John 5:31-47

³¹ “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. ³² There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true.

³³ “You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. ³⁴ Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. ³⁵ John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.

³⁶ “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. ³⁷ And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, ³⁸ nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. ³⁹ You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, ⁴⁰ yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

⁴¹ “I do not accept glory from human beings, ⁴² but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. ⁴³ 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. ⁴⁴ How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

⁴⁵ “But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. ⁴⁵ “But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. ⁴⁶ If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. ⁴⁷ But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust Him more!

Context

Jesus healed the paralytic, forcing this question: Which is greater: strict Sabbath observance, or the outpouring of God’s grace? Jesus explains that he has worked ceaselessly beside his Father, since the creation of the world, which is an outrageous, heretical claim—unless it is true. So is he a liar, lunatic or Lord (Lewis)? Torah states Deut 19:15 that truth is established by 2-3 witnesses. So Jesus brings his witnesses: 1) John the Baptist, 2) The Father’s works, realized through him, and 3) Moses and the Scriptures.

Thoughts

• The Lord’s Humble Servant (31-32): Though he is the Word made flesh, Jesus fully submits himself to the pattern God had established through Moses: under the Law my solo testimony is not considered valid, so here are my witnesses.
• John the Forerunner (33-35): John was a lamp (a limited, temporary light, not the source) whom all Israel admired, and who prepared the way for, and testified to the Anointed One. Joh 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ As foretold in Ps 132:17 “Here I will make a horn grow for David and set up a lamp for my anointed one.”
• The Work of the Father (36-38): Torah said that the truth of prophets’ words were to be validated by their fulfillment—e.g. Joh 5:8 “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” Doing the restoring/redemptive work of the Father proves Jesus’ claims Heb 1:3 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.
• All the Scriptures Point to Him (39-47): The OT is not a story for Israel only, but for all believers—because it is all about Jesus. Jesus taught this on the road to Emmaus. Luk 24:27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.* But unless the Spirit opens our eyes, we read the words, but our understanding remains darkened, and eternal life is out of reach.

Reflections

• Jesus says people refuse to come to me to have life. This Christmas—what fear, pride, or distraction might be keeping you from drawing closer to him? What sign most clearly points you to trust Christ more?