Can I Get a Witness

Story about the guy in Iowa who was his own Lawyer and his own star witness in a drunk driving case. His defense “how could I be driving a car when the car keys are clearly not in car.” (he been seen by the arresting officer throwing them out the window)

Read John 5:31-47.

-We are closing out this section of John that has focused around one key event, the healing of a invalid on the Sabbath. Remember all the way back to the beginning of chapter 5. Violation of the Sabbath was a big deal but if you’ve been paying attention Jesus is really instructing that he’s an even bigger deal.

-Jesus opens up the this last section of teaching that really has an over whelming focus on his Messiahship with an odd sounding statement.

“if I testify about myself, my testimony is not true.”

What testimony would he be talking about?

A. God is his Father

B. I do what I see my father do

C. God is going to show you even greater things through me.

D. I give life to whom I please

E. The Father has installed me as judge over all.

So for Jesus to say “if I testify about myself, my testimony is not true.” That would have caused some ears to perk up.

Jesus is call them back to their own Law. Deut 19:15

Deuteronomy 19:15 NIV

One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

What Jesus is setting up is the idea that there are other witnesses to himself.

For Jesus to say “not true” is not make him out to be a liar but rather to say that his testimony is invalid. Or in more modern terms, would be unadmissible based on the fact that it was false. It is the word of one man.

(This is great ‘cause Jesus is answering questions that they aren’t even asking. What is more they would only require the testimony of 2, Jesus gives them 4)

1. In regard to his true identity, Jesus first appeals to the testimony of John the Baptist.

In chapter 1 John the Baptist has already been defined as a witness.

John’s ministry plays a pivotal role in Jesus’ life and ministry.

He is the voice calling in the wilderness, prepare the way.

He cries out John 1:29

John 1:29 NIV

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

He baptizes Jesus and Jesus’ own words Matthew 3:15

Matthew 3:15 NIV

Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

John would die in the middle of Jesus’ ministry but he would go on to refer to him through out his ministry.

He would say that John was a great prophet prophet coming with mantle of Elijah

Matthew 11:11–15 NIV

Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

In a funny ways Jesus validates John whom he says validates him.

But he doesn’t leave it there probably because it would be easy to say “look John was just a man like us, his testimony can’t carry that much weight can it?”

Thus for Jesus a “weightier” testimony.

2. Jesus points to the works given to him by God as the second witness to his identity.

This should not be overlooked. Jesus is claiming that works he performs are not an end in themselves, no they point to the fact that Jesus is on mission.

We are not to far into his gospel but I believe John is asking us to pay close attention to the works that have happened and that will happen.

Ultimately Jesus is saying that my actions speak louder than my words when it comes to the claims or the testimony I’m making.

We’ve already seen him heal, Ron gave us a sneak peak into chapter 6 where Jesus feeds a multitude of folks with 5 loaves and 2 fish. And next week, he walks on water.

One of my favorite examples of Jesus works witnessing about himself has to be when Jesus healed the paralyzed man in Mark 2.

Mark 2:1–12 NIV

A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

Jesus continues...

3. The Father himself is the third witness of the Son whom he sent into the world.

Jesus does something different here, he turns the witness of the Father into and indictment against the Jewish leaders as well.

A. You have not heard his voice

-Moses heard his voice

B. You have not seen his form

-Jacob saw his form Genesis 32:30-31

Genesis 32:30–31 (NIV)

So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.

C. You do not have his words dwelling in you

Joshua would have had experienced this

Joshua 1:8–9 NIV

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

As would the Psalmist

Psalm 119:11 NIV

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Jesus conclusion on the matter, You do not believe in the one whom God has sent.

This challenge is a deep cut against them; all they think and know, and even their identity as the people of of God.

CAUTION: We must avoid the temptation to look at this and come to the conclusion that this is somehow antisemitic. The reality is God doing something and they are missing it.

This warning can be seen all the way back in Isaiah

Isaiah 43:16–21 NIV

This is what the Lord says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.

I believe Jesus desperately wants them to get it. To understand his identity and his mission but they, like many of their ancestors have hardened hearts. On the day of Pentecost when the church was born many Jews believed, but many did not.

4. Finally, the very scriptures the Jewish leaders claim to revere point to Jesus and validate all of his Messianic claims.

This of all things must have cut like a knife.

It would be like accusing a Revolutionary War historian of not being able to come to the conclusion that George Washington was a great military leader and worthy of becoming of the first president of the the United States.

Jesus points out that they can ignore his accusation, because it’s Moses who accuses them, “on whom your hopes are set”.

Jesus does not allow them the point that they can have Moses and at same time reject who he is. It is impossible.

APPLICATIONS & IMPLICATIONS

We are dealing with the historic context of Jesus life but these Jewish leaders are not the only ones throughout history who have missed the boat on this.

Joseph Stalin

The copy of Joseph Stalin’s personal Bible shows evidence of much use. He seems to have read it seriously throughout his life, learning quotations and making extensive notes. The fact that he had such a Bible and even that he read and studied it should come as no surprise. In his youth, he had studied the Bible, first at school and then every year at the Tiflis Spiritual Seminary when he was training for the priesthood in the Russian Orthodox Church. Significantly, he did not put his Bible away when he became a socialist revolutionary and then the most important, if controversial, political leader of the twentieth century.

Reading the scriptures is good but where is it leading you? What is it teaching you? Are you asking the Holy Spirit you give you insight and understanding? What are your motivations for this kind of study?

2. There is new light shed on why it is important to read and study the Old Testament… It points us to Jesus.

3. Jesus forces us to come to some kind of conclusion about who he is.