“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. John 5:24 NIV
Jesus, knowing that these Jews would not accept His testimony on His own behalf, gives four different outside sources of witness to both His authority and His identity.
“If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true. John 5:31-32 NIV
The first witness to these truths about Jesus is John the Baptist…
“You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light. John 5:33-35 NIV
The second witness given by Jesus is His miracles that He works through the power of the Father…
“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. John 5:37 NIV
The third witness comes from the Father Himself…
And the Father who sent Me has Himself testified concerning me. You have never heard His voice nor seen His form, nor does His word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one He sent. John 5:37-38 NIV
Finally, Jesus presents the witness of the Scriptures…
You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about Me, yet you refuse to come to Me to have life. 5:39-40 NIV
Even with these four witnesses, Jesus knows that these Jews will still not believe in Him and will not “come” to Him for eternal life because they don’t even love God the Father.
…but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. John 5:42 NIV
Jesus is able to diagnose their problem clearly: these Jews care far more about their own power and influence than they care about their own faith. If all they care about is receiving honor from each other rather than God, how could they humble themselves to trust in Jesus?
How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? John 5:44 NIV
Thinking today about our own belief in Jesus, of the four witnesses listed by Him, is it possible that the witness of the Scriptures could have the greatest impact on us today? I assume you are reading this today because you desire to dig deeper in God’s word.
