, they did not receive the message, or the One it was about.
They did not find because: They did not believe
They did not find because: They did not believe
Though they knew, and memorized the scriptures, they did not hear the message, nor believe when they were fulfilled. Thus, while seeking eternal life, they did not find it.
You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,
yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
The Pharisees really did believe studying the scriptures would bring them life. A teaching attributed to one of the most respected teachers, Hillel, “the more study of the Law the more life … if he has gained for himself words of the Law he has gained for himself life in the world to come”
So, they diligently applied themselves to the study of the scriptures, memorizing and even assigning numbers to ever letter, and every word. They would argue over the meanings of words and interpreting the scriptures.
Yet they failed to believe and come to the One the scriptures foretold!
The next section tells of another reason.
They did not find because: They had misplaced love.
They did not find because: They had misplaced love.
“I do not accept glory from human beings,
but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts.
From the context, what Jesus meant by not accepting glory from human beings is that He did not need their accolades.
Instead of loving God, and growing in their love of the God who was seeking to save them, they loved something else.
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.
How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
Instead of studying the scriptures and falling in love with God, they studied the scriptures to gain a name for themselves. They sought glory from one another. Or, in our everyday English: they sought after recognition and accolades from men.
They studied to make a name for themselves. They sought out those who could sound eloquent as they talked about the scriptures. They wanted to make a name for themselves as they argued over words and meanings of words.
Instead of using the scriptures to know and love the Lord, they used them to make a name for themselves. They had a misplaced love for themselves instead of a love for God. Thus they searched the scriptures but did not find the life they were after.
The last reason they sought and did not find is...
They did not find because: They did not apply.
They did not find because: They did not apply.
As they studied the scriptures, they though that in them they would have life. They thought that by upholding the law, the writings of Moses, in their own strength, they could achieve life.
That is why Jesus said:
“But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set.
If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.
But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”
Moses wrote about Jesus. He wrote the first promise of the coming savior in Genesis 3 after Adam and Eve sinned.
He wrote about Noah finding grace in the eyes of God, and even showed Noah as a normal human who sinned, even after the flood, when he became drunk.
He wrote about all of the failings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and yet how they too found grace through faith.
He wrote about the grace of God as the Israelites rebelled and complained against God time after time.
He wrote down God’s revealed law, and also God’s revealed sacrificial system because they were incapable of following the Law.
He wrote how God would punish them after they rebelled, but how God would restore them, and
The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.
Moses wrote about God needing to work in our hearts to love Him, not just laws that we obey to achieve life on our own.
The Laws show us our need for that work of God to change our hearts to love Him and to love others.
The Pharisees prided themselves in their knowledge of Moses and the scriptures. They prided themselves in their knowledge and their upholding of the law through their own traditions.
But they failed to believe the message of the scriptures, that we all fall short of the glory of God.
They failed to believe that we need God, the Savior, to cleanse us and to change our hearts.
They failed to love the Lord with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength. They failed to love their neighbor as themselves.
They failed to apply the Word to their own lives and see their need for the Savior.
And Jesus was bold enough to tell them how they were seeking, but not finding because they did not believe, they misplaced their love, and they failed to apply.
But, while Jesus was talking to the Pharisees about their failures, I have to say,
What about me?
What about me?
Do I even seek the Lord in the scriptures? Have I failed to believe Him that He supplies what I need for life and godliness?
When I do search the scriptures, do I believe what God is telling me?
Do I search the scriptures with a misplaced love? Do I do it to have and show off my knowledge of the scriptures? Or do I search because I love the Lord, and want to know Him more?
Do I search the scriptures to apply it to my life? Not to take pride that I follow the scripture more than you. Rather, do I search that I may see my shortcomings and seek the Lord to change my heart, and my actions?
My hope is that we will hear what Jesus has to say here at the end of John 5, and that we will apply what He says to the Pharisees to ourselves. We are people just like them with an academic bent that is slow to believe, puffed with self-seeking pride, and so to apply the scriptures to ourselves.
The moment we believe we have eternal life! Now, are we ready to experience the eternal life.
Let us pray that God will change our hearts so that we will truly experience the eternal life that He alone can work within us!
Homework
Pray for the Lord to speak to you from His Word. Pray specifically that you would believe what He says, study to love Him more, and seek to apply it to your life. Read John 5:31-47. Have you ever read the word and discounted it because of what others have said about it not being ‘possible’ or ‘true’?
Listen to the witnesses. Have you ever studied to know the facts of the scriptures? In what ways have you failed to apply the scriptures? Ask for forgiveness for being like the Pharisees, and ask the Lord to give you a desire to seek and find.
Read James 1:19-27. Explain the illustration James uses of the man looking in a mirror. Notice there are two men. Both are looking at the scriptures. What is the difference? How do James 1:19-21, 26-27 help us in judging ourselves in which man we are?
Read Matthew 23:1-12. This is another passage where Jesus describes the Pharisees. What do you see here that is a tendency you and I have? Rather than being like that, how should we be? Read Jeremiah 9:24. How can you apply Matthew 23:11-12 today?
Read Matthew 22:34-40. What is the sum of the whole law and the prophets? When we read the scriptures, how can we use them to fulfill these commands? Ask God to give us a heart of love for God and others. How will you live in love for God and others today? Be specific.
Read 1 John 2:1-6, 9-10. How do these verses help you love the Lord? How can you apply these verses to yourself and your life today?