THE FOURFOLD WITNESS

John 5:30–47 NKJV

I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me. “If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true. You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved. He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. “I do not receive honor from men. But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”

Main Idea: We have several witnesses that give testimony about the identity of Jesus.

Key Question: Do you believe their testimony?

1. One witness is from John the Baptist. (v. 30-35)

John 5:30–35 NKJV

I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me. “If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true. You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved. He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.

John 1:32–34 NKJV

And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”

Jesus did not need “man’s” testimony, but God used it to bring others to himself.

2. One witness is from the ministry. (v. 36)

John 5:36 NKJV

But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.

John 10:25 NKJV

Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me.

John 10:38 NKJV

but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.”

3. One witness is from the Father. (v. 37-38)

John 5:37–38 NKJV

And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.

Matthew 3:17 NKJV

And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

“heard his voice” - Moses

“seen His form” - Jacob

“do not have His word” - psalmist

4. One witness is from the Scripture. (v. 39-47)

John 5:39–47 NKJV

You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. “I do not receive honor from men. But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”

Luke 24:27 NKJV

And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

Genesis, CREATOR

Exodus, THE PASSOVER LAMB

Leviticus, THE HIGH PRIEST

Numbers, THE LVIING WATER OF THE ROCK OF AGES

Deuteronomy, THE GREAT PROPHET

Joshua, THE CAPTAIN OF OUR SALVATION

Judges, THE TRUE AND ULTIMATE JUDGE

Ruth, THE KINSMAN REDEEMER

1&2 Samual, THE ALL IN ONE PROPHET/PRIEST/KING

1&2 Kings, THE REIGNING KING

Ezra, PRIEST PROCLAIMING FREEDOM

Nehemiah, THE RESTORER OF BROKENNESS

Esther, PROTECTOR

Job, MEDIATOR

Psalms, THE LORD OUR SHEPHERD

Proverbs, WISDOM

Ecclesiastes, THE MEANING OF LIFE

Song of Solomon, THE ULTIMATE BRIDEGROOM

Isaiah, SUFFERING SERVANT

Jeremiah, THE WEEPING MESSIAH

Lamentations, THE ONE BEARS THE WRATH OF GOD

Ezekiel, THE SON OF MAN

Daniel, THE STRANGER IN THE FIRE

Joel, THE SPIRIT WALKING WITH US

Amos, THE BEARER OF BURDENS

Obadiah, THE MIGHT SAVIER

Jonah, THE FORGIVING GOD

Micah, THE MESSENGER

Nahum, THE AVENGER

Habakuk, CRUSHES INJUSTICE

Zephaniah, THE WARRIOR WHO SAVES

Haggai, THE RESTORER OF WORSHIP

Zechariah, THE PIERCED MESSIAH

Malachi, THE SON OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Matthew, THE PROMISED MESSIAH

Mark, THE MIRACLE WORKER

Luke, THE SON OF MAN

John, THE SON OF GOD

Acts, THE ASCENDED LORD

Romans, THE JUSTIFIER

1&2 Corinthians, THE LAST ADAM

Galatians, THE ONE SETS US FREE

Ephesians, THE CHRIST OF RICHES

Philippians, THE JOY OF OUR LIFE

Colossians, THE PRE-EMINENT ONE

1&2 Thessalonians, THE SOON AND COMING KING

1&2 Timothy, THE GREAT MEDIATOR

Titus, OUR BLESSED HOPE

Philemon, OUR FRIEND WHO IS CLOSER THAN A BROTHER

Hebrews, THE BLOOD THAT WASHES AWAY OUR SIN

James, THE GREAT PHYSICIAN

1&2 Peter, THHE CHIEF SHEPHERD

1,2&3 John, THE EVERLASTING LOVE

Jude, THE GOD OUR SAVIOR

Revelation, THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH, THE WORD OF GOD, THE KING OF KINGS, THE LORD OF LORDS, THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR