The Witness of John the Baptist

Jesus is standing before the Jews in John 5 and is accused by them of being a blasphemer. Why? Because He admitted that He is the Son of God and is thus equal with God! All He stated was the truth, but it was enough to infuriate them. To their accusations He presented His case by calling a series of witnesses. The first was the witness of the Father - in which He really could have rested His case, but He went on.

Today we are looking at the witness of John the Baptist. While the Jews could not answer to the witness of the Father, here is someone who is just a man and certainly they can answer to him, right? Well, see for yourself, look with me beginning in verse 33...

The Jews Jesus confronted refused to believe the simple truth right in front of them.

Sometimes we refuse to see, believe, and accept, what is plainly visible right in front of us.

This is the reason Jesus called upon the witness of John the Baptist, not just because the Jews needed to hear this, but because we need to hear it. We need to understand that today there are many people who simply refuse to accept what is plain right in front of them, just as the Jews Jesus confronted did. They refused to accept what...

They Had Learned John 5:33

John 5:33 (KJV 1900)

Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.

They are the ones which went to John to ask him who he was

John 1, we’re going back there tonight, but if you will please go with me to verse 19

Here John was given an opportunity that many would have gladly accepted

He was given the chance to claim to be someone special

There are many today whose sole desire, their only goal in life is to be someone special

To reach this goal they are willing to step over people, to lie, to cheat, and do anything to get what they want!

Not John.

They, the Priests, the Levites, the Pharisees, they sent to John to see if he would claim, or admit, to being the Messiah

John said no.

Right here in verse 33, Jesus tells them, that John would not lie, but rather, as the forerunner of Christ, he only gave witness to the truth.

To bear witness in this case means to give “accurate information about which a person has direct knowledge”

John had direct knowledge of who Jesus was!

Here are just some of the reasons John could give an accurate account that Jesus is the messiah!

Jesus and John were cousins, when Mary told Elizabeth the news of Jesus’ birth, John leaped in his mother’s womb, being filled with the Spirit!

At the baptism of Jesus, John witnessed the Spirit descending upon Jesus, and he heard the voice of the Father.

No, John was honest, he was not the Christ, rather...

He is the One to which John pointed them to!

John knew his place, and his purpose - to point people to Jesus!

That is what he did, and that is what Jesus said about him, “…and he bare witness unto the truth”

What did John declare as being true? That Jesus, not himself, was the “Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world!”

This is not something Jesus told them John said about Him, this is what they heard John himself say about Jesus! The only thing which John did was tell the truth that Jesus is the Son of God! They should have bowed their knees right then and there, but they refused to accept what they had learned first hand. That’s bad, but it gets worse, because they also refused to accept what was...

Right Before Their Eyes John 5:34

John 5:34 (KJV 1900)

But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.

Jesus does not need the testimony of man to prove who He is.

He was not the Son of God because John the Baptist said so

He was the Son of God because HE SAID SO!

This was not something He simply said, this something he proved time and again!

Only God could turn water into wine

Only God could could tell a Samaritan woman “all that she ever did”

Only God could heal a nobleman’s son without even being in the same city

Only God could cause a cripple man to stand up, have strength to walk around and carry his bedroll

By His word and His actions, Jesus was proving He was the Son of God and God the Son! This begs the question...

Why then did He accept or allow John’s witness?

This is summed up in nicely in verse 34

“…but these things I say, that ye might be saved.”

Let that sink in

Jesus allowed John’s witness, not because He needed any help in proving who He was, but He allowed it so that they might hear John an believe

His heart was for these people, His desire was for them to trust Him, to be saved

You and I are to be witnesses for Jesus Christ today

Jesus still today does not need anyone to testify for Him, He is God regardless of what men may think

But Jesus allows us to have a part in His saving work, by sharing the gospel with others

These Jewish accusers of Jesus had standing right before their eyes the Son of God and they refused to accept Him. As shameful as that is, let us be comforted by it. Let us be comforted in the fact that even though we are faithful witnesses, not everyone will believe our witness. Let us be warned, just because not everyone will listen to our witness, that does not give us excuse to not witness.

One reason Christians have for not sharing their testimony is that they simply do not know how to do so. Recently I was asked by a young man what it means to give a testimony. In a court case a lawyer will call a witness to the witness stand. After they have taken the oath, they are given these orders: Tell the court what happened. That’ s it. when you give your testimony of what God has done in your life, you are simply telling the court what happened!

Our duty is not to save people, our duty is to witness to people, the Holy Spirit does the saving work. Sometimes, like these Jewish men, they refuse what you tell them, but sometimes, sometimes they believe.

In John 5 when Jesus was speaking to these men they refused to accept what they had learned from John the Baptist, they refused to accept the truth right before their eyes, and sadly, the refused to accept what...

God Had For Them John 5:35

John 5:35 (KJV 1900)

He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.

If you are over the age of 20 you have not doubt heard the old saying, “Sometimes, you can’t see the forest for the trees.”

That very well sums up the conversation Jesus was having with these men.

John was a bright spot in their day.

He was a powerful preacher and multitudes were responding to his message of the coming messianic kingdom.

John was convinced, because he knew, that the Messiah would appear in his day, and he was so enthusiastic that he convinced others that the Messiah was coming.

You can almost feel the excitement!

They began to listen to him and then believe him. Then one day, John says, “There stands one among you whose shoe latechet I am not worthy to unloose.” What was the problem?

The problem was that John pointed them to Jesus, a lowly carpenter from Nazareth. They were expecting a mighty warrior, and instead they got a carpenter.

For all his power and all his preaching, John was simply a flashlight in a dark world pointing to the true light, Jesus Christ.

Here he was standing right before the Jews, telling them plainly that He is the Messiah, that He is the Son of God, and looking right at Him, they refused to acknowledge Him.

We like to think that we have come a long way in our world but the truth is, we haven’t. Here is the sad truth. We are still blinded to the truth that is right before our eyes. Today we have the completed Word of God that tells us of His love for us, how He sent His Son, Jesus, to live among us, to do what none of us could ever do. He lived a perfect life, and died a death we all deserved, He rose again in three days and is alive right now seated by the right hand of the Father, willing and able to save any who will come to Him in faith...

And we refuse to accept the free gift God has for us.

Conclusion: Where do you fall on this spectrum? Have you put your trust in Jesus or is there something that is keeping you from committing to Him? Today you have heard the responses these Jewish leaders had toward the witness of John the Baptist. Today we have looked at the answers which Jesus gave to their objections, I wonder do you still find yourself in a similar situation as these Jews? Are you refusing to accept:

A. What you have learned here today - That Jesus is who He claimed to be, He is the Messiah, He is the Lamb of God, He is the Son of God, and He wants to be your Savior. Do you refuse to accept...

B. What is right in front of you - the Word of God! The book which you are holding is the only authoritative source of truth. Every word in this book is right and powerful…will you believe it? Do you refuse to accept...

C. What God has for you - forgiveness of sin. New life in Jesus Christ.

Let’s pray...