John 5:30-47

Sunday Morning Bible Study

October 1, 1995

Introduction

Jesus was in Jerusalem for one of the Jewish ritual feasts.

While there, He stopped by a pool called Bethesda, where He met a man who had been sick for 38 years.

Jesus healed the man.

But He happened to do it on the Sabbath, which got Him into trouble.

And as He tried to explain Himself, He makes it clear that He is God's Son, in fact, He makes Himself to be equal with God.

:30 Jesus' submission to the Father

:30 I can of mine own self do nothing

Here is Jesus, having made claims of equality with God, yet showing His complete subjection to the will of the Father.

Jesus is again going back to what He started His answer with.

He had been accused of breaking the Sabbath, and He responded with:

»John 5:19-AV Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

In other words, He's just doing what His Father tells Him to do.

Now, as He's developed the idea of how God has entrusted Him with all judgment (vs.22), He again says that He's only doing what God is showing Him to do.

Lesson:

Complete Dependance

If Jesus had complete dependance upon God, should we do any less?

»John 15:4-5 AV Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Illustration:

Last week I trimmed the bushes that grow on our back wall.

When you trim them, it's not hard to miss a picking a few branches up that you've cut, but are still hanging on the wall.

But a week later, it's easy to see. They're all dead.

Do you think there's anything we can do outside of Jesus that doesn't bring death to us?

:30 As I hear, I judge

He's not talking about what He hears from men as their testimony on a witness stand.

He's talking about hearing from God, and making His judgments based on what God tells Him.

:30 my judgment is just because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father

We talked last week about a particular Greek word that is sprinkled throughout this passage, krisis.

It's translated "judgment" (vs.22, 27, here), "condemnation" (vs.24), "damnation" (vs.29).

In this context, we talked about it's meaning of the final judgment, and how we will all one day stand before Jesus and be judged for our lives.

But the word can also carry other ideas, though similar in nature.

It can mean "a separating, sundering, separation; selection..."

And with what Jesus is saying here, I was thinking about how we are all making decisions and judgments, constantly, throughout our day.

Lesson:

Best decisions are focused on others.

Sometimes we're just too worried about how it will affect us personally.

We ought to be more concerned about how our decisions affect others, and especially our relationship with God.

»Philippians 2:3-11 NAS Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; 4 do not [merely] look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, [and] being made in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

:31 The testimony begins ...

:31 bear witness of myself ... not true

NIV translates this:

»John 5:31-NIV "If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid.

This is according to Jewish tradition, that a person couldn't alone testify on their own behalf.

They had to have another person testify in addition to themself.

This is true in our own court today.

OJ didn't even take the stand to give his testimony, which is common these days.

Because of this, Jesus is going to show the Jews the various witnesses who testify to who He is.

Kind of proper that we look at this on the weekend when the case goes to the Jury for OJ.

Jesus is kind of continually on trial before the Jews, and now He's going to bring before them His witnesses.

Lesson:

Don't toot your own horn

It's not a bad idea to follow Jesus' example here.

»Proverbs 27:2-AV Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

There are folks who like to let you know just how great they are.

The ones that are trying so hard to let you know are usually the ones you don't really want to hear about.

Illustration:

Get someone else to blow your horn, and the sound will carry twice as far.

-- Will Rogers

:32-35 Witness #1: John's testimony

:32 There is another that beareth witness

Speaking of John the Baptist. (some commentaries say the Father)

"Would the first witness please take the stand?"

:32 the witness which he witnesseth of me is true

What did John the Baptist say about Jesus?

»John 1:29-34 AV The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. 31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

Jesus is now validating John's earlier testimony, and saying that it was true.

:33 Ye sent unto John

The Jews sent delegations out to John to ask him who he was and what he was doing.

We read all this in John 1.

:34 I receive not testimony from man

NASB translates:

»John 5:34-NAS "But the witness which I receive is not from man, but I say these things that you may be saved.

Jesus wasn't dependant upon human testimony as to who He was.

:34 these things I say that ye might be saved

He mentions John's testimony as one more thing to help persuade the Jews of who He was.

His goal was for them to be saved.

If some of them would listen to human testimony, then that's what He's going to give them.

:35 he was a burning and a shining light

It was common with the Jews to call their doctors, who were famous for their knowledge, and holiness of life, lights, burning lights, and shining lights

R. Simeon ben Jochai is often called in the book of Zohar, "the holy light"

So R. Abhu is called "the lamp of light"

Of Shuah, Judah's father-in-law, that he was "the light of the place"; that is, where he lived.

So, isn't it interesting that Jesus said of us,

»Matthew 5:14-16 AV Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

The words used to describe John and his light:

kaio - to set on fire, light, burning; to burn, consume with fire

phaino - to bring forth into the light, cause to shine, shed light

John was set on fire, and he let the fire shine forth.

Gill: "His light of pure doctrine, and of an holy and exemplary conversation, shone very visibly, and brightly before men; and he burned with strong love and affection for Christ, and the souls of men; and with flaming zeal for the honour of God, and true religion, and against all sin and profaneness, which he was a faithful reprover of, and for which he lost his life."

Lesson:

Witnessing = Controlled burning for Jesus.

John the Baptist himself said of Jesus:

»Matthew 3:11-AV I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

The real power behind witnessing is not learning how to use the Four Spiritual Laws.

The real power behind witnessing is not going to a class to learn catchy phrases to use on people.

The real power in witnessing is being on fire with the Holy Spirit:

»Acts 1:8-NAS but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."

The order: The Holy Spirit comes upon you, then you receive power, then you become a witness.

Do you want to be an effective witness?

Just set yourself on fire!

Get close to The Fire!

He's the one in the burning bush! (Ex.3)

The bush that was on fire, yet not consumed!

Then go out and burn for Jesus, let it shine!

Illustration:

One man wrote:

"The best argument for Christianity is Christians -- their joy, their certainty, their completeness. But the strongest argument against Christianity is also Christians -- when they're self-righteous and smug in complacent consecration. When they're narrow and repressive, then Christianity dies a thousand deaths." (Sheldon Van Auken, Severe Mercy )

:35 ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light

The Jews were kind of curious about John.

At the beginning, John was attracting big crowds.

But at he kept testifying of Jesus, and of the Jews' sins and need of repentance, the crowds dwindled.

:36 Witness #2: The works

:36 the works which the Father hath given me

John the Baptist is the first witness.

The second witness is the works that Jesus has and will be doing.

John's whole theme in developing his gospel has been to base it around the works of Jesus, as a means to bringing a person to believe in Jesus.

»John 20:30-31 AV And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

So far, these are the miracles we've seen Jesus do in the gospel of John:

Chapter Two: He visited a wedding, and when they ran out of refreshments, He turned water into wine.

Jesus is a bringer of joy! He loves a good wedding!

Chapter Four: When the nobleman came to Jesus in Cana, He healed the son in Capernaum, long distance!

Jesus has awesome power to speak healing, even over the miles.

Chapter Five: A man that had been sick for 38 years, Jesus simply spoke to, and healed the him.

Is any of this giving anybody a clue as to who Jesus is?

Warning:

Miracles alone can be dangerous

In fact, there will be a time very soon when the antichrist will be on the scene, and one of his false prophets will do miracles that will astound people too.

»Revelation 13:13-14 AV And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by [the means of] those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

Miracles are an important witness, but there needs to be more to the content.

:37-38 Witness #3: The Father

:37 the Father himself ... hath borne witness of me

Several times God the Father will be letting people know who Jesus really is.

At Jesus' baptism:

»Matthew 3:16-17 AV And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

God would be speaking prophetically through Simon Peter:

»Matthew 16:16-17 AV And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Later on, when Jesus would be transfigured before Peter, James, and John:

»Matthew 17:5-AV 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.

:37-38 Ye have neither heard his voice ...

God's major way of communicating is not through audible words or a physical shape.

It's through the heart.

And even there, they weren't listening.

:38 ye have not his word

Greater than the audible words from heaven, is the witness that God puts in a person's heart about Jesus:

»1John 5:9-10 AV If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

It was this witness that the Jews weren't paying attention to either.

The fact that they weren't paying attention to Jesus was proof that they weren't paying attention to God.

:39 Witness #4: The Scriptures

:39 Search the scriptures

Or, "You search the scriptures"

Either translation can be correct.

:39 in them ye think ye have eternal life

The Jews were proud of their Scriptures.

They should be.

But their view of Scriptures was such that they felt that just having them and reading them would be bringing eternal life:

Gill: They imagined, by having these writings in their hands, and by their reading them, and hearing them expounded every sabbath day, they should obtain and inherit everlasting life.

``he that begins to read in the book of the law is obliged to bless after this manner: blessed be he that has chosen us above all nations, and hath given us his law.--And he that finishes blesses after him in this manner: blessed is he who hath given us his law, the law of truth, and has planted "eternal life" in the midst of us.''

:39 they are they which testify of me

The Scriptures are the fourth witness Jesus calls to the stand.

As we have seen in each Old Testament book we've studied, it's all about Jesus.

There are over 300 specific prophecies about Jesus' first coming, all of which were fulfilled.

An example:

»Psalms 22:14-18 AV I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. 16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. 17 I may tell all my bones: they look [and] stare upon me. 18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

:40-44 Reasons for unbelief

:40 And (or, but) ye will not come to me, that ye might have life

The real life doesn't come in the Scriptures, is comes in Jesus.

The Scriptures only point the way to Jesus.

But it's in Jesus that we have real life.

Jesus has already said (within this same sermon...)

»John 5:21-AV For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth [them]; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

»John 5:26-AV For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

It's only through the death and resurrection of Jesus that we obtain life.

Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins.

He rose again, proving His victory over sin, and demonstrating the kind of life and power He has to give us.

Isn't it strange how people like to talk about religious things.

They can talk all day about crystals, New Age, eastern religions, etc.

But when the topic turns to Jesus... watch out!

Some people are so willing to try everything, but Jesus.

:40 ye will not

Lesson:

It's often a problem of the will

thelo - to will, have in mind, intend

For many people, it is not really an intellectual issue.

It's a matter of their "will"

Don't be discouraged!

:41 I receive not honour from men

Jesus isn't talking about the praise and honor that we give Him as we follow Him.

But He's talking about His motives in discussing His equality with God.

Now it was God the Father's desire for men to honour Jesus (John 5:22-23), but it wasn't Jesus' desire to try and get them to bow down and lick his feet or something.

:42 But I know you

He can see right through these guys.

They aren't close to God at all.

:43 if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive

I believe Jesus is talking about more than just a general tendency for the Jews to be following the wrong person.

I believe Jesus is hinting about a person yet to come, the antichrist.

(give a plug for Sun.night's study in Daniel 11!)

»2Thessalonians 2:8-12 AV And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 [Even him], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

When people decide that they're just not going to follow this Jesus thing, then they open themselves up to all kinds of stupid stuff, and ultimately, the antichrist.

:44 receive honour one of another ...

Here's one of the stumbling areas for these guys.

They were more concerned about what other people would think, than with what God thinks.

Lesson:

God's opinion is more important than man's

It's a very common thing that keeps people back from following Jesus.

They are worried about what their friends will think.

But there has to come a time when you are more concerned about what God thinks rather than what people think.

One of the most disturbing scriptures to me:

»John 12:42-43 AV Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess [him], lest they should be put out of the synagogue: 43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

Do I make my choices, then look over my back to see who's watching?

:45-47 Witness #5: Moses

:45 one that accuseth you, even Moses

We now call the last witness to the stand.

We're going to call an expert witness.

Keep in mind that the Jews are claiming that Moses is their witness.

They would want to say that Jesus broke the law of Moses by healing on the Sabbath.

Yet in fact He's really a witness for Jesus.

:46 he wrote of me

A few samples:

The promised Messiah coming through the woman:

»Genesis 3:15-AV And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Abraham being the source of the Messiah:

»Genesis 12:3-AV And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

The Messiah coming from Judah:

»Genesis 49:10-AV The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him [shall] the gathering of the people [be].

Even Balaam forsaw the Messiah:

»Numbers 24:17-AV I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

God warned that you'd better pay attention to Jesus:

»Deuteronomy 18:18-19 AV I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. 19 And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require [it] of him.

Lesson:

What do you do with the witnesses?

Witness #1: John's testimony

Witness #2: The works

Witness #3: The Father

Witness #4: The Scriptures

Witness #5: Moses

What's holding you back?

Is it your own "will"?

Is it worrying about what others will think?