Episode 40 - The Witnesses Testifying About Jesus

John 5:30   “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. 31 If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. 33 You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35 He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36 But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, 38 and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. 39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. 41 I do not receive glory from people. 42 But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. 43 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. 44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

There seems to be quite a bit here in this text. But, let’s see if we can break this down to the basic argument of what Jesus is saying. Notice that the main thing is Jesus' argument about who he is and the “witnesses” testifying to his claim. Finally, Jesus charges them with their refusal to accept the testimony and reasons for it.

The witnesses are important because in Deuteronomy 19:15 Moses writes, “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.” Jesus is following the Law and telling these antagonists, “I’m not doing anything by my own initiative or will.” Remember also that John has told us that these people want to kill Jesus. The Law also says, “On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses the one who is to die shall be put to death; a person shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.” (Deut. 17:6) 

Jesus begins to offer his witnesses by saying, “If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true.”(v. 31) To paraphrase, “If there are no other witnesses, do not believe me.” His first witness then is John the Baptist’s testimony. (vv. 33-35) Jesus’ point is that, “You followed John and liked much of what he said and did. John pointed people to me. So, why aren’t you following through and trusting in me?” 

In verse 36, Jesus calls his second witness, the works (signs/miracles) the Father has given him to do. Through Nicodemus’ own words, “We know that you have come from God because no one can do these things unless the Father is with him.” Jesus’ antagonists have heard about and seen the things Jesus has been doing and in their minds, they cannot deny the ultimate source of his works. 

Jesus then says that the Father himself has borne witness about him (v. 37). This statement evokes a little more uncertainty in my mind as to what he means by this. Perhaps this draws reference from John the Baptist’s statement in John 1:33-37 “. . . the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’” Maybe Jesus is referring to how the voice from heaven spoke at his baptism by John saying “This is my beloved Son . . .” (Matt. 3:17) Those would be instances that I would understand the Father testifying about Jesus. Later on, a similar message would come from heaven at Jesus’ transfiguration. John the apostle and the author of this book was a firsthand witness to that event. So, John certainly agrees with Jesus that the Father has testified on Jesus’ behalf.

That’s three witnesses already. But, Jesus says there is another; the Scriptures that they search and claim to know. Jesus says the Scriptures testify about him. In fact, in verses 46-47 he says that Moses wrote about him. Jesus is claiming that Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy testify about him. He charges, if you really believed Moses, you would believe me. Obviously, this evokes the question, “Where did Moses’ writings speak of Jesus?” I’m going to begin to address that question in our next episode.

According to my count, Jesus has given four witnesses. In other words, he is saying there are multiple witnesses testifying to who Jesus is. So, what is their problem?

Jesus’ own assessment of why they don’t believe him is first, they don’t have the love of God in them (v. 42) and they seek glory from each other rather than from God (v. 44). Lastly, they are putting their hope in Moses rather than in Jesus (v. 45). 

I wonder what we put our hope in and whether we’re more concerned about having others pat us on the back rather than being concerned about doing what God wants us to do. This is a matter for prayer, isn’t it. We can ask God to help us not be concerned about pleasing others and direct our priorities on doing what He wants us to do. That’s what Jesus did.