John 5:33-35 - Part 1 - The Witness of John the Baptist
The Witness of John the Baptist
John 5:33-35
I. The Witness of John.
Introduction:
In the Gospel records, the greatest story ever told actually begins with the announcement of the birth of Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist.
Zacharias was a priest who was righteous before the Lord. He and his wife, Elizabeth, were elderly and childless. While Zacharias was serving in the temple one day, the angel Gabriel appeared to him with the news that he would have a son who would go forth in the spirit and power of the prophet Elijah. This son would be the forerunner of the promised Messiah. The child was born and named John. He grew strong in spirit and as an adult spent time meditating and praying in the wilderness until he assumed his ministry to Israel of announcing the coming of the Lord.
Until his time, John the Baptist was the greatest man who had lived (Matt. 11:11; Luke 7:28). He was the last of the Old Testament prophets, privileged to be no less than the immediate forerunner of the Messiah. Yet he was a humble man and expressed that humility when he said of Christ, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).
John preached baptism accompanied by repentance in the wilderness, charging the people to prepare the way of the Lord. The long-promised Messiah would soon come, and the people were to be ready spiritually by repenting of their sins and being baptized. The religious rulers from Jerusalem came out to the Jordan where John was preaching and questioned him concerning his mission and identity.
A. The First Witness.
1. You Have Sent To John (v.33)
a) John’s Purpose & Example (John 1:6-8)
John’s purpose – to bear witness & testimony to the Light of the world
John’s example – stands as a great example to every believer
The believers purpose – to bear the same witness as John, that is, Jesus Christ is the light of the world.
Many people today are spiritually lost due to the sinful preoccupations of this world, and they can’t find there way to the Fathers house.
In My Father's house are many mansions; if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, [there] you may be also (John 14:1-3).
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6).
Therefore, unless Christians shine forth their light as a lighthouse shines forth in the ocean to direct ships, they will be lost, never entering into the Fathers house.
Jesus said, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." (John 20:21 NKJV)
Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. (Matthew 10:16 NKJV)
You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. (Matthew 5:14 NKJV)
Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. (Philippians 2:14-16 NKJV)
2. The Religious Leaders Interrogated John Carefully.
a) John “bore witness to the truth” (5:33)
The words “bore witness” (memartureken) mean a permanent and continuing witness. His message was not a fly-by-night witness that appeared on the scene and suddenly disappeared. His witness continued and still continues and will always continue.
It was a trustworthy message, a witness to the truth ( John 1:15, 19-27, 29-36.)
John Proclaimed that He was an Unworthy Servant. He proclaimed that he was not even worthy to unloose the shoe latchet of Jesus’ sandals.
1. Slaves were the ones who loosed the sandals of guests & washed their feet
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. (John 13:3-5 NKJV)
So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? "You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. "For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. (John 13:12-15 NKJV)
2. John said that he was less than a slave, unworthy to do even what a slave did.
3. Every servant of God must make the same confession of unworthiness.
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand! . . . Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance (Matthew 3:1-2, 8 NKJV)
And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Matthew 3:10-11 NKJV)
The words “the truth” are a reference John’s message & to Christ, who is the Truth.
2) Jesus the Truth.
There is a difference between telling someone about the truth and living the truth before them. The one who lives the truth literally becomes the truth.
1. Jesus Christ is the Embodiment of truth (John 14:6).
He is the picture of truth. God not only talks to man about Himself, God shows man what He is like in the person of Jesus Christ. Man can look at Jesus Christ and see a perfect picture of the truth of God.
I and My Father are one." (John 10:30 NKJV)
Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. (John 14:10 NKJV)
2. Jesus Christ is the Communicator of truth.
He Himself—His Person and His Life—makes things perfectly clear. (1) He reveals the ultimate source and meaning and end of all things. (2) He reveals the truth of man himself and of the world surrounding man. (3) He shows man the right way to the truth, and He enables man to choose the right way to the truth.
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. (John 6:63 NKJV)
But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. (John 6:68 NKJV)
3. Jesus Christ is the Liberator of truth (John 8:32; John 15:3).
He sets men free from the great gulf (estrangement) which exists between man and God, between man and his world, and between man and man. He sets man free from the frustrations which he constantly experiences. He frees man from the fears and weaknesses and defects that plague him. Jesus Christ is the only lasting Liberator on earth.
3) Jesus Does Not Receive Testimony From Man (v.34)
He Knew What Was In Man (John 2:24-25). The Lord Jesus reminded His listeners that His claim to be equal with God was not based simply on the testimony of human beings.
1. Then He added, “But I say these things that you may be saved.”
Why was the Lord Jesus speaking to the Jews at such great length? Was He simply trying to show that He was right and that they were wrong?
On the contrary, He was bringing before them these wonderful truths in order that they might realize who He was and accept Him as the promised Savior.
a. This verse gives us a clear view of the loving and tender heart of the Lord Jesus. He spoke to those who hated Him and who would soon be seeking in every possible way to take His life. But there was no hatred in His heart toward them. He could only love them.
And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. (John 20:30-31 NKJV)
B. The Burning & Shining Lamp
Here the Lord paid tribute to John the Baptist as a burning and shining lamp.
This meant that he was, (1) a very zealous man, (2) one who had a ministry that brought light to others, and (3) one who was consumed in the process of pointing people to Jesus.
1. The Witness of John.
a) John’s Light was Clearly Seen To Be of God, Lit by God as the Light of God.
That John’s message (witness) was of God could not be questioned by any reasonable and honest person. John definitely showed men the way to God, just as a light shows men the way out of darkness.
(a) You were willing for a time to rejoice in his light (v.35)
1. John Did Not Compromise (Herod Mark.6:18; Matthew 14:3-5)
He told Herod that it was unlawful for you to have your brothers wife, for this was contrary to the Mosiac Law (Leviticus 18:16; 20:21). He did not say that adultery was alright but rebuked Herod for this.
2. We must never give the approval of sin.
a. By not telling people who are in sin this is what we are doing.
b. Jesus Himself dealt with issues head (John 8:11). He did not excuse her sin; He forgave her of it and warned against continuing in adultery.
c. The apostle Paul catalogued a series of sins that exclude a person from the kingdom of God. The sin of adultery was included in these lists (1 Cor. 6:9).
3. The Need For Discipline (1 Corinthians 5:1ff.)
A church that does not mourn over sin, especially sin within its own fellowship, is on the edge of spiritual disaster. Christians are not to tolerate sin within the church any more than they are to tolerate it within their own lives.
“But do not let immorality or any impurity or greed even be named among you, as is proper among saints. … And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them” (Eph. 5:3, 11).
It is the responsibility of all church members, not simply the pastor and other leaders, to expose sinful practices in the fellowship.
4. The Method of Discipline (Matthew 18:15-17)
Discipline is not inconsistent with love. It is lack of discipline, in fact, that is inconsistent with love, “Those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives” (Heb. 12:6).
The Lord disciplines his children because he loves them, and we will discipline our brothers and sisters in the Lord if we truly love Him and truly love them.
If sin is not removed (v.6) it will spread rapidly and even cause others to think it is OK.
2. John Himself was that “burning & shining lamp”.
a) John Was a “burning” & “shining” Lamp (v.35)
1) Burning is Used Metaphorically Of Spiritual Light.
(a) Our Hearts Must Burn Within Us (Luke 24:32)
(b) Our Lamps Must Be Burning (Luke 12:35), spiritual readiness
(c) Our Lamps Must Have Oil To Be Burning (Holy Spirit)
“Olive oil,” is mentioned over 200 times in the Bible. Different kinds were known in Palestine. In the NT the uses mentioned were (a) for lamps, in which the “oil” is a symbol of the Holy Spirit
2) Oil for the Lampstand (Exodus 27:20-21 cf. Leviticus 24:1-4)
Note here that the lamp was to burn continually & ‘the people were to provide and maintain the light needed by the high priest”.
(a) Zechariah 4:1-6 – We find the lamp stand with the seven, the menorah with the seven lamp stands coming out of the one base, with the cups filled with oil, that were to be placed in the tabernacle that Moses constructed, as a place for the people to meet with God.
1. The seven lamp stands represented the purpose of God that Israel should be a light to the world.
2. Jesus by his own claim is the Light of the World (John 8:12; 9:5; 12:46). And yet all believers are in a sense "the light of the world" (Mt 5:14) since the world gets the Light of Christ through us. (Jesus said we are the light of the world Matthew 5:14-16).
3. God wanted Israel to be a light unto the Gentiles, unto the world, that the world could see the blessings and the benefits that would come to a nation that worshiped and served Jehovah, and had Jehovah at the heart of the nation.
4. As the priests ministered in the holy place, they walked in the light that God provided (1 John 1:5-10).
b) Our Lamps Must Be Full of Oil (Matthew 25:1-13)
1) Be filled with the Spirit (Eph.5:18)
When the Lord appears at the end of the Tribulation, many professed Christians will frantically realize their lack of spiritual life. They will not have heeded Paul’s advice to the Corinthian church:
“Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you- unless indeed you fail the test?” (2 Cor. 13:5).
They will be self-deceived, perhaps believing that mere association with the things and the people of Christ has made them a part of Christ’s true church.
1. Some may think that being born into a Christian family will make them a member of God’s family.
2. We know with certainty that many will be trusting in their good works, saying to Christ, “on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then [He] will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness’” (Matt. 7:22-23).
2) Watch Therefore… Be on guard,” (v.13)
Jesus had said in the Temple on the previous day, “that your hearts may not be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day come on you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth. But keep on the alert at all times, praying in order that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:34-36).
John was now in prison and so Christ uses |ên| (was). His active ministry is over. {The lamp} (|ho luchnos|). The lamp in the room (#Mr 4:21). Old word for lamp or candle as in #Mt 5:15. Used of Christ (the Lamb) as the Lamp of the New Jerusalem (#Re 21:23). |Lampas| (#Mt 25:1,3, etc.) is a torch whose wick is fed with oil. The Baptist was not the Light (|to phôs|, #1:8), but a lamp shining in the darkness. "When the Light comes, the lamp is no longer needed" (Bernard). "_Non Lux iste, sed lucerna_." Jesus by his own claim is the Light of the World (#8:12; 9:5; 12:46). And yet all believers are in a sense "the light of the world" (#Mt 5:14) since the world gets the Light of Christ through us. {That burneth} (|ho kaiomenos|). See #Mt 5:15 for this verb used with |luchnos (lighting a candle or lamp). The lamp that is lit and is burning (present passive participle of |kaiô|, and so is consumed). {And shineth} (|kai phainôn|). See #1:4 for this verb used of the Logos shining in the darkness. Cf. #1Jo 2:8. John was giving light as he burned for those in darkness like these Jews. {And ye were willing} (|humeis de êthelêsate|). "But ye became willing." Ingressive aorist active indicative of |thelô|. Reference again to #1:19. Cf. also for the temporary popularity of the Baptist #Mr 1:5; Mt 3:5; 11:7; 21:26. The Jews were attracted to John "like moths to a candle" (Bernard). {To rejoice} (|agalliathênai|). First aorist passive infinitive of |agalliaomai|, late word for |agallomai| for which see #Mt 5:12. "They were attracted by his brightness, not by his warmth" (Bengel). Even so the brightness of John's shining did not really enlighten their minds. "The interest in the Baptist was a frivolous, superficial, and short-lived excitement" (Vincent). It was only "for an hour" (|pros hôran|) when they turned against him.