THE THREEFOLD WITNESS TO CHRIST’S DEITY–JOHN 5:30-47–LESSON 12
Introduction:
There are three witnesses that testify to the fact that Jesus is who He says he is.
I. THE WITNESS OF JOHN THE BAPTIST, (vs. 30–35).
A. The people listened to John and even rejoiced at his ministry.
1. John was sent from God, John 1:6-7, “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.”
2. John preached the Kingdom of God, Matthew 3:1-2, “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
B. But rejected him and his message.
1. John bares witness of Jesus, John 1:15, “John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.”
2. Only a few believed John, John 3:28, “Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.”
3. John accomplished his mission to prepare a people ready to meet the Lord. Luke 1:17, “And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
II. THE WITNESS OF THE WORKS THAT JESUS DID, (v. 36).
A. A greater witness than John the Baptist, v. 36, “But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.”
1. God testified through the “signs and wonders” which Jesus did. Hebrews 2:4, “God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?”
2. Peter declare that God worked through Jesus Christ, Acts 2:22, “God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?”
B. The miracles were so numerous and completely successful that no one can deny them.
1. Water turned into wine at the marriage at Cana, John 2.
2. The healing of the impotent man in John 5:1-9.
3. The raising of Lazarus from the dead, John 11.
4. The restoration of the sight of the blind, Luke 18:35-43.
III. THE WITNESS OF THE FATHER’S WORD IN THE SCRIPTURES, (vs. 37–47).
A. The Old Testament Scripture are the Father’s witness to His Son, v. 37, “And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.”
1. The Jews searched the Scriptures, thinking that their studies would save them, but they read with eyes that were spiritually blind, v. 39, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”
2. These Jews were not willing to find Christ in the Word of God as were the Bereans, Acts 17:11, “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
B. God was pleased to bear witness of his Son himself.
1. By a voice from heaven at his baptism, Matthew 3:17, “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
2. At His transfiguration, Matthew 17:5, “While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”
C. These Jews were not interested, v. 40, “And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.”
1. The love of God was not in them, v. 41, “But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.”
2. Jesus did not accuse them, but Moses did, vs. 45-46, “Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. 46For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.”
CONCLUSION:
The conclusion to all of this is believing the Word of God. Jesus said in verse 47, “But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?”