John: The Sent One

Exegetical Point: Jesus is endorsed by the Father & JtB, but the religious leaders can’t receive him because they do not know God.

Homiletic Point: Jesus is endorsed by the Father through JtB, his works, and the Scriptures, yet many will not see it.

Intro

Kids, ---------, but lets say you told your friend you were there and they didn’t believe you? How could you prove it?

You could show a ticket, or a stamp on your hand proving you got in.

You could show a picture of yourself at the show.

You could get another person who was there with you to say they saw you there.

All these different proofs “testify” to the truth that you were at there. The testimony helps when it is hard to believe the truth.

In our passage today, Jesus talks about 5 testimonies that show he is really the Son of God. But before we get there let me give you all another example of testimony.

NFTs

Big thing in the online world right now.

Buying artwork, if there is no physical existence of the object you are buying, how do you prove you own it? Anybody can copy and paste an online artwork, so there could be millions of copies out there, how do you prove you own the rights to that art? It’s not like you have a real actual painting in your possession that you can bring out to show everybody.

You need a certificate that proves it.

That’s what an NFT is, a proof, a testimony that you are the owner of a particular artwork or other digital asset.

No, I’m not here to give you a lesson on internet jargon, but this idea feeds into what Jesus is talking about. He’s talking about the way that your prove something to be true.

An NFT is a witness to show you own something. A certificate of authenticity is meant to be a proof you got a legitimate item. In a court of Law, evidence is brought to be a witness to the truth, and you can have eyewitnesses to the truth too.

Jesus has been making some pretty wild claims, in chapter 5 and so he is bringing the receipts, to show what are the external proofs of what he is saying.

Recap - Remember this is in light of what’s gone on earlier in chapter 5...

The Miracle - On the sabbath & commands to roll up a mat

The Confrontation - Religious leaders found out and persecuted him.

The Response - Jesus claims divine sonship, giving him the right to do what he’s doing and much more, including judging the world and raising the dead.

Now we’re looking at the second part of that response which answers the implicit question - “It’s all well and good to claim this right, but who certifies it. Who makes it legitimate?”

Testimony of Jesus (v31-32)

Jesus starts with his own testimony. Jesus testifies about himself saying that he can’t testify about himself. He says:

John 5:31–32 NIV

“If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true.

If you take Jesus words very literally - “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true” then you’re left in a logical trap - because if what he says about himself can’t be true, then you’re left with this statement being true, which would in turn then make the premise false. Follow me?

But here, Jesus isn’t saying that you can’t trust what he says. Jesus seems to be making reference to a legal testimony. Particularly to the Law in the book of Deuteronomy. It says that if you’re going to convict someone of a crime, you need the evidence of two or three witnesses to make a conviction.

The religious leaders want to convict Jesus of blasphemy, and it is as though Jesus is bringing his own counter-witnesses to testify to the truth. He starts with himself - I can’t put myself in the witness stand.

Generally speaking, if you’re looking for proof of what someone is saying, you can’t just stand up and say “It’s true because I said it is.”

Normally that would be the case. But here, it’s actually God in human flesh, so he can just stand up and say “It’s true because I say it is”. When God speaks, reality conforms around His words.

But, Jesus is working in the real world, with real people, and under the structure of the Old Covenant, so he works within the system to prove he’s telling the truth.

He alludes to a surprise witness: “there is another who testifies in my favor”. Jesus doesn’t say who that is, yet, so we need to read on to find out who it is.

You might think that “other witness” is John the Baptist, but Jesus puts that to bed as he talks about...

Testimony of John The Baptist (v33-35)

You see John the Baptist was a contemporary of Jesus. They were kind of colleagues. John came first onto the public preaching circuit, and he was bringing in the crowds. Even though John rubbed some people up the wrong way, there was a public perception that he was a prophet of God. And this was true!

As we have seen in the earlier chapters of this book, John the Baptist recognized that his main job was to prepare people for the coming of a greater prophet, the Chosen One. When Jesus turned up, John didn’t hide it, he said “I testify that this is God’s chosen one!”

It seems that the Jewish leaders had thought to check up on this and see if Jesus was the one the JtB was talking about. Lets see what Jesu had to say bout that!

John 5:33–35 NIV

“You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.

Jesus is saying, John backs me up, but I don’t even need that testimony. I have no need of human testimony.

We know how easy it is to lie. When you’re caught out doing something wrong. Or you don’t want to own up to your own failures.

Or maybe you run into someone that you admire and you want to make your life sound more impressive than it really is in order to make them think better of you.

The testimony of humans is faulty: subject to forgetfulness or fear of what will happen if the plain truth is announced.

Jesus has no need to rely on human frailty to prove his legitimacy.

Yet, in this case it is useful. John is a faithful witness. His testimony is true. And while Jesus doesn’t need that testimony, it is helpful for us. Jesus mentions John;s testimony so “that you might be saved”.

If you listen to what John has to say, truly, you will hear that Jesus has come to take away the sins of the world, and that he is the Messenger of God come to pour out the HS, cleansing us from all our guilt and wickedness.

If you follow John, you will end up with Jesus, and he can save you.

John’s innings was pretty short. Like fireworks, he burned wonderfully bright, but his time was brief.

Lots of people looked on, and admired John. Lots heard his message and were baptized for the forgiveness of sins. It was nice while he was there, but now his light has shone on Christ, and people aren’t interested in the fulfillment of all John had to say.

You might know people like this, or perhaps you are one yourself. You like many of the ideas of Christianity, and many of the Bible stories bring you comfort. You like the idea of a loving and gracious God, as well as good morals for society.

But,

When it comes down to it, you’re not all that keen on the other stuff, like submitting to Jesus, calling him Lord and entrusting yourself to him. You want to dip in your toe, but you don’t want to take the plunge. The other stuff gives you the warm and fuzzies, but you don’t want to be “too religious”, one of those weirdos who actually give up their lives to serve Jesus.

But here’s the thing - the benefits of Christianity, like the love of God, forgiveness, ethical living, it is all centered on Jesus Christ.

He is the Locus.

He is the nexus of all the strands of the Bible.

If you will not accept Jesus in his entirety you are either making an idol to worship, or you are just straight out rejecting God. Like those who were happy to see the powerful preaching and spiritual revival that John the Baptizing oversaw, but who are unwilling to accept the end result of His message: Jesus Christ.

Anyway,

As we were saying, Jesus doesn’t need John’s testimony, because he has something better!

Testimony of the Works (v36)

Jesus bring in the next witness, so to speak. The evidence the Jesus is the Son of God on God’s mission is the works that he was doing.

Remember this whole discussion arises from the incident and the Pool of Bethesda, where Jesus healed a disabled mad. He couldn’t walk! Now he can.

That’s a mighty big sign!

We can do some pretty cool stuff with modern medicine, but we can’t just tell paraplegics to stand up and walk home to heal them!

What does Jesus say about this work?

John 5:36 NIV

“I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me.

You see, these miraculous signs, miracles, mighty works, like the healing at the pool, they are signs that show Jesus is on a mission from God.

Imagine you call a plumber to come sort something out at your house. He says he is a plumber, but when he rocks up he is driving a hatchback, wearing a suit and only has a backpack with some tools in it.

You’re probably going to wonder if you called the right tradie. You’re taken aback because he was not what you expected. You’re starting to think you may have been scammed. Wheres the ute? Where’s the work shirt? Wheres the toolbox?

But what’s the proof that he’s really a plumber? He gets to work, and gets the job done! He just happens to have everything he needs in his backpack - and he does a really great job!

He said he was a plumber, and his handiwork speaks for him, that he really is a legit plumber even if his appearance was a surprise.

If our creator God came into the world and started working, what works would you expect to see? What evidences that he was really who he said he was?

God spoke, and the world came into being. Now here is Jesus who walks around ancient Israel speaking to invalids and healing them.

Our God made us male and female, and blessed the first marriage. Jesus comes making buckets and buckets and buckets of the best wine to celebrate a wedding.

Our God is holy and jealous; he wants whole-hearted worship. Then Jesus comes to the temple and clears it of all the commerce so that people can come to worship properly.

Our God knows all, and then Jesus comes onto the scene saying “I saw you under the fig tree before we met” and “I know your train-wreck past relationships, even though this is the first time we’ve met”

He might have a surprising appearance, but the works that Jesus was doing are direct signs that back-up what Jesus says. He is the Son of God and Son of Man on a mission from God the Father.

Speaking of the Father, he is the next witness!

Testimony of the Father (v37-38)

The Father has apparently personally endorsed Jesus. Jesus says to the Jewish people who were trying to take him out:

John 5:37–38 NIV

And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent.

Now, if you are trying to deescalate a situation where someone is trying to kill you, pushing the point that got them riled up in the first place doesn’t seem like the best option!

They were furious that Jesus was claiming divine sonship, elevating himself to God’s equal. Jesus goes further, not only am I the Son of God, sent by God the Father, the Father has certified me personally,

but,

You wouldn’t know because you don’t know what God sounds or looks like! How would you know if I’m legitimate if you don’t know who God is? You wouldn’t know who God is if he came up and smacked you in the face!

They don’t know The Father. What an insult to bring against these Jewish people! They were Children of the Promise. Descendants of Abraham. They had the Law and the Prophets.

How could Jesus say that they didn’t know the Father? Saying they hadn’t seen Him is not surprising, because no-one has seen God, but surely they have heard God through the scriptures, and surely God’s words lives in them, right?

No. There is only one way to the Father, and it is through the Son. If you do not believe in the Sent One, Jesus Christ, you cannot know God. You cannot hear Him. You cannot have His word dwell in you.

Some people think that world religions are like blind men feeling different parts of an elephant. Each has a different body part in hand - a leg, and ear, a trunk and so on. Each describes the elephant differently based on what they can feel, but they’re all essentially on the path to understanding the one thing. In this illustration the Elephant is God, and we’re all blind men feeling in the dark to understand Him.

This seems so nice and neat and easy. It removes the tension felt between Christianity and cults like JWs. It means the modern Judaism isn’t such a big deal.

But Jesus leaves no room for such shallow waffle.

You CANNOT know God any other way.

I need to stress this to you! This is life and death friends!!

The ONLY way to hear God, and one day see him in eternal glory, is to believe in His chosen messenger. He Sent Jesus, and so if you want to know what God is like, you have to go to him!

So God the Father has testified, But Jesus doesn’t go into all the details of how the Father testifies to Jesus authenticity. But, in a real snes, all the testimony about Jesus is from the Father - JtB, the works, and in a moment, the scriptures. All the other testimonies are the testimony of the Father. They are signs from God.

As I mentioned, one of those testimonies is the Scriptures...

Testimony of the Scriptures (v39-47)

Now while the Scriptures do testify to Jesus divine mission, Jesus points out that the people he was speaking to had not recognized the testimony, even though they were Bible-scholars, religious leaders and folks who had heard the bible from a baby!

John 5:39–40 NIV

You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

These people were doing the right thing - studying the scriptures diligently, treasuring God’s word. But, they were lost in the pages and not looking to God himself for life. Now God had come before them in human form, and they only needed to reach out and receive Him! He would grant eternal life!

But they refused.

They’d rather have the word on pages rather than the Word of God incarnate!

It is always a tragedy when you see people who have become obsessed with inanimate objects. They are all around us, people who’s hobbies, and otherwise healthy interests have taken them over so they are absorbed with this one thing. And that’s all they talk about! It could be movies, or video games, or a bike/car/boat. Whatever. Jewelery, house, job, etc.

They become objects of worship.

They become idols.

They worship the gifts rather than the Giver!

How much more tragic though, is it when people read God’s word, and do not meet him there. They hear the message of life in the Gospel, and they see the beauty of God and the wonder of what He has done, but they never meet God. Instead they become obsessed with the Book.

It is as though a Wife sends a letter to her husband while he is away traveling, and he turns to love the letter his wife sent him more than the wife herself. How sad!

There are those like this in our own day. Bible colleges attract them, because it is a great place to spend heaps of time studying the scriptures diligently, often without any need to actually come to Jesus for life. Nothing wrong with Bible College - but just remember: do not think that a formal course of study is the way to know God. BTW Please come and talk to me if you’re considering study and we can talk it through.

We who have grown up in Christian homes are particularly susceptible to this. because we have become so used to dealing with the Bible.

Anyway, we are people of the Book. The Scriptures are hugely important to us. it is God speaking to us across time and space. His word is the lamp to our feet and light to our path. But remember that, that it is a light, like JtB, to light the way to Jesus, to show us him, so that we may come to the person, not the pages.

Now even though the scriptures all tie together around Jesus Christ, he says something interesting, essentially: The reason you’re not accepting of me, is not because I’m trying to big-note myself, but because you don’t love God. Lets look:

John 5:41–44 NIV

“I do not accept glory from human beings, but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

It’s kind of funny really. Jesus observes that they often didn’t have any trouble accepting people who big-note themselves, but when the Son of God turns up with testimony from God the Father all of a sudden they’re quite resistant.

There were plenty of false messiahs and prophets who popped up around Israel. Not to mention roving teachers, who could travel around the Jews dispersed though the roman empire and make a name for themselves. “You’ll happily receive guys who toot their own horn, but not the real deal.”

How often are we tempted to listen to the charismatic and entrepreneurial types? Those who grab our attention and build their own brand? It is hard at times to reject those voices that itch our ears, and instead remain steadfastly clinging to the simple Gospel that we have heard a thousand times before. Jesus has come in the Fathers name, stick with him.

Those who reject Jesus face judgment, something we covered the week before Easter. The Father has entrusted judgment to the Son. Jesus notes that these guys, who are obsessed with the scriptures, will have the scriptures be a witnesses against them:

John 5:45–47 NIV

“But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”

Moses, i.e. the Law, will condemn Jesus opponents. They thought they could gain life though the scriptures, but if they were really reading them, and understanding them, they would be ready to receive Jesus - the prophet prophesied by Moses.

Jesus was speaking to folks under the OT law. You and I don’t find ourselves under that law, but, we have consciences that guide us to do much of what the Law requires, we know not to steal or murder an the like.

Romans 2:14–16 NIV

(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

Knowing, perhaps not the details of God’s law but at least the faint outline of it, we have all failed to live by it. And God will judge us, just like he will judge those guys who said they believed Moses but didn’t really. They are judged by their law, and we are judged by our own consciences.

But there is a way of escape. The Son. GO to him that you may have life. See him in the scripture and then seek him out! Seek and you shall find!

He died on a cross to deliver us.

Resurrection

So What?

Jesus has plenty of testimony! He is legit! The Father testifies through:

John the Baptist

The Works

The Scripture

References:

Carson’s Pillar Commentary on John.

Hutcheson’s commentary on John

Hendrickson’s commentary on John

Sermons by Richard D. Philips,

Sproul, R. C., ed. The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version. Orlando, FL; Lake Mary, FL: Ligonier Ministries, 2005.

Phillips, Richard D. John. Edited by Richard D. Phillips, Philip Graham Ryken, and Daniel M. Doriani. 1st ed. Vol. 1 & 2 of Reformed Expository Commentary. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2014.