Who am I and Whose are you?

Introduction

While we were on a family trip downtown, we passed by the stadium and noticed a flock of people around one guy. I had no idea who he was, but people were extremely excited to see him. Our kids all looked and my wife, being a cardinals fan, asked— “Who is that?” As though I should know. So I did what every self respecting father and husband would do, I had trouble hearing until I could find it on google. It turns out this guy is the Red’s Center Fielder, Billy Hamilton.

We had Rodney in a Costco cart the other day. I had left him to see what Ashley was looking at. I walked may be 5-6ft away, only to look back and see him leaning as far as he could over the side of the cart pulling something off of a shelf. My reaction was sudden and stern. But my thought was, whose kid are you?

Known of Man

John 5:30–35 AV 1873

30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. 31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. 32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. 33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. 34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. 35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.

John 5:30 AV 1873

30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

John 5:31 AV 1873

31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.

Jesus conceded to the angry religious leaders that He cannot say these things of Himself, but that He needed a witness to declare it for Him. We can see the necessity of this in many passages about verifying someone’s word.

About the death penalty, one witness is not enough.

Deuteronomy 17:6 AV 1873

6 At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.

A declaration of any sin can only be by two or three witnesses.

Deuteronomy 19:15 AV 1873

15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be stablished.

In dealing with interpersonal problems, in the event that there is no reconciliation, Christ says bring others to help the brother see:

Matthew 18:16 AV 1873

16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

In speaking to the church at Corinth, Paul tells them to test what he is saying and the authority with which he says it:

:

2 Corinthians 13:1 AV 1873

1 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

2 Cor. 13:1-

2 Corinthians 13:1–2 AV 1873

1 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. 2 I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:

Here Jesus reminds them that John the Baptist was a witness of Him and for Him.

John 5:32–33 AV 1873

32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. 33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.

John 5:31

Jesus declaration here is that they know who He is because they heard from John the Baptist, but Christ wants them to know Him through the Father for their eternal good. Everything we do is for the eternal glory of God and so that others may be saved.

John 5:32-

John 5:34–35 AV 1873

34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. 35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.

Who is it that declared Jesus’ value and Jesus’ position to John the Baptist? It is none other that God the Father himself. In God openly declared, not just to John the Baptist, but also to all who were in hearing distance that this is in fact His Son in whom He is well please. Then could be seen the descent of the Spirit of God like a dove upon the Son of God. The declaration of John was true, but the witness of John is not what Christ was referring to. Jesus is declaring who His Father is by showing the works His Father has given Him to do. He is simply addressing here, that His witness is God the Father Himself.

Shown of God

John 5:36–41 AV 1873

36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. 37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. 38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. 39 Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. 41 I receive not honour from men.

John 5:36-

John 5:36 AV 1873

36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

1 John 4:14–15 AV 1873

14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. 15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

The declaring the Son’s authority and power is the Father so that all who believe Him will be saved.

John 5:37–38 AV 1873

37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. 38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.

How do we know that the Father is witness of the Son, it is in but also in what the Son does. . . He does what the Father does for the purpose the Father wishes to accomplish:

John 5:20 AV 1873

20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

John 5:

John 5:39–41 AV 1873

39 Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. 41 I receive not honour from men.

John 5:39-

Rejecting Christ is rejecting the WORD. Consequently the Word they are attempting to be joined to, they are also rejecting. Religious people cannot see the ministry of Christ because the ministry of people is blocking their view.

Separated by Pride

Do you remember parenting decisions that you would love to take back?

We had Rodney in a Costco cart the other day. I had left him to see what Ashley was looking at. I walked may be 5-6ft away, only to look back and see him leaning as far as he could over the side of the cart pulling something off of a shelf. My reaction was sudden and stern. But my thought was, whose kid are you? To which my wife replies, “yours of course.”

John 5:42–47 AV 1873

42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. 43 I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. 44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. 46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. 47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

John 5:42-

John 5:42 AV 1873

42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.

evidenced by their rejection of Jesus. There is no other way, no higher power and no separate truth. There is only the rejecting and accepting of Jesus.

John 5:43–44 AV 1873

43 I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. 44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

We will honor men and women in our world but reject God’s Son. We will lift up all that God likes and still miss out on God Himself.

John 5:43

John 5:45–47 AV 1873

45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. 46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. 47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

John 5:45

There very thing they are believing will condemn them. The very thing we trust in condemns us also.