Gospel of John - If I testify...

                                                                         If ITestify…

John 5:31-47

I have always enjoyed testimony times at fellowship meetings. The testifying of what God had done in the life or situations his disciples face while walking with Jesus, though there are those who testify about themselves which is what Jesus warns about in this lesson. Now, John is testifying about Jesus as a witness. Let’s look at the text, “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. “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 still admonishing the jewish leaders. He begins with testimonies. The hypocrites, Jesus said in Matt. 5, love to stand on the street and pray and testify about holiness or to be seen by men as being holy. “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.” Also Matt. 23:2-7 later in the lesson.

Jesus was reprimanding those who testified about themselves, it was not a truthful testimony. Men loved to boast of their abilities, station in life, or the importance of what they were doing. This testimony wasn’t the type that Jesus wanted to be a part of, his testimony would come from the Word of God. He mentioned John the Baptist’s testimony of the Christ. “...but among you stands one you don't know.”, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”, “... because He was before me.”, “I have seen and testify that this is the Son of God.” Jn.1:26,29,30,34 All of these were prophetic references to Jesus in the writings of the prophets.

Jesus told them all, what John testified was true, that the Son of God came into the world to save the world. Jesus wasn’t looking for human testimony about him, he wanted the leaders to see from sacred scrolls that God had sent the promise, the one who would save the world from sin. John was a light into the darkness of a sinful world, and Jesus continued to admonish them by saying, “...and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.” The leaders either sent someone to hear John’s messages, or they themselves went out to the Jordan and listened to messages on repentance, righteousness, and the coming of the One, the Christ, the Son of God. Last, Jesus said they enjoyed his light for a time.

Application - we are nearing the last days, the book of Revelation spoke of people who overcame the enemy of God by the blood of Jesus and their testimony. “Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, ‘It has come at last—salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth—the one who accuses them before our God day and night. And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.’” Rev. 12:10-11

Jesus came to this world to give life through believing in him. It would be the yielding to the Father’s will of being the sacrifice for sin, the lamb of God. The religious people and for that matter most everyone today have the Word of God in their homes or on computers, phones, or the internet. Many have read through the scriptures or at least browsed them. It is in the scripture that God reveals his Son, his plan to save humanity, to reestablish fellowship, to empower those who believe with the promised Holy Spirit of God. But like the leaders in Jesus’ day, we see the scriptures as a set of laws and rules to live by in order to have salvation through obeying the laws and rules. 

The laws were given by God to reveal sin and its origin and lifestyle. It is like a signpost along a highway that gives directions and warns of dangers ahead. We are not to deify the signpost as the source of salvation. It only points us to salvation. The signpost testifies that what is ahead is true. I remember a story of someone who thought it would be funny to change the lines in the road along a hilly road, thinking that nobody will take it seriously. One foggy evening, a bus filled with a team from a visiting high school was driving down this hilly road. Unaccustomed to the road, they were trusting in the signs and road lines to guide them. When they came to the area where the person changed the lines, they turned with the new lines and went through a guardrail and down a steep embankment injuring and killing some of the team. 

This is the danger Jesus spoke of in searching and not understanding the scriptures. There are people today, who are teaching their misunderstanding of scripture, leading people on a course that doesn’t lead to salvation but to death because they haven’t taught that the laws and rules, the scripture is their to point to the One who came and died for their sins, and if they would believe in Him, trust and yield to him as Lord, they would have eternal life. The only testimony that will matter is the testimony of Jesus Christ saving power through the cross and the forgiveness of sins, how Jesus has given everyone who believes a new life, the old has died and the new life is new everyday. So what is your testimony today? Are you trusting in the following of laws and rules that show your good works and in earning salvation through your own efforts, or are you trusting in the One who wrote the laws and rules to guide you in trusting Him who gave his life in fulfilling the laws and rules to give eternal life to all who would believe in Him? You see we enjoy the Word of God because it is a light to our path in life (Ps. 119:105). We, like the leaders in Jesus’ day have received the light of God’s Word and but like John the Baptist, we need to shine the light of God’s Word and our testimony of Jesus into our world to dispel the darkness and in doing so others will see the light as well.

Next, Jesus bears down on the leaders to get at the weight of the works of God. Let’s look at the text, “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. 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. 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. 

Jesus knew the hearts of everyone who was standing around him listening. He admonished them for three reasons. He came to them, “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.” God had already started the work of salvation by the incarnation, the fulfillment of prophetic scripture that the Christ, of the line of David, will come as a child and be born in Bethlehem. Isa. 7:14,9:6,11:1, Jer. 23:5, and Micah 5:2. “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel…For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace…A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit…“The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land…“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

Jesus was about the Father’s work. Let’s look at the text, “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.” He was listening to the Father, and only spoke and did as the Father told him to do. He read from the scroll of Isaiah in the synagogue in Nazareth, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Isa. 61:1,2, He healed the man at the pool, and had done signs and wonders in Jerusalem and around Galilee. Jesus was about the Father’s work, and all of this testified that God was with him and had sent him.

Second, Jesus continued to admonish the leaders who may have been at the Jordan river that day when Jesus was baptized, and God the Father spoke from heaven, “And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Let’s look at the text, “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.” God the Father openly spoke to all who had ears to hear, testifying that this is his Son, whom He has sent, and that He was greatly pleased. But the leaders did not hear nor did they understand from all that Jesus said or was doing, nor from what was written in the scriptures. Amos spoke of a time in which God said, “The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine through the land—not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord…searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it. Amos 8:11-12

      Jesus’ words were cutting deep into the hearts and souls of the leaders. He again admonishes them a third time. Let’s look at the text, “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.” Jesus is at the heart of the leader's blindness. They believed that eternal life came from obeying the laws of God for salvation. Jesus knew that the law was given to show sin in the lives of mankind. It was in these laws that Jesus came to fulfill them by being the sacrifice for their sins, the only sacrifice that would be acceptable to God.

      Jesus spoke these words later on the mount, then Paul to the Romans, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven… For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.” Matt. 5:17-20, Rom. 8:3-4

Application - Walking in the Spirit of God seems out or reach for the world because it only can happen by believing in Jesus Christ, Him come in the flesh, died on the cross for the sins of mankind, and rose again on the third day after his death and later ascended to heaven with the promise of again returning for those who have believed in Him. The leaders were given the scripture in order to reveal God’s plan and will. The prophets in the Old Testament books were filled with the Holy Spirit, guided to act and write what God said. It was the absence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the leaders that kept them from understanding the scriptures. Today, the Holy Spirit is moving in this world drawing people to God (Jn.6:44,16:13-14). The three things that Jesus admonished the leaders for are still happening today. Men try to search the scripture without the Spirit’s direction and guidance. They have started religions and cults based on their lack of understanding of the scripture. They believe that in doing good works they will be saved, or following a set of rules and laws specifically they will have eternal life, some have even changed the scripture to allow for demonic teachings which leads to death.

 Jesus said when he goes to be with the Father, he will send the promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit, to all who will believe (Jn.15:26-27). He will indwell them and seal them for salvation (Eph.1:13-14), he will guide them in the scripture and reveal even things that are yet to happen (Jn.16:13). He will empower them with boldness and remind them of God’s words and speak through them words that they have neither studied or practiced (Acts 2:4-33, Rom. 8:26), and when they are brought before authorities, the Holy Spirit will give them the Words of God to speak (Mk 13:11). 

Jesus did all of this in fulfilling God’s will and plan of salvation for mankind. He has not left us alone, but given us His Spirit so that He will never leave us nor forsake us. In all this we have abundant life in the Son and the Holy Spirit. 

Last, Jesus speaks to the leaders, exposing their very hearts and minds. Let’s look at the text, “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? “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?”

Jesus addresses the love for God. The leaders were in love with their religious lives, their degrees in studying the scriptures, and they gloried in their acceptance among their peers. The leaders desire was to be known for their prowess in their pious living. Jesus mentions their walking around with tassels dangling, “The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So practice and observe everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love the places of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues, the greetings in the marketplaces, and the title of ‘Rabbi’ by which they are addressed.” Matt. 23:2-7 They loved themselves more than they loved God or others. They love to be seen, teach and preach, but don't fulfill the two greatest commandments of the law that are of the greatest importance, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matt:22:37-40

They sought their own glory and not the glory of God through the One he had sent.

Jesus then concludes with the testimony of Moses. The leaders deified Moses, he was their deliverer from bondage in Egypt, he was the one whom God gave the commandments and the laws, he was the one who spoke to God for them, he was the one who brought them to the promise land and foretold of their inheritance, he was the one who told them about the messiah and the blessing and curses. Yet they had studied the life and work of Moses and still didn’t understand or believe the words foretold about the Messiah. Moses was a type of the Messiah to come from God. (Deut 18:15-22).

Application - It is interesting to look at the world today, and how much glory is in their achievements, or in the things that they belong to: sports team, church, business, club, or today’s races and genders, or political party. Jesus isn’t into any of these things, not even the stature or history of the church buildings. Jesus only accepts glory from the Father, not mankind or self. Many seek to glorify one another, but do not seek the one into whom all glory is to be given, Jesus Christ. The leaders of today glory in technology and the achievements of man in areas like science, social justice, educational levels, and physical achievements of sports, physical shape, and recreation and vacation locations. Jesus put no glory into any of these things. The only glory that mattered is the glory of the Lord, all other things pale in comparison to God. This is one reason why idols were so popular in Jesus’ day as well as the present day. Mankind is quick to hand out trophies and plaques, congratulations and salutations to those who have achieved a set standard. 

The church is not to glorify itself, but to glorify the one in whom we have salvation, in whom we have life eternal, in whom has equipped us to do His work,  “If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.” 2 Tim. 2:21 God will honor those who do His will. One day all who have run the race of faith, have completed His will for their lives will receive the praise and honor from He who sits on the throne in the tabernacle of Heaven. They will receive their reward, a crown: The Imperishable Crown – (1 Corinthians 9:24-25), The Crown of Rejoicing – (1 Thessalonians 2:19), The Crown of Righteousness – (2 Timothy 4:8), The Crown of Glory – (1 Peter 5:4), and The Crown of Life – (Revelation 2:10).  And whatever glory and crown we will receive we will lay down at the feet of the One who sits on the throne in Heaven for He alone is worthy of all glory and honor and power.  “And whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the One seated on the throne who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before the One seated on the throne, and they worship Him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying: “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things; by Your will they exist and came to be.” Rev. 4:9-11

It is interesting that Jesus said he will not accuse the leaders but that those honored in heaven will. I am still trying to grasp the heaven in which our Lord lives in and reigns. I can say from certainty that He will be glorified by all. Jesus spoke a parable about honor and judgment: the sheep and the goats (Matt. 25:31-46). Jesus will give honor to those who did His will and the work of the Father, who humbled themselves and placed others before themselves. He also will speak to those who choose to honor themselves by good works. To them he will not glorify but condemn because they, like the leaders in Jesus’ day, didn't understand the very word that they cherished and they did not love God.

I know that this is a lot to absorb and a lengthy lesson, as Jesus said,” I have weighter testimony” but if you believe in Jesus for salvation, he will show you and reveal the truth of the Word of God to you, so that you too may know the One the Father has sent and have eternal life (Jn. 17:3). “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” 

I’m again including the ABC’s of salvation (JD Farag). Please, Jesus, God the Son, came to this world to save all who would believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you, He is the Light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and all authority in heaven and earth have been given to him. He will answer you if you will truly believe. If you haven’t asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

 First, A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Second,

 B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Third, 

C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis

 

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