And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, "These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God." --Revelation 3:14
We all seem to love a good courtroom drama. The opening sets the stage, the narrative leads us to a certain conclusion, and then comes the twist--the witness at trial who proves an alternate version of the truth; or when we see a character that is not the accused who suddenly confesses to the crime.
In reality, this almost never happens. Every first year law student is taught that one never puts a witness on the stand unless one knows for certain what that witness is going to say. The attorney's job is to use the witness statements to craft a narrative that will lead the jury to conclude that his theory of the case is correct, or at least compelling. The prosecutor and the defense may have competing theories. Indeed, they may believe with all their hearts and minds that their own version is correct.
In the fifth chapter of John we see Jesus present a beautiful defense of Himself and His purpose. Unfortunately, knowing the hearts of His accusers, He stipulates to their unbelief. His words are recorded for us, as if we ourselves were the jury. We are each a jury of one, deciding for ourselves whether to believe in Jesus or in His accusers.The Background
We have already seen early in this chapter that Jesus stands accused of profaning the Sabbath by healing a man who had been disabled for 38 years, and then telling him to pick up and carry his bedroll. Both infractions--doing the work of healing on the Sabbath, and compelling another to labor on the Sabbath--were capital offenses. Under strict Mosaic law, Jesus could have been taken out of the city and stoned to death.
In his opening statement, Jesus identifies Himself as the Son of God (thereby opening Himself up to a third charge, that of blasphemy). He states that as a Son, He is following the directions of the Father. Who dares to judge God? Further, Jesus claims that God the Father has given Him authority to judge the world. He concludes by saying, "I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteious, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me." (John 5:30)
The Case For Christ
His own Testimony
If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true. --John 5:31-32.Like anyone else, it was not enough for Jesus to simply claim things about Himself. There had to be outside and independent witness to His true identity and nature. This principle is established by Deuteronomy 19:15, which says by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established. Jesus explained to the religious leaders that even though He was God, His testimony alone was not enough.
You have sent to John, and He has borne witness to the truth. Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved. He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. --John 5:33-35
The Jewish leaders no doubt recalled the words of John the Baptist, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." (John 1:29). Many of them had likely heard John preach, and some may have even submitted themselves to John's baptism. John bore witness that Jesus was the Messiah, but they were not convinced.
Jesus pivots here, saying there are other witnesses, not just one man. Notice He slips in here a word about His redemptive purpose. He is not standing there speaking in order to save Himself, but rather "I say these things that you may be saved." Here Jesus is speaking directly to the Pharisees, yes, but also to us. How do you respond to His words? Do you believe Him? Do you believe in Him?
The Testimony of His Works
But I have a greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish--the very works that I do--bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. --John 5:36
In 1 Corinthians 1:22, Paul noted that miraculous signs were important to the Jews. God had always manifested Himself through miracles. They taught their children that God parted the Red Sea, that He provided Manna in the wilderness, and that He brought healing to the nation of Israel. Jesus's own miracles spoke volumes on His behalf, if they would only believe.
Commentator David Guzik writes, "The majority of the miraculous works of Jesus were simple acts of compassion and mercy, done for simple and needy people. In this, these works... bear witness to the heart of God. The Jews looked for a miraculous Messiah, but they did not look for One who would express His miraculous power in simple acts of compassion and mercy. They looked for the Messiah to use miraculous power to bring military and political deliverance to Israel. Because Jesus’ miraculous works didn’t fit in with what they thought the Messiah would do, they didn’t receive this witness of Jesus’ works."
The Testimony of God Himself
And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. But you do not have His words abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. --John 5:37-38
God had testified of His Son verbally when He spoke at Jesus's baptism. God testified of His Son viscerally through signs and wonders, one of which was what started this whole thing in the first place. God also testified of His Son in virtually every book of Scripture.
Sadly, They will not receive the testimony of the Father, because they do not have His word abiding in them. They can’t hear God the Father audibly, or see Him, but they have His word. They are guilty because they do not abide in the word that God gave them.
The Testimony of the Scriptures
You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. --John 5:39-40
They studied Scripture diligently, but of no avail. Australian New Testament scholar Leon Morris said, "They read them with a wooden and superstitious reverence for the letter, and never penetrated into the great truths to which they pointed.” Commentator William Barclay wrote, "They read it not to search for God but to find arguments to support their own positions. They did not really love God; they loved their own ideas about him.”
The Expositor's Greek New Testament says this: The true function of Scripture is expressed in the words, ἐκεῖναί εἰσιν αἱ μαρτυροῦσαι περὶ ἐμοῦ (and they are the ones who testify about me, or they (the words) are that which testify of me): they do not give life, as the Jews thought; they lead to the life-giver. God speaks in Scripture with a definite purpose in view, to testify to Christ; if Scripture does that, it does all. But to set it on a level with Christ is to do both it, Him, and ourselves grave injustice."
Closing Arguments
I do not receive honor from men. But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses your--Moses, in whom you trust. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words? --John 5:41-47
John bore testimony of Jesus, but he was just a man. God bore testimony of Jesus, but they did not believe God. They would rather follow false teachers who speak eloquently or have a charismatic personality, but are not sent from God. They did not even believe the words of Moses, whose books were contained in their Torah.
In Deuteronomy 18:15 Moses said, "The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him." Jesus was saying that Moses was speaking these words about Him--not about Joshua, or Elijah, or Daniel--and they did not believe.
What about you? Do you believe?
The Deliberations
The Jewish leaders did not pick up stones to kill Jesus right there. They let Him live. However, I am certain that they went back to the Sanhedrin and deliberated among themselves as to whether He was the Christ. Later, when they brought down an indictment and had Jesus arrested, He did not make any defense. Why? Because He had made this defense, but also to fulfill the scripture. Isaiah 53:7 says, "He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth."
In the court of public opinion, Jesus was a good man, maybe a good teacher. In the eyes of the Jewish leaders, He was a heretic, a blasphemer who needed to be executed for violating the Law of Moses. In Christian belief, He was the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.
What is your verdict? You have the evidence in front of you. Jesus made His defense. It is up to you whether you believe Him or not. If you do not believe in Him, you may spend eternity separated from Him in a place prepared for the devil and his demons. If you do believe in Him by faith, then repent and follow His commands. It's that simple.
No comments:
Post a Comment