John5v31to47: TESTIMONIES ABOUT JESUS

(A) Introduction. (Read the reference.)

The religious establishment questioned Jesus' authority to heal on the Sabbath. They queried the instruction he gave the paralysed man to get up and carry away his mat. The Pharisees were so obsessed with the rules proscribing work on the Sabbath that they were blind to the wonder of the miracle Jesus performed. This exposition is about Jesus' response to Jewish unbelief.

(B) The fivefold testimony to Jesus' authority.

(1) Jesus testified about himself.
Jesus made many claims about himself. Earlier in the chapter he responds to the criticism of his opponents by affirming that he is the Son of God and Son of Man, that he is able to give new life and eternal life to those that believe in him and that at the end of the age God will entrust to him the judgment of men that all may honour the Son.

Jesus says ironically: "If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid." v31. Jesus is acknowledging the widely held belief that the truth about a man could only be established by 2 or 3 witnesses. One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offence he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. Dt19v15.

However, we do have to take into account the claims a man makes for himself. We should test the claims and examine the evidence for them. The cause of the terrible outbreaks of cholera in London during the first half of the 19th century was thought to be the awful stench, or miasma, that hung over the city. Dr John Snow claimed to know the true cause of the disease - tainted water. The authorities dismissed his assertion without really examining the evidence. Dr John Snow pointed out that the distribution of cholera cases in London was uneven - something that could not be explained if the disease was air-born. He was able to link the 1853 outbreak to the use of a single pump - all to no avail. The scientific minds at the time were not open to reason! The bad odour from London's sewage was just so real compared with microscopic organisms in the water supply!

So when Jesus says: "And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me", we must examine whether this assertion can be substantiated.

Jesus did not testify about himself to the win the approval of men but that men might be saved. "Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you might be saved." v34. Dr John Snow publicised the cause of cholera to save men and women from premature death and Jesus proclaimed himself as Saviour to give all who believe eternal life.

(2) The testimony of others.
Jesus says: "You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth." v33. The Master does not depend solely upon human testimony but he acknowledges it is influential.

John was an impressive witness. "John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light." v35. The Baptist burned like a lamp - preaching with warmth, attracting big crowds with his thrilling oratory and shedding light upon the moral bankruptcy of the nation. Yet his main task was to prepare the Jews for the coming Messiah and in this respect he testified to the truth. v33.

For 2000 years many, many have testified about Jesus: preachers, teachers, evangelists, scholars, writers, poets, composers, painters, architects and craftsmen. They are lamps that burn and give light. C.S. Lewis was one who enlightened me about Jesus and whose testimony warmed my heart.

(3) The Scriptures.
Jesus told his opponents: "You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me ...." v39. "If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me." v46. He realised that the events recorded in the Old Testament prefigured his work. There are so many instances where this is true:

    (a) The story of Abraham going up the mountain to sacrifice his son, Isaac, is evocative of the sacrificial death of Jesus. Abraham tells his son: "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." Gen22v8. There, in a thicket, when God stays Abraham's hand is a ram caught by its horns. The patriarch took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. v13. The episode concludes with God making Abraham that wonderful promise: And through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.

    (b) The whole exodus story mirrors the Christian life. God's people were delivered from slavery by the death of the Passover Lamb. They sheltered from the angel of death beneath the shed blood of that lamb. Moses, the great deliverer, led the people out of Egypt into the wilderness and on to the Promised Land.

    (c) Even the stories of Ruth and Esther are evocative of the redeeming work of Jesus. I am particularly fond of the account of Boaz and Ruth. In the harvest field Boaz said to the refugee from Moab: "Come over here. Have some bread and dip it in the wine vinegar." Ruth2v14. Ruth did not have a big packed lunch! Boaz was aware of how little she had. So he calls her over to share his plenty. Isn't that what Jesus does? - invite the hungry to feast with him.

    Boaz was Naomi's dead husband, Elimelech's, kinsman-redeemer. Boaz married Ruth to preserve the line of Elimelech. Continuity is a matter of great consequence to God. We preserve in our DNA, the code of life, the DNA of our ancestors. Jesus came to be our kinsman-redeemer - to ensure the continuity of the human race beyond death into the new creation. See exposition on Ruth3.

The Old Testament is the record of God's numerous interventions to preserve his chosen people. It is redemption's story - the unfolding account of God's grace. Finally, God makes one last, great redemptive intervention - he sends his Son to be the Sacrificial Lamb, the Bread of Heaven and Kinsman-Redeemer of his people.

(4) The life and work of Jesus.
Jesus said: "For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing testifies that the Father has sent me." v36.

During his lifetime Jesus was:
(a) Healing the sick - delivering men and woman from lives of the poorest quality - setting them free to make a new beginning.

(b) Forgiving sins and restoring the lost. He said to the paralytic on the mat let down through the roof into his presence: "Friend, your sins are forgiven." Lk5v20. He changed the life of the prostitute who caressed his feet in the house of Simon the Pharisee. Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." Lk7v48.

Jesus was doing God's work by changing lives for the better - even so the son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. John5v21.

We are in a far better position than the Jews Jesus addressed. We have the whole story of his life, death, resurrection and ascension. The gospels are a powerful testimony to the uniqueness of Jesus and the work he did. More than that - we have 2000 years of history during which Jesus has continued with his work of seeking and saving the lost. The underlying purpose of God throughout those 2000 years has been to redeem a people for himself.

            Redemption! oh, wonderful story -
            Glad message for you and for me:
            That Jesus has purchased our pardon,
            And paid all the debt on the tree.

(5) The testimony of God's Spirit.
Jesus in sorrow told the Jews: "Nor does his word dwell in you." v38. His hearers lacked the indwelling word of God's Spirit. That indwelling, enlightening word is conditional upon belief: "For you do not believe the one he sent." v38.

It is true that we do not hear God's voice, or see his form, but if we believe in Jesus the Holy Spirit dwells in us. That Spirit enlightens - giving understanding of the Scriptures, assures us of the truth of Christ's promises and convinces us of our new status as children of God. Paul writes: The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Rom8v14.

(C) Reasons for the Jews failure to see Jesus for what he was.

(1) They had a restricted and narrow agenda.
The Jewish establishment grew tired of John the Baptist. Jesus tells them: "You chose for a time to enjoy his light." v35. John did not sustain their interest because he did not address the real problem - Roman occupation. The Baptist did not attack Gentiles in general or the Romans in particular but called on Jews to repent. In John's eyes the Jews were the problem and especially the Pharisees: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?" Mt3v7.

The Jews were willing to accept and follow Messiahs who came in their own name. Jesus said: "If someone else comes in his own name you will accept him." v43. Between AD 30 and AD 70 that is just what the Jews did, participating in one insurrection after another, until the final devastating destruction of Jerusalem and the death of tens of thousands of its inhabitants.

Some people who attend church are quite happy if you condemn outsiders - the wickedness of non-Christians. There are Grace Baptists who enjoy a bit of invective aimed at Roman Catholicism. The militant Calvinists amongst the Grace Baptists would be less than happy to be called to repentance; to be told that it is wrong to make Christian fellowship dependent upon an obsession with the five points of Calvinism. Preachers need to emulate John the Baptist and address the failings of their own people rather than inveigh against those who are not there to hear them.

(2) They misused the Scriptures
The Jews used the Scriptures to show that they were God's elect and as such superior to the Gentiles with whom they wanted as little to do as possible. The law was a means of demonstrating that the Jews were special - different from the Gentiles. Much was made of those rules and regulations to do with the Sabbath, diet and ritual cleanliness which separated them from the Gentiles. By adopting a legalistic approach to the law the religious fanatics were able to parade their righteousness. The Pharisees could show just how much better they were than others. It also allowed them to condemn those poor wretches who did not keep the law as they ought.

Jesus condemns legalism. He said: "You diligently study the Scriptures because you think by them you possess eternal life." v39. The religious leaders actually thought that by keeping the law they merited salvation. The Ever Reckoning Pharisees were so called because they considered every good deed put God a little further in their debt.

Legalism blinded the Jews to grace. They failed to see that the Old Testament was redemption's story. The Scriptures indicate that Israel depended upon the LORD's intervention to become and to remain his people. That is what the lives of Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David, Elijah, Esther, Ezra and Nehemiah reveal.

It is easy to misuse the Bible. It can be worshipped, used to establish rules and regulations or to defend a doctrinal position, and studied as an intellectual exercise. The Bible can be employed to promote a narrow legalism based on works, or doctrine, and blind men and women to grace. Expert knowledge of the Scriptures can make a man proud, self-righteous, judgmental and unmerciful.

We need to see Redemption's Story in the recorded events of the Bible. We owe everything worthwhile to God intervening in the affairs of men. God took the initiative and sent Jesus to save us from our sin. God in grace accepted the peace offering Jesus made on our behalf. God raised Jesus from the dead - the first fruit of them that sleep. God's sends his Spirit to all who believe on the Son. Above all else we read the Bible to see Jesus, the glorious Jesus - full of grace and truth. We owe everything to him.

            I'm redeemed, yes I am
            by the blood of the lamb,
            Jesus Christ has done it all for me.
            I am His, He is mine,
            I'm part of the royal vine
            All my sins were washed away at Calvary.

(3) The Jews were more concerned for the approval of their fellows than God's approval.
Jesus said: "How can you believe if you accept praise from one another yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?" v49.

The Pharisees and scribes were intensely concerned for their reputation. The Humped Back Pharisees were so called because they walked with bowed heads in ostentatious humility. The Tumbling Pharisees perfected a humble shuffle and were always falling over.

Jesus condemned the Pharisees for doing their good works before men - whitening their faces to convey the severity of their fasts and praying at street corners. They loved greetings in the market place and the best seats at feasts. The Pharisees worried more about what men thought than about what God thought. Jesus said: "You do not have the love of God in your hearts." v41. The religious leaders neglected what really mattered: "You give a tenth of your spices - mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law - justice, mercy and faithfulness" Mt23v23.

The Pharisees worshipped success and believed prosperity was a mark of God's favour. Jesus told them: "You cannot serve both God and money." Their reaction? The Pharisees, who loved money heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. Lk16v13and14. In fact, the religious elite made no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God. v44.

The Pharisees were blind to what Jesus was doing - redeeming the lost. On one occasion they asked his disciples: "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'" On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick." Mt9v12.

There are some lessons here for us:

    (a) We must be careful not to desire to be well thought of by men. This is a real weakness amongst Baptists in Suffolk. Many keep quiet when they should speak out to preserve their reputations.

    (b) We need to ensure our good works are not motivated by a craving for approval or recognition otherwise our only reward will be on earth.

    (c) We should never worship success or material prosperity - or envy it either. In Jesus eyes - it is worthless.

(4) The Jews would not believe in Jesus.
Jesus chided his enemies with these words: "Yet you refuse to come to me to have life." v40. "You do not accept me." v43. "How are you going to believe what I say." v47.

It is frequently necessary to take a person at his word to discover the truth of his claims. We need to exercise faith in a man to benefit from what he can do.

When I taught A level Geography in a girl's grammar school it was not uncommon for some of the students to have a crisis of confidence a few weeks into the course. The work was more demanding than they anticipated and a few of the less robust girls wanted to give up. I would always tell the falterers, "You must have faith in your teacher. I'll let you know if I think you are unable to cope with the course." Most girls did keep faith and eventually benefited from my expertise!

The engineer Mr Bazalgette was the saviour of London. The city was ravaged by cholera in the 1840's and 1850's. The water supply was tainted by the ineffective disposal of sewage. Mr Bazalgette put forward a scheme to build 111 miles of sewer requiring 318 million bricks at a cost of 3 million pounds. The politicians rejected his scheme. He had to modify his proposals 5 times. In the end, when the Members of Parliament could stand the poisonous stench no longer, the enterprising engineer was given the go ahead. Then Mr Bazalgette showed what he could do. The completed work was a huge success and expelled cholera from the capital.

The only way to discover if the claims of Jesus are true is to believe in him.

        Taste and see that the Lord is good;
        blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

ANY COMMENTS FOR JOHN REED: E-mail jfmreed@talktalk.net

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