Question
The Testimonies about Jesus
(The reasons for their unbelief)
John 5:31-47
Key Verse 39b-40
These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
1. Read verses 31-35. What did Jesus testify about himself in the previous passage? (17-18) Under what condition would his testimony not be valid? (31, Deut 19:15) What was the testimony of John the Baptist? (33, Jn 1:6,7,15,29,34) Why did Jesus mention John the Baptist? (34) What was Jesus’ comment about John? (35)
2. Read verses 36-40. What is the weightier testimony about Jesus? (36-38) Why did the Jews study the Scriptures? (39a) Who do the Scriptures testify about? (39b) What is the problem of the Jews? (37-40)
3. Read verses 41-44. Why didn’t the Jews accept Jesus? (42-44) What should we do in order to believe in Jesus? (42, 44b) How is Jesus different from the Jews? (41-44)
4. Read verses 45-47. Who would accuse the Jews? (45) Why? (46b) What didn’t the Jews believe? (47)
Manuscript
Message
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO BELIEVE?
John 5:31-47
Key Verses 46-47
“[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?”
In today’s passage Jesus asks the Pharisees twice, “How are you going to believe?” how many times did they answer? Zero. This question, “How are you going to believe?” is very important because it asks us about the foundation of our belief (or unbelief). In the previous passage, Jesus taught the importance of why one must believe in Jesus. Look at verse 24. “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”
Ultimately, he pointed them to the Scriptures as God’s own testimony that Jesus is the Son of God that gives life to whoever believes in him. Jesus teaches here that the key factor to know and believe in him is by knowing and believing the Scriptures, emphasizing “believing” the Scriptures.
Jesus was speaking to Pharisees. Who knew or studied the Bible as much as they did? Is there anyone here who thinks that may know the Old Testament better than these Pharisees? And yet you believe in Jesus, but these more knowledgeable did not. Did they miracles or special revelation? No. They already had the best access to the best resources. And yet, when Jesus came and worked, they did not know who he was. When Jesus healed an invalid of 38 years, they accused Jesus of sinning. But Jesus explained that it was the work of God the Father to help that man and all who hear it believe. Based on one event, two completely different interpretations came out. What a shock! Where God was working among them, they accused Jesus of breaking the law and being a sinner. The saw the exact opposite of what God was showing them.
So we want to listen to Jesus’ explanations of the testimonies about him so that we can come to know him and believe in him as the Son of God, and receive life from him. Although Jesus said these words to help them believe, we can learn from their mistakes to listen to God’s testimony of who Jesus is. May God help us to have the right basis of believing in Jesus and open our eyes to the work he is doing.
First, John the Baptist’s testimony
Look at verses 31-35.
1 “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid. 32 There 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.”
John’s testimony is the large part of the beginning of this gospel, from chapters 1-3. John testified clearly that Jesus is Son of God who came to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. He even said clearly to the Pharisees and to his disciples that he was not the Christ. His purpose was only to make the way for the Lord and reveal the Lord to the people. Revealing Jesus as the Son of God was the entire purpose of John’s ministry. And we saw how two disciples of John became disciples of Jesus and then the number increased to five as they all told their friends and brothers, “We have found the Messiah!” The author of this gospel, the disciples John, was one of those two who listened to John the Baptist’s testimony about Jesus and went to Jesus.
John’s testimony is also weighty because his actions backed up his testimony. In the first place, many, many people were repenting and turning to God. God was clearly working through John’s ministry. Soldiers repented of extortion and stopped. Tax collectors repented of taking too much and stopped. Prostitutes repented of their immorality and stopped. All the people came to him. His ministry was causing such a movement that many thought that John might be the Christ. But he didn’t become proud or try to take the spotlight. He confessed, “[Jesus] must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:30). When his disciples were jealous that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John at one point, John was glad. He testified that that was what was given him from heaven.
Therefore, it is important for us to see God’s work through changed lives and humble servants. I believe that all of us here want to see God’s work happening among us with great momentum and force. And God is surely working because Jesus said, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and, I, too, am working.” We can look first to see the work of God in repentance among us and support those who are repenting. Even we should repent a lot to for God to work among us. And we need to be humble to clearly point people to Jesus in everything that we do, so that Jesus can say that the members of the Downey UBF testify to me and I know that it is valid.
Look at verse 34 again.
Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved.
He did not rely on people to validate the work he was doing, because his work was from God, so he didn’t look to man’s testimony. But he mentioned it only for their sake that they might be saved. How amazing it is to see that Jesus was trying so hard to help these Pharisees to be saved. They looked so rotten for being hypocrites, abusing others, and not caring about others. But he didn’t reject them altogether. He wanted them to be saved. He hoped that they would remember John’s testimony and repent.
Look at verse 35 again.
John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.
Here Jesus mentions their first problem why they didn’t hear or understand John’s testimony about Jesus. They only wanted to enjoy John’s ministry to their liking without applying it to themselves. They “chose” to “enjoy” John’s light for a time. That time probably ended when John challenged them to repent and believe in Jesus by saying John himself was not the Christ, but Jesus. So, they only were doing what they could enjoy. And when they couldn’t enjoy it anymore, because they didn’t want to apply repentance to themselves, they chose not to enjoy John anymore. Their basis was off. Their basis was themselves and their own enjoyment, not John’s message, which was the testimony about Jesus. So then they really didn’t enjoy Jesus. So we learn from their first mistake that we can’t treat the Bible as something we just enjoy or like however we please, liking this part and that part. We have to apply all the word of God, even the challenging parts and parts we don’t like, to our daily lives, meaning, putting God’s word in practice. Firstly, by repentance. When we hear Jesus’ word to love one another, then let’s do that without making excuses. Jesus said to pray for all nations. So let’s pray for all nations without excuses. And so on.
Second, the testimony of the work Jesus was doing.
Look at verse 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.”
Here, Jesus says that the work he was doing is a weightier testimony than that of John’s. Of course, Jesus’ own work is greater than John’s.
As we’ve seen, Jesus did many things in John’s gospel so far: calling disciples to follow him, turning water to wine, meeting Nicodemus and a Samaritan woman. All different, but the work in each one was the same work: leading people to know him and believe in him.
Let’s consider again the invalid man of 38 years that prompted today’s passage. Jesus made it very clear that he healed the man. He did so when he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” Do you remember how he answered? Look again at verse 7. “Sir, I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” Basically, he said, “It’s impossible.” So by his own admission he confirmed that he was made well only by Jesus and not anything else. Then it was clear that without a doubt Jesus had made him well. And later when questioned about who made him well, he answered quickly, “Jesus.” It was not a coincidence. It was Jesus.
But the man didn’t believe. However, healing him was not an isolated special mercy. Jesus wanted all those who hear to believe and be saved. He even wanted these Pharisees to be saved through that event. The man didn’t believe although his body was healed. He rejected Jesus twice. So Jesus moved on to help the Pharisees believe in him. Who could heal an invalid of 38 years just by speaking? Only the Son of God.
In the case of Nicodemus, Jesus didn’t perform a miraculous sign, although Nicodemus was expecting it. But Jesus taught him to believe in the Son of Man who would be lifted up that all who believe in him may be saved. What was the basis of this teaching? It was the Scriptures, particularly the book of Numbers, chapter 21, which teaches Jesus’ work to die on the cross for the sin of the world. Nicodemus thought about it for a long time and was wishy washy. But when he saw Jesus crucified, he saw the work of God and believed. And he made it public that he was a believer.
The Samaritan woman had a similar case. Jesus did not perform any miraculous sign, but he did reveal her past to her in a surprising way at the well. Then as he taught her about worship, only one thing filled her mind and heart which she went away to tell the townspeople, “Come see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could this be the Christ?” It was a miracle in itself to see the woman was hid from all the people because of her past to joyfully and quickly expose herself and go to them doing nothing but telling them to come to Jesus. And finally the whole town came to Jesus and listened to his words and confessed, “Now we know that this man really is the savior of the world.” Everyone had given up on the woman, including herself. She hid from everyone except her boyfriend. But for her to believe and be restored to the community as a witness of Jesus was a clear testimony of his work as the Son of God.
Jesus teaching and healing ministry, his sufferings and death on the cross clearly testify that he is the Son of God.
This was the Pharisees second problem. They conveniently ignored the fact that Jesus did what no one else could do, so that they could accuse him of a technicality. So their reasoning became so twisted. Healing on a Sabbath became work on a Sabbath, rather than coming to the understanding that God is also working, even on the Sabbath, to save people from their sins.
We see many people have been changed by Jesus and it is a miracle. Sometimes we can be fatalistic about the work of God, thinking that he is not working, especially on me, only other people. Pharisees also thought like this. Jesus paid attention to sinners and tax collectors and didn't praise them as they had expected. When we get like that we can look to the work Jesus has done which testifies to him. We can see the examples of so many people who experienced Jesus’ healing through faith in him. If you have a problem that is bothering you, most likely Jesus has helped another person overcome a similar problem, if not worse than yours. That is a testimony for us to believe in Jesus. At the summer conference there will be a Heroes of Faith symposium from the discipleship groups. It is a good chance to see how Jesus changed and worked in the lives of these people. When they believed in Jesus he did great works in their lives and through their lives leading many more to believe in him. And we can look to the cross of Jesus as Nicodemus did.
Third, the testimony of God the Father
Look at verses 37-40.
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. 39 You 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.
Of course, this is the weightiest testimony of them all, God’s own testimony. He has testified through the Scriptures. Here Jesus reduced all the Scriptures to a single person, himself. All the word of God and all the truths of the Bible are testifying about him.
Again, this is surprising because of all the people who came to the Scriptures most often, it was the Pharisees. In fact, it was their profession. And yet it was these same Pharisees who did not seek the work of God that Jesus was doing nor believe that he is the Son of God. They had all the resources but came to the worst possible conclusion. How did it happen?
They studied diligently, but Jesus says that the word of God did not “dwell” in them. It was not living inside of them. They had a one-sided relationship with the Scriptures. It was their tool. They studied diligently, taking only what they liked for their benefit, without listening to the Scriptures. According to verse 39, they studied based on their own thinking about of how to get eternal life. So already the order was backwards. They already had their thinking of how to get eternal life and so studied diligently. But they needed to listen to the word of God to learn how to get eternal life. They were not following God’s way, but only their own thinking. Jesus said, “You think,” and “you chose to enjoy.” Their basis was only their thinking and enjoyment, but not listening to God. So although the Scriptures testify about Jesus, they “refused” to go to Jesus to get life. They persisted according to their own thinking and tradition. The very foundation they stood on to accuse Jesus, was actually the strongest testimony to who he is. But they thought they had graduated and were masters, so they didn’t listen.
We have a few graduates this week, such as Christina, Steven, and Lucia. Congratulations to them! But remember that we cannot graduate from the Scriptures! We don’t study the scriptures to think or to enjoy or to enjoy our thinking, but to know and believe Jesus and have life in him.
Look at verses 41-44.
"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?”
Here Jesus brings up their third problem which hindered them from listening to the testimony of the Scriptures: seeking praise from others, and so not having the love of God in their hearts. They made so many efforts to get praise from others, showing off their Bible knowledge, sitting at the good seats at the table, making lengthy shows of prayers, and so on. But they did not make the right effort. We have to turn all our attention and attention seeking to him. Jesus teaches here that it's okay to seek praise and attention. In fact, it’s good for us. But we have to seek them from the right person, and that is God, and not anyone else.
We're going to have a very hard time throughout our lives if we seek praise from people. You know, people change their opinions all the time. Someone who praises you today may not praise you tomorrow. What they like about you today, they may not like tomorrow. It’s too stressful. You will hang on to peoples every word only to get tossed like a little boat out on the open sea going up and down with the large waves. God is God and praise from him equals lasting reward in heaven. And it is good to hang to his every word for God’s word endures. Jesus said, “heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Jesus’ words are more stable than even the existence of the heavens and the earth. They are the most practical and foundational for our belief, not praise from others, or other “signs” to seek. Only his word. So we need to seek him there and seek praise from him. There are so many kinds of wisdoms and counselors and therapists, but the word of God is the wisest for it is the most stable and enduring.
Here are some questions to consider: “Can I do the work of God without getting acknowledged by others? Can I even do the work of God although rather than praise, people may say negative things or persecutions follow?” Well, Jesus did all these things and yet he was not phased or moved by the Pharisees constant accusations. Why was he so stable? Is it because Jesus does not feel or understand rejection or not being accepted by others as normal people like us do? No. He was so stable because he did not accept praise from men. It means he didn’t take in even the good stuff. “I do not accept praise from men” (36). He only sought praise from God the Father. This made Jesus to be truly stable as he did the work of God. He even had a heart that wished that these accusing and hypocritical Pharisees would believe in him and be saved. That’s what he wanted. So he didn’t accuse them back although he had many things to say about them. Instead, he tried to help them. In fact, he was inviting them to him. He asked them, “How can you believe?” So we need to clear out all the hindrances of the word of God speaking to us, such as seeking praise from others.
Look at verses 45-47.
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?”
He warned about the shocking reality that Moses, on whom their hopes were set, would be the one to accuse them before the Father. So he asked them again, “How are you going to believe what I say?” Unfortunately for them, they did not answer him at this time. But he put the question out. They heard it. The door was not closed for them. They had the chance still to answer the question for themselves and go to him.
Some avoid Moses saying they have Jesus now and so the Old Testament is not valid because it’s just a shadow. But here Jesus validates Moses in this passage, saying that we should believe Moses to believe in him because Moses wrote about Jesus.
We recently went through 16 chapters in the book of Leviticus for daily bread passage. I guess Leviticus is the most unread book of Moses, maybe of the whole Old Testament. But Jesus says that Leviticus is testifying about him! Especially, Leviticus testifies to the purifying and sin-forgiving blood Jesus shed as the atoning sacrifice for our sins so that we can live as a holy people belonging to God. It was really wonderful! How many went through all 16 chapters? How many wrote Bible testimonies on these passages? When we believe Leviticus we can that it is talking about the thorough cleansing power of Jesus' blood that forgives all our sins and builds us up to be a truly holy and godly people to be with God and serve him. Then we can cast out all doubts and fully believe the complete and cleansing power of Jesus' blood which is effective to me by faith in him. Today’s passage also tells us the practical benefits to writing bible testimonies each day. It is so that we can hear the word of God, apply it to our daily lives, and learn about Jesus and have faith in him. Jesus asked them a second time, “How are you going to believe?” But they still didn’t answer. Yet he didn’t cut them off or condemn them. But he asked them. He planted that word in their hearts. He wanted them to answer and to turn and believe. Now is the time for us to believe based on the scriptures as well.
Right now our UBF ministry is celebrating a 50th anniversary. Some our coworkers went to Korea to participate in this thanksgiving celebration. It is really a huge thanks topic that the Lord enables us to serve him and the campus ministry for the last 50 years with vision for much more. But we cannot rely on 50 years history of a UBF church or system to know and believe in Jesus. We must come to the word of God that testifies to Jesus. As we believe the scriptures, we can be led to Jesus and have faith in him. One thing that is good about the UBF legacy is the late Dr. Lee's direction to go back to the Bible. This is also Jesus' words.
Today, we learn that to see the work of God and who Jesus is, we have to listen to God in the Bible, by applying the word of God to our own hearts and daily lives with repentance and faith. May God help us to have faith in Jesus based on the Bible.
One Word: Believe the Bible!
Manuscript
Biblenote
The Testimonies about Jesus
(The reasons for their unbelief)
John 5:31-47
Key Verse 39b-40
These are the Scriptures that testify about me,
yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
In the previous passage, Jesus proclaimed to the Jews that he is equal with God the Father. Truly, Jesus is the divine Son of God. In today’s passage, Jesus introduced four witnesses who testify that Jesus is equal with God:
(1) John the Baptist; (2) The Works of Jesus; (3) God the Father; (4) Scripture.
Today’s passage displays Jesus’ incredible love and patience for the Jews who wanted to kill him. In divine love, he diagnoses that they have no spiritual life in them. He helps them to identify the symptoms of their deadness – to identify the inner forces which were the cause of their refusal to accept the incontrovertible testimony concerning his identity as God and Savior:
(1) No love of God in their hearts.
(2) Accepting praise from men.
(3) Making no effort to obtain praise from God.
(4) Not believing the Scriptures.
May God open our hearts and ears to accept the testimonies about Jesus!
1. Read verses 31-35.
ANSWER:
Joh 5:31-35 "If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid. 32 There 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.
What did Jesus testify about himself in the previous passage? (17-18)
ANSWER:
Joh 5:17-18 Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working." 18 For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
He was calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
Jesus testified that he is equal with God (Jn 5:17-18).
Jesus told the Jews that he is the divine Son of God (that he is God) (19-30).
Jesus testified also that he is the Savior, the giver of spiritual life (Jn 5:25, 21).
Under what condition would his testimony not be valid? (31, Deut 19:15)
ANSWER:
Joh 5:31 "If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid.
Deu 19:15 One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
It would not be valid if there were no other witnesses to support it. To be precise, Jesus’ testimony about himself was not sufficient alone to establish his claim in a court of law. The Jews need two or three witnesses in order to confirm a certain thing, according to Deu 19:15 and Num 35:30.
But Jesus had far more than his own testimony to furnish as evidence. Jesus calls forth four absolutely credible witnesses who will testify that he is equal to the Father. But the Jews will reject these witnesses and their testimony.
What was the testimony of John the Baptist? (33, Jn 1:6,7,15,29,34)
ANSWER:
Joh 5:33 "You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth.
Joh 1:6-7 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe.
Joh 1:15 John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, `He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'"
Joh 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
Joh 1:34 I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."
He testified that Jesus is the Messiah. Specifically, he said:
Jesus is eternal; he was before John (Jn 1:15, 1:1)
Jesus is worthy of all (Jn 1:27, 3:31; Rev 5:12)
Jesus is the Lamb of God (Jn 1:29)
Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit (Jn 1:33)
Jesus is the Son of God (Jn 1:34)
When Jesus said, “You have sent to John”, he was referring to the event in which the Jewish authorities had sent a delegation to John the Baptist to ask him who he was (Jn 1:19-28). John the Baptist testified that he was the one sent by God to prepare the way for the Messiah.
By sending this delegation to John, the Jewish leaders admitted that he was a man whose great influence and authority and testimony they could not ignore. Jesus now reminds them of the message from John which they did not want to hear.
Why did Jesus mention John the Baptist? (34)
ANSWER:
Joh 5:34 Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved.
He mentioned the testimony of John so that his enemies may believe it and be saved.
Christ’s love is shown here. He desired to save his enemies who wanted only to kill him (Jn 5:18; Eze 33:11; 2Pe 3:9; 1Ti 2:4).
Divine power restrained them thus far from stoning him as he spoke of his identity with the intent to save them (Jn 7:30; Mat 21:46). As his spoke of himself as God so unmistakably and clearly, their ears could only hear of blasphemy (Lev 24:16; Jn 10:33) even though he held out the words of life which could save them (Jn 8:24, 3:19).
Compassion and mercy was in Jesus’ heart, but the hearts of those to whom he spoke had no room for what he said; their hearts were aflame with desire to kill him (18; Jn 8:44). In a couple years, God would remove his restaining hand and allow them to carry out their desire.
Jesus said these words for their benefit, not his own. He himself did not accept human testimony or have any need of it because:
Jesus is God whose glory fills the earth (Isa 6:3; Jn 12:41).
Jesus knew where he came and he was going (Jn 8:14).
Some receive saving faith in Jesus Christ after listening another person's testimony (Jn 4:39).
Personal testimony is used by God powerfully to save others.
What was Jesus’ comment about John? (35)
ANSWER:
Joh 5:35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.
John was a lamp (35)
Jesus gave a brief evaluation of John the Baptist's ministry.
John was not the true light but a lamp, only a witness to the light (1:8-9).
God sent John as a lamp to make Jesus’ identity visible to everyone, including the Jews to whom Jesus now spoke (Jn 1:7; Psa 132:17).
John had burned with the holy fire of zeal for God but the Jews to whom Jesus now spoke had unholy, sinful desire burning within them (18). His life was a powerful, beautiful lamp light which attracted the people to come to him from out from darkness (Mat 3:5).
John was (in the past) a lamp. This would suggest that John the Baptist was now in prison.
The Jews enjoyed his light temporarily.
Both the Jewish leaders and the populace were excited at first and hoped that John might be their Messiah (Luk 3:15; Jn 1:20-21; Mat 3:5).
They wrongly expected that the Messiah was going to be a political king who would restore their nation to the glory, power and prosperity it had in the times of David, overthrowing Rome and regaining its dominion over the surrounding Gentile nations (Mat 22:43-46, 20:20-23; Acts 1:6; 2Sa 7:12-16; Jn 6:15, 5:43b).
The enthusiasm of the Jewish leaders over John was only temporarily (Luk 7:30; Mat 11:18, 21:32).
They stopped enjoying his light when he preached that they were a brood of vipers in danger of God’s wrath and that it made no difference that Abraham was their father (Mat 3:7-10; 21:32).
They stopped enjoying his light when he pointed out that they needed Jesus, the spotless lamb, to take away their filthy sins (Jn 1:29) and that all their self-righteous, legalistic observance of their human traditions wasn’t good enough to get them into heaven.
John’s rebuke to the Jewish leaders was particularly sharp because they were the most responsible for the corruption of that generation, leading people to hell and shutting the doors of heaven in men’s faces (Mat 15:14, 23:13-15, 33).
John's witness to Jesus' identity was true, but it had little continuing impact on the general populace. People flocked to Jesus but remained in darkness about his true identity (Mat 16:13-14, 13:13; Jn 1:11; Isa 53:3).
2. Read verses 36-40.
ANSWER:
Joh 5:36-40 "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. 39 You 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.
What is the weightier testimony about Jesus? (36-38)
ANSWER:
Joh 5:36-38 "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.
The testimony of his works.
This was the second witness concerning Jesus' identity as the Son of God -- a witness which was far weightier than John's witness.
These works included the miraculous signs he was doing (especially, healing the man who had been an invalid for 38 years in verses 8-9).
Jesus’ works were the fulfillment of OT prophecies about the Messiah (Mat 11:4-5).
The deaf will hear and the blind will see (Isa 9:1-2; 29:18; 32:3-4 and Mk 8:25; Mat 15:31).
The lame will leap and the mute will speak (Isa 35:6 and Jn 5:8-9; Mk 7:35).
The captives will be free from prison (Isa 42:7; Mat 9:9; Jn 8:32; Ro 8:2, 8:15; 2Co 3:17).
These works included all of Jesus' activities,
His miracles, his life of perfect obedience, and his work of redemption on the cross.
Every aspect of the works of Jesus testified to the deity of Jesus. Jesus’ teachings, his righteous life, compassion, and mighty miracles bore clear witness to who he was, where he came from, and who sent Him.
The testimony of God the Father. This was the third witness concerning Jesus' identity.
At the baptism of Jesus, God the Father testified of Jesus (Lk 3:22).
God the Father will, in a little over a year from now, testify a second time about his Son at the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain (Mk 9:7).
God the Father will testify a third time in Jn 12:28.
Why did the Jews study the Scriptures? (39a)
ANSWER:
Joh 5:39 You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me,
The Jews diligently studied the Scriptures to possess eternal life and memorized vast portions of Scripture.
Because they believed that studying it would bring them life.
Because they believed that they could earn eternal life through their efforts.
Because they believed eternal life (salvation) was by work, by self righteousness.
How to possess eternal life: through Jesus, not through diligent bible study.
To the Jews, bible study became an end in itself to possess eternal life.
Bible study is not an end but a means to know Jesus who is the source of life.
Eternal life comes through Jesus, not through bible study.
We can come to know Jesus through bible study.
Nevertheless, diligent, prayerful bible study and Scripture meditation and memorization is very spiritually enriching when it is done properly and with the right aim to know Jesus, the source of life.
Who do the Scriptures testify about? (39b)
ANSWER:
Joh 5:39 You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me,
The Scriptures are talking about Jesus (Lk 24:27, Jn 1:45, Acts 17:2,3; 28:23).
Jesus is the promised Messiah, King, Savior, Redeemer and incarnation of God according to the Scriptures.
Sometimes the OT Scriptures literally describe Jesus and sometimes symbolically.
The following is a brief (not exhaustive) listing of references about Jesus from the OT Scriptures (See also question 3 for Moses’ testimony about Jesus):
(1) Genesis: Offspring of the woman (Gen 3:15 and Mat 1:18)
Offspring of Abraham (Gen 12:7; 22:18; 24:7 and Gal 3:16)
(2) Exodus: The Passover lamb (Exo 12 and Jn 1:29)
Manna (Exo 16:14-35 and Jn 6:32-33,58)
The Rock and fountain of life (Exo 17:6 and Jn 7:37-38; 1Co 10:4)
(3) Leviticus: Sacrificial offerings (Lev 1-7 and Heb 10:1,3-4,10)
(4) Numbers: The serpent in the wilderness (Num 21:4-9 and Jn 3:14-15)
(5) Deuteronomy: A prophet (Deu 18:15 and Act 3:22-23)
(6) 2 Samuel: Offspring of David (2Sa 7:12-16 and Mat 1:1)
(7) Psalms:
Son of God, divine King (Psa 2:7-9, 45:6-7 and Mat 2:2; Jn 1:49; Heb 1:8-9)
Resurrection from the dead (Psa 16:8-11 and Acts 2:31; Mk 16:6)
The Messiah’s suffering and death (Psa 22:1,6,16,18
and Mat 27:46, 27:35-39; Jn 19:23-28)
King and Priest (Psalm 110:1-4 and Mat 22:43-46; Acts 2:34-35,
Eph 1:20; Heb 5:6, 7:17,21)
Capstone (Psa 118:22 and 1Pe 2:7)
(8) Isaiah:
Immanuel/ Virgin Birth (Isa 7:14 and Mat 1:23; Jn 1:14)
The Stone to stumble over (Isa 8:14 and Ro 9:33; 1Pe 2:8)
The Great Light (Isa 9:2 and Mat 4:13-16; Lk 1:78,79; Jn 1:4, 1:9, 8:12, 12:35)
The Child with 4 names (Isa 9:6-7 and 1Co 1:24; Php 2:6-11; Heb 13:8; Jn 16:33)
The incarnation of YHWH (Isa 40:3 and Mat 3:3; Jn 1:14)
The Suffering Servant (Isa 53:7-11 and 1Pe 2:24)
The Redeemer (Isa 59:20 and Ro 11:26-27)
(9) Jeremiah:
The Branch who is YHWH (Jer 23:5-6 and Ro 9:5)
(10) Ezekiel: Messiah gives new life (Eze 36:25-28 and Jn 3:5; 2Co 5:17)
(11) Daniel:
Son of Man (Dan 7:13-14 and Mat 19:28, 24:30; Mk 13:26)
The Risen Lord (Dan 6:17, 21-23 and Mat 27:66, 28:6)
(12) Hosea: Son out of Egypt (Hos 11:1 and Mat 2:14-15)
(13) Jonah: 3 days in a fish (Jonah 1:17 and Mat 12:40-41; Mk 8:31, 9:31; 1Co 15:3-4)
(14) Micah: Birth place (Bethlehem) (Mic 5:2, Mat 2:4-5)
(15) Zechariah:
King riding on a donkey (Zec 9:9-10 and Mat 21:5)
God coming to dwell (Zec 2:10-11 and Col 2:9)
The crucified God (Zec12:10 and Acts 20:28)
(16) Malachi:
The Messenger of the covenant (Mal 3:1 and Mat 11:10; Heb 9:15)
The Sun of Righteousness (Mal 4:2 and Lk 1:78, Jn 1:4, Rev 21:23, 22:5)
The coming of Elijah; forerunner of the Messiah (Mal 4:5 and Mat 11:14)
What is the problem of the Jews? (37-40)
ANSWER:
Joh 5:37-40 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. 39 You 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.
Jesus’ verdict was this: They were dead in their sin (40; Eph 2:1). They needed him to have life.
Jesus, the Son, is the final and complete revelation of the Father (Heb 1:1-2). But the Jews did not accept him because they did not accept what the Father himself had testified prior to that time about Jesus in order to prepare them for Jesus.
They had never heard the Father’s voice (37). This was shown by the fact that they did not hear the voice of God through Jesus (Jn 14:10b, 12:49).
They had never seen God’s form (37). This was shown by the fact that they did not see God the Father in Jesus (Jn 12:45).
They did not have the living word of God dwelling in them even though they memorized the Scriptures (38-39). This was shown by the fact that they rejected Jesus, the incarnate Word.
The dead do not hear or see or understand anything. Likewise, the Jews to whom Jesus spoke were shown to be dead to God by their failure to hear or see of God in Jesus or accept Jesus the Word (Deu 29:4; Jer 4:22, 5:21; Jn 8:43,47).
Despite all the testimony presented to them concerning Jesus, the Jews did not: (1) believe in Jesus; and (2) come to Jesus (38, 40, 6:35b).
They refused to believe and repent. Their rejection was willfull and purposeful. It was not because the evidence was insufficient. They did this because they were corrupted and dead and therefore loved darkness and hated the light of truth (Jn 3:19-20).
The Jews should have loved Jesus who was the exact representation of the Father (Heb 1:3; Jn 8:42) and should have made ready by the Father to eagerly receive him and his truth as did those who were waiting for the Messiah like Simeon (Luk 2:25-32), Anna (Luk 2:36-38), Philip (Jn 1:45), and the tax-collectors and prostitutes who received John’s baptism (Mat 21:32), etc..
The Jews were instead waiting for a political Messiah (43).
Again, Jesus’ aim was to have them become sensitized to their pitiful state (34b; Acts 2:37).
3. Read verses 41-44.
ANSWER:
Joh 5:41-44 "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?
Why didn’t the Jews accept Jesus? (42-44)
ANSWER:
Joh 5:42-44 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?
Because of their darkened, sinful state of mind, they were rendered incapable of accepting him (44; Jn 3:20; Jer 13:23).
Jesus helped them identify their symptoms of their spiritual deadness. Their specific sins were:
They had no love of God in their hearts (42; 1Jn 2:15b) even though they professed to love him more than anyone.
God was not the object of their adoration and worship and delight.
They did not have eyes to see of God’s splendor and worthiness (Pro 21:4; Mat 6:23).
They accepted praise from one another (44; Mat 23:5-7; Psa 36:1-2).
They diligently studied the Scriptures to become respected rabbis and obtain man’s praise.
They made no effort to obtain the praise from God (44).
They enjoyed man’s honor and recognition, not the honor from God. They were slaves to it.
They sought what is popular (man’s glory), not what is true (glory from God).
They sought their own glory, their own ways (not the glory of God).
They did not seek what is true (God, God’s way, God’s glory).
What should we do in order to believe in Jesus? (42, 44b)
ANSWER:
Joh 5:42 but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts.
Joh 5:44b yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?
We should trust and obey his words (Jn 2:5, 7:17, 3:21, 8:31-32). Specifically:
We should not accept praise from men (41, 44a).
God is the source of any light that might shine forth from us sinners for which we might be praised by men (Mat 5:16; Php 2:13). So with this faith, we can give God the glory rather than accepting man’s praise and admiring ourselves (1Co 4:7).
We should make every effort to obtain the praise from God by doing what pleases him according to his word (44b).
We should seek God’s honor (Jn 7:18; Pro 25:27).
We should have the love of God in our hearts (42).
Those who have Jesus’ commands and obey them are the ones who truly love Jesus (Jn 14:21). Jesus shows the glory of himself to such persons so that they may have the love and adoration and delight of him in their hearts.
Love for God in our hearts is a miracle which comes from above. It comes from the revelation of how God first showed his love for us sinners (1Jn 4:19, 7).
How is Jesus different from the Jews? (41-44)
ANSWER:
Joh 5:41-44 "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?
Jesus does not accept praise from sinful men (41; Jn 2:24-25; Mat 22:16-18).
Jesus rejected the praise from Nicodemus (Jn 3:2-3).
But Jesus does accept the true worship of God’s children (Jn 5:23, 4:23; Mat 28:17, 9; Jn 9:38; Php 3:3).
Jesus came in his Father’s name (43b).
He did not come in his own name.
Jesus came for the glory of his Father (Jn 8:50, 54).
Jesus made every effort to obtain the praise from God (Jn 8:29b).
Jesus sought the praise from God, God’s approval.
Jesus has the love of God in his heart (Jn 14:31).
The Jews did not have God’s love in their hearts.
4. Read verses 45-47.
ANSWER:
Joh 5:45-47 "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?"
Who would accuse the Jews? (45)
ANSWER:
Joh 5:45 "But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set.
Moses.
The Jews professed to follow Moses but, in reality, they did not follow him at all (Jn 7:19; Acts 7:53; Gal 6:13).
Moses told them that the Prophet (Messiah) was coming and they should listen to him (Deut 18:15-19).
But the Jews rejected Jesus.
Moses had urged the Jews to follow the law,
But they had broken the law throughout their history.
Moses never taught that the Law was an end in itself.
But the Jews believed that they could earn salvation by keeping the laws.
They had set their hope on Moses in that respect (45).
They foolishly hoped in Moses rather than in the One whom Moses told them to prepare for and receive.
Why? (46b)
ANSWER:
Joh 5:46b for he wrote about me.
Moses will accuse them because he wrote about Jesus.
If they had really believed Moses, they would also have believed Jesus.
What did Moses write about Jesus? The following is a partial list:
(1) Offspring of woman: Gen 3:15 and Mat 1:18.
(2) Seed: Gen 12:7; 22:18; 24:7: and Gal 3:16.
(3) Priest of the Order of Melchizedek: Gen 14:18 and Heb 7:1-3.
(4) Lamb of God: Gen 22:8 and Jn 1:29, Jn 8:56.
(5) Jacob’s ladder: Gen 28:12 and Jn 1:51.
(6) Ruling with a scepter: Gen 49:10 and Psa 2:9, Rev 2:27; 19:15.
(7) I AM: Exo 3:14 and Jn 4:26, 8:58.
(8) The Passover lamb: Exo 12 and Jn 1:29.
(9) Manna: Exo 16:14-35 and Jn 6:32-33,58.
(10) The Bondservant: Exo 21:5-6: and Psa 40:6-8, Heb 10:5-10.
(11) God Dwelling with Man: Exo 25:8 and Jn 1:14, Rev 21:3.
(12) The Tabernacle (temple): Exo 25-27, 36-38 and Jn 2:19-21, Heb 10:20.
(13) High Priest: Exo 28, 29, 39 and Jn 17:9, Heb 9:11.
(14) Sacrificial offerings: Lev 1-7 and Heb 10:1,3-4,10.
(15) The Day of Atonement: Lev 16:29-30 and Rom 3:25, Heb 7:27.
(16) The Rock: Num 20:8-12 and 1Co 10:4 .
(17) Moses and the serpent in the Wilderness: Num 21:4-9 and Jn 3:14-15.
(18) The Star: Num 24:17 and Mat 2:2.
(19) The cities of Refuge: Num 35:6, Deut 4:41, Psa 119:114 and Heb 6:18, Ro 6:23b.
(20) The Prophet: Deut 18:15 and Acts 3:22-23.
What didn’t the Jews believe? (47)
ANSWER:
Joh 5:47 But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?"
They did not believe Moses’ writings (Pentateuch).
They did not believe Moses and they did not receive the testimony of Moses.
Had they paid attention to Moses, they would have felt conviction for their sin and would have been eager to receive the Savior (Gal 3:24; Ro 3:20b).
Because they rejected Moses’ writing (God’s word), they rejected Jesus’ words (God’s word). Consequently, no amount of weighty proofs Jesus mustered could ever persuade them (Luk 16:29-31).
In Conclusion, Jesus is our God and Savior. John the Baptist testified that Jesus is the Messiah. All Jesus’ works testified that Jesus is God. God the Father testified Jesus is the Son of God. The Scriptures testify that Jesus is the promised Messiah and is God. Praise God who has furnished us with such an abundance of weighty and powerful testimony to open our hearts to believe and come to Jesus (repent) that we may have life!
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In Jn 8:14, Jesus seems to say the direct opposite: “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid...” However, on that occasion his opponents were contesting his claim to be the light of the world. Jesus is the one and only witness whom the Father has sent down from heaven to provide us with divine light concerning himself. God was not required to send down a second or third witness about himself to satisfy the Jew’s unreasonable demand for more evidence. Furthermore, as the divine light of the world, Jesus’ testimony by itself is valid, not because it met the requirement for lawcourt evidence, but because it was the testimony of God himself whose testimony about anything is always completely trustworthy and accurate and incontestible. Note also that the divine light of Jesus is self-attesting, for the Spirit whom he has given us testifies that his word is truth (1Jn 5:10; Acts 5:32; Jn 15:26).
John the Baptist, however, did not tell the delegation on that day who the Messiah was. Not until the next day did he identify Jesus as the Messiah (Jn 1:29-34). No doubt, the Jews knew of what he said.
Possibly John the Baptist had been put in prison four months ago. This would be true if: (1) the event in Jn 4:3 corresponds to Mat 4:12, John’s imprisonment; (2) there were really 4 months before the barley harvest as suggested in Jn 4:35; and (3) the feast in 5:1 was the Passover.
“Certainly there is ample external evidence that support this reading of Jewish motivation: e.g. Hillel affirms that the more study of the law, the more life, and that if a man gains for himself words of the law he has gained for himself life in the world to come (Pirke Aboth 2:7).” (D. A. Carson, The Gospel according to John, Pg 263).
It makes a huge difference how we interpret the word “for” in the last clause of verse 38. If we interpret this as meaning ‘because’, then Jesus is saying that, ‘because’ they don't believe in him, the Jews had never seen or heard the Father or received his word. This is a true statement but it makes no contribution the overall point Jesus is trying to make. He is trying to show why the Jews failed to believe in him despite the evidence (i.e., the testimony of the Father himself, v. 37a). So it makes more sense to interpret this word “for” as meaning ‘as shown by’. Thus, Jesus is saying that the Jews don't accept the evidence because of their darkened state of mind ‘as shown by’ the fact they don't believe in him. Carson weighs in on this issue, saying, “...Jesus is the fulfilment of all the antecedent revelation. Failure to believe in Jesus is therefore compelling evidence that, however exacting the scholarship that was studying that revelation, the revelation itself had not been absorbed, understood, obeyed. In the last clause of v. 38, for you do not believe the one he sent, the conjunction for should therefore be taken as introducing the conclusive evidence in support of the triple indictment, rather than as the cause of the spiritual and moral failure of Jesus’ interlocutors.” (D. A. Carson, The Gospel according to John, Pg 263).