When Evidence is Not the Problem

John 5:19-47

John 5:19–47 NASB95

Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. “For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel. “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. “For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. “For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. “Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment. “I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. “If I alone testify about Myself, My testimony is not true. “There is another who testifies of Me, and I know that the testimony which He gives about Me is true. “You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth. “But the testimony which I receive is not from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. “He was the lamp that was burning and was shining and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. “But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works that I do—testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me. “And the Father who sent Me, He has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His form. “You do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent. “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. “I do not receive glory from men; but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. “I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. “How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God? “Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. “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?”

TRUTH

Verse 31-32:

Jesus understood that truth was rejected. It was not because of lack of evidence, but a lack of unwilling hearts.

“This was a Trial Where the Verdict Was Decided Before the Evidence Was Heard”

Jesus stood accused in their courtroom and according to Jewish law one must bring forth witnesses.

The healing was not the issue. Everyone agreed Jesus healed the man. They accused Jesus of sinning. Healing on the Sabbath and claiming God was His Father. So, what did Jesus do, He did not argue louder to get His point across, He called on the witnesses.

Jesus drew out 4 evidences to present before the court, before His accusers. He did not defend himself. He simply pointed to the truth. TRUTH ALWAYS PREVAILS.

By their own law—the law they prided themselves on—Jesus is doing exactly what righteousness requires.

Jewish Law:

Matthew 18:15-16

Every Matter Must be Confirmed (If the sinner did not repent in private) The witnesses are there to account for the TRUTH.

Deut. 19:15

The sin must be confirmed, every detail and all matters. Beyond a shadow of a doubt. One person making a claim is never good enough. There must me multiple people that bring a charge of sin and then it must be examined.

1 Timothy 5:19 NASB95

Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses.

Never listen to a charge by one person on an elder. Tell them to talk directly to that person. However, if they go and share that information with others and begin discord, gossip, it is already 100% clear their agenda and motive. To cause tension and division. To bring discord. They are the one sinning. They do not know the Love of God.

If the Pharisees would have only asked Jesus directly (one-on-one), how much better would it have been for them. This is why Nicodemus’ story is so wonderful and tragic. Nicodemus came to Jesus, in the dark, in private and gained an audience with Him. Jesus told Nicodemus the TRUTH. It was then up to Nicodemus on how to respond in his heart to the TRUTH. He could accept it or become one of the rabble rousers who would persecute Jesus, leading to his crucifixion and death.

Accusers: When truth is unwelcome, accusation becomes a weapon.

Has this ever happened to you? Have people made false claims, assumptions, attacks, difference of opinions, etc. without substantial evidence? Remember we are not talking about sin!

What we are talking about is when people are confronted with the TRUTH, their instincts are to attack and bring others alongside them for their cause. They recruit others, spread suspicion, and divide—all to protect their position! Why? Because the GOSPEL convicts, TRUTH convicts the weak. Such behavior reveals either a heart in desperate need of repentance—or a heart that does not yet know God. This is exactly what the Pharisees, priests, and others were doing to Jesus. (So, know you are not alone when the same comes knocking at your door).

When confronted Jesus did not get offended, he did not defend Himself, He was either silent or He pointed to the TRUTH, the EVIDENCE. The TRUTH SETS YOU FREE!

What happens when a man testifies about himself and who he is? Consider Joseph Smith, Mohammed, Politicians, Cult Leaders, Celebrity Preachers and Leaders, others who are trying to get people to follow them and their teachings. The TRUTH is always revealed.

NO PEACE

Matthew 10:34–36 NASB95

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. “For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.”

Evidence of John the Baptist

Verse 33:

John the Baptist gave evidence of the truth. The Pharisees, sought to ask John about Jesus.

Although John gave evidence of Jesus, Jesus noted that His testimony is not from man, His testimony comes from above.

John 1:19–26 NASB95

This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, and said to him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John answered them saying, “I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know.

Verse 34:

God’s Testimony is Supreme

1 John 5:9 NASB95

If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son.

Verse 35:

John was a lamp which all were going to. Yet, John B, was not the light. The people did not remain in the light of his lamp. John’s lamp needed fuel, oil and it would eventually burn out.

John the Baptist called people to a baptism of repentance, he called them to a simple task of baptism. Ceremonial Baptism. To be dunked and cleansed of your sins. It was another works based idea, which truly did not save them. The purpose was to point everyone to the true Savior.

Needing forgiveness wasn’t the problem, endurance was. People liked John B. because he first pointed to them. But, when Jesus arrived, he pointed away from them towards Someone greater.

Later, John B. was struggling with TRUTH.

If John struggled—what does that say about the pressure truth places on the heart?

Matthew 11:2–6 NASB95

Now when John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. “And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.”

Evidence of Works

Verse 36:

Jesus said, “Watch.” His works demonstrated God’s heart on earth.

Jesus’ goodness was dismissed because control was threatened. Those who do not know God, will never see the good being done for the KINGDOM, especially when their control is at stake.

Evidence from God the Father

How do you ask the Father? Pray. Read Scripture.

Verse 32: Verse 37-38:

The Father gave evidence of Jesus. The Father testified to Jesus. At Jesus’ baptism the Father’s voice was clear, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

The Father’s Voice

Notice what Jesus said to the Pharisees and religious leaders, the ones who are supposed to be experts on God.

Verse 37a-38: “You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. Also you do not have His word remaining in you, because you do not believe Him whom He sent.”

This is the difference between knowing Scripture and knowing God.

God has always spoken, through His prophets, through His chosen servants, and through His Word. They never listened. Guess what, they still weren’t listening. People today still do not listen. If they listened to the TRUTH, they would know GOD. And that raises a sobering question—

Do you know God, or do you merely know about Him?

Evidence of Scripture

Verse 39-40:

The Pharisees knew the Scriptures, memorized them, and taught them to others. But, they did not know God, they did not see Jesus as the one the Scriptures pointed to. The loved their Map, but didn’t like the destination.

Verse 41-43:

Here in lies the real heart issue. They lived for one another, they lived for the applause. NOT TRUTH. They wanted to be listened to, heard, and have a following.

Then Jesus said this...

Verse 44:

This wasn’t about intellect, it was about where their allegiance lied.

Mission Statement:

“To Glorify God and Lead People into a Life Changing Relationship with Jesus Christ.”

Verse 45-47:

Where does Jesus shift? To their earthly father, Moses. Moses was the hero, the lawgiver, the one whom they placed their identity.

Moses is the one who will accuse them. For they did not listen to him.

In this dialogue, Jesus never said, here is how you are saved...He said these things so they would be saved.

But...He demonstrated that eternal life is not found in the evidence, knowledge, works, affirmation from others. It is found solely in coming to Jesus Christ alone.

Witnesses weren’t the problem, Evidence wasn’t the problem. The problem was the heart.

Revelation 1:3 NASB95

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.

WHEN EVIDENCE IS NOT THE PROBLEM

Closing

The evidence has been shown. The witnesses have spoken. What is your verdict?

They found Him guilty and persecuted Him for the TRUTH which they rejected.

The question we have left is not, “Is there enough EVIDENCE?” But… “Will you receive HIM?”