Witness to Jesus

Jesus is qualified as his own witness, although the Father has witnessed of Him. (John 1:32)

Do you believe to life?

*Jesus come to earth

*He lived the perfect life

*He died for you (and)

* He rose again

Do you believe to death?

*Jesus existed but was only a historical figure

James 2:19 “19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!”

Who or Whose are you?

I cannot do anything of myself - under my own power.

Roman and Jewish law required 2 witnesses who saw or heard the act. Jesus under the Father had a witness and was qualified.

Jesus is also answering the charge that will be made later in the book John 8:13 “13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.””

John 5:30-47 “30 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. 31 If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. 33 You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35 He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36 But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, 38 and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has …”

Who is Jesus speaking to?

Jesus had an audience. He was most likely in a group setting and the Pharisees and Sadducees were listening along with the disciples.

John 5:34 “34 Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved.”

What about His conversation would save you? He is referencing faith/belief in Him as Messiah. He is also stressing that his witness along with the Father makes his witness true.

Jesus has given 4 wittnesses to who He is. 1) John the Baptist (vv. 33-35); 2) the works of Jesus (v. 36); 3) God the Father (vv. 37-38); and, 4) the Scriptures (v. 39).

He states that the Pharisees and Sadducees don’t have God living in them. John 5:38 “38 and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent.”

Reading the Bible/Old Testament does no good if you do not follow it’s author.

The Pharisees and Sadducees knew the scripture backward and forward but they had no knowledge of its author.

For the Pharisees and Sadducees they studied their whole lives. Their practice became all about themselves and others approval. They forgot the need for God’s approval.

They exchanged heaven for earthly fame and fortune

Jesus explicitly tells them in John 5:40 “40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.”

If you don’t have life, what do you have? DEATH!

This is my greatest complaint against church people. We are our own worst enemies. Why?

2 Timothy 3:1-5 “1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.”

Someday you may be condemned by the writers of scripture.

John 5:45-47 “45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?””

Where do you stand today?