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140. Testimonies That Prove the Truth


Deuteronomy 18:15-19, John 5:31-47
Key Verse: "I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me."
John 5:36

Today Jesus continues with His defense of Himself and His ministry. Remember, this confrontation came about because, once again, Jesus had supposedly broken Jewish Law by healing a paraplegic on the Sabbath. To make matters worse, He had claimed God as His Father, which in His accusers’ eyes, was the same as saying, "I am equivalent to God."

As any lawyer will tell you, a defendant's case is not very strong if his defense relies solely on the defendant's testimony. A case is always strengthened by collaborating witnesses. This was also true for Jesus' day. Therefore, In His own defense, Jesus names five witnesses that point to the fact that He is speaking the truth about Himself and His relationship to God.

The first witness that He calls to His defense is God Himself. "There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that His testimony about Me is valid." (John 5:32) Next He refers to John the Baptist, even though Jesus knew that the leaders to whom He is speaking didn't take John very seriously either. Jesus then points to His own works, (John 5:36) which His accusers have often credited to the devil. Next, he refers to all of Scripture, which, as we have been seeing throughout the year, abundantly points to Jesus as the Christ. Here, Jesus accuses them of not being better students because, though they claim to know all of Scripture, they do not recognize Him. Finally, Jesus refers to the revered Prophet, Moses, himself, who the Jews see as the giver of the original law. (John 5:45-47) Moses, from Genesis to Deuteronomy, had promised that God would walk among men in a way that would not frighten them, as they had been frightened by Him at Mount Sinai. Now, here He was, God's promise fulfilled, the true giver of the law Himself, being accused of breaking His own law by mere men who worshiped their religion and tradition more than God Himself.

This whole passage urges us to be careful. First of all, we must guard our hearts from letting our comfortable way of doing things, our traditions and preferences, keep us from God's truth when it is revealed. Secondly, just like Jesus, we must realize that, as His followers, we too live a life always on trial by Satan. The great accuser would love to find fault with us, ways that we have not lived up to Christ's name and reputation. If you were accused of being a Christian, how would your trial go? Could you call on witnesses who could testify to your walk with the Lord, or is it hard to tell for most observers?

Hymn: "At the Name of Jesus"  

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