John 5:39

“You know, the curious thing is you conscientiously study the Scriptures convinced that by doing so you will gain everlasting life, when in fact the purpose of Scriptures is to give evidence to who I am!”  John 5:39 EFP

There are many reasons to read and study the Bible.  According to this classic declaration by Jesus, only one reason is valid.  All the others may be good and useful, but they are worthless if you miss the main reason the Scriptures are given.  The reason for the Scriptures is to point all humanity to Jesus.  Period!

King David says the Scriptures are a light (Psalm 119:105).  Jesus says, “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12)  The apostle Paul says the Scriptures “are useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training…” (2 Timothy 3:16).  Jesus says “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life…” (John 14:6)  The Bible is a guide that leads me to Jesus and the record of the story of redemption throughout the history of humanity.  I can memorize the Bible and miss the mark if I do not know Jesus.  I can get deep into the word, but unless the Word is deep inside me, I have nothing but empty knowledge and trivial information.  Quoting Scripture is impressive and handy.  Knowing the Word made flesh is basic, but life-changing...forever.

John 5:38

“In fact, my Father, who is responsible for my presence here, testified about me already.  Of course you never heard his voice nor did you see his face, so how could you know his testimony at all?”  John 5:38 EFP

This text is quite an indictment of the religious leaders of the time.  Jesus’ reference was more than likely to his baptism, when the Father said, “This is my beloved son….” On occasion of his baptism in the River Jordan.  But his words must have cut deep when he points out what must have been obvious to both the leaders and the ones they had been called to lead.  “You never heard his voice, did you?” 

“Never heard God’s voice….never saw His face.”  What does Jesus mean when he makes this broad statement?  They were the ones who spoke for God, but they never met him or heard from him?  They wouldn’t recognize his voice or his face if they heard or saw it is the implication!  Jesus’ point is that they had in fact never heard the voice or seen the face of God! That is one strong indictment.

What would Jesus say of me today?  Do I hear God’s voice?  Would I recognize him if I saw him?  It would be sad indeed if after all is said and done I would be found to have never heard the voice of God while being surrounded by all the trappings of religiosity.  Where do I go to hear the voice of God?  Where do I go to meet him?  I need to go more often to that place where I can hear His voice speaking to me—where I can look into his face.  No distractions.  No interruptions.  No outside noise. Just me and His Word speaking to me. I do not want to ever be accused of not hearing or recognizing my heavenly Father’s voice.

John 5:37

“In fact, my Father, who is responsible for my presence here, testified about me already.  Of course you never heard his voice nor did you see his face, so how could you possible know his testimony?” John 5:37 EFP

This text is quite an indictment of the religious leaders of the time.  Jesus’ reference was more than likely to his baptism when at the River Jordan the Father said, “This is my beloved son….”  But his words must have cut deep when he points out what must have been obvious to both the leaders and the ones they had been called to lead.  “You never heard his voice, did you?” 

“Never heard God’s voice….”  What does Jesus mean when he makes this broad statement?  They were the ones who spoke for God, but they never heard from him?  They wouldn’t recognize his voice if they heard it is the implication!  What would Jesus say of me today?  Do I hear God’s voice?  Would I recognize it if I heard it?  It would be sad indeed if after all is said and done I would be found to have never heard the voice of God while being surrounded by all the trappings of religiosity.  Where do I go to hear the voice of God?  I need to go more often to that place where I can hear Him speaking to me.  No distractions.  No interruptions.  No outside noise.  I do not want to ever be accused of not hearing or recognizing my heavenly Father’s voice. “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”

John 5:36

“Yet in spite of the poignant testimony of John, I have even weightier evidence than that which he provides.  The very work I do, as is given to me to finish by my Father in heaven, is the only witness I need to prove the Father sent me.”  John 5:36 EFP

It appears Jesus is declaring in brief that his works are self-evident—self-authenticating. The testimony of John is powerful from a human point of view, but Jesus’ work is in itself the best evidence of its own validity. His work, in this case, the healing of a crippled man, could not have happened without it being set in motion by God in heaven. The fact that he does things that could only happen through divine intervention is all the evidence he needs to establish the authenticity of his ministry. Period.

I am left to ask, “What do my actions say about the authenticity of my calling? Do they stand the test of close scrutiny?” I can’t claim self-authentication, since I am not Jesus, but certainly my actions speak volumes about God’s work in me and through me. Where is my passion focused? Where is my time spent? Humans can only see what I choose to show them. Some of us are better than others at hiding our “warts.” But even if others are fooled, it is more difficult to deceive myself, and impossible to trick God. I pray He will make me more authentic every day. May my life give evidence of my commitment to the One who called me to live for him and serve all his children ‘til He comes again.

John 5:35

“John the Baptist is a lamp that burned intensely and shone brightly,” Jesus comments. “You made the choice to bask in his bright light for a time.”  John 5:35 EFP

John the Baptist was a special person. His mission was specific and intense. He knew the reason for which he has been born and the task to which he had been called. He fulfilled his mandate. His light burned ever so brightly and many were impacted by his fiery passion. He was called to prepare the way for the coming Messiah. Wow! Imagine that!

But how about me? Have I not been called as well? Do I know my mission? Do I know why I was born into this world with the same certainly of this man of the wilderness?  Does my light shine brightly? Does it light up my world? Does it shine at all? These are questions that swirl in my head on a daily basis. I have been called as well to trumpet the coming of the Messiah—this time in glory and majesty. Are people hearing my message and are their lives impacted by the words of God in me? Will heaven count those who are there because of the light of God that shined through me to them?

I am challenged once again!

John 5:34

“Listen, I do not need human testimony to validate my claims? No! My Father’s witness is sufficient.  But I add human witness so you will have sufficient testimony on which to base your decision to be saved.” John 5:34 EFP

Jesus certainly does not need to call upon human witnesses to validate his claims, does he? I would suppose he would be the only person in history who can make such a claim and make it stand. Yet I can remember times in my life when I spouted the phrase, “I don’t care what people think. It’s between God and me.” Sound noble, doesn’t it?

It’s ironic—Jesus, who alone could validate that his own word and that of his father in heaven were sufficient to validate his authenticity, understood the value of human testimony. Anyone can claim God’s approval. I can justify my religious behavior on the basis of the Bible. People rationalize all sorts of things on the basis of their reading of Scripture! That is the shortcoming of that specific claim. But what do people say of me? What do my children answer when asked who I am and what I am like? Do they add to my witness or negate it? My witness may hinge on the testimony of other humans like me. My boss. My colleagues. My wife. My neighbor. I f Jesus understands the value of the human element of witness, then maybe I need to as well. My salvation depends on what God thinks of me. My testimony depends on what others think of me. Sobering, isn’t it?

John 5:33

“You sent delegations to question John about me and all he did was witness to you on my behalf regarding the truth of my claims.” John 5:33 EFP

This is an interesting text. If you read the passage you are left wondering when Jesus changes gears from one person’s testimony to the next.  Is he referring to John in the previous text?  If you read the passage it is possible to reach that conclusion.  I am certain Jesus is referring to his Father in the verse immediately preceding this one.  He is now adding a third witness to his list.  First, He provides himself as a witness.  Second, His Father’s witness precedes his witness.  Third, John’s witness precedes his Father’s witness.  How’s that?

If Jesus’ testimony were all there were, in his own words, it would not be sufficient. But God the Father affirms his status when he says, “This is my beloved son in whom I well pleased” on the occasion of his baptism by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:17).  That should be enough, considering the source.  But John the Baptist gives witness regarding the Messiah to the delegation from Jerusalem when in reference to Jesus he says, “He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” (John 1:27)  Later he adds, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins f the world.” 

I will never be Jesus.  I have not been called to carry the sins of this world on my shoulders.  But God calls me his son.  I want to live my life to honor him.  I also want his witness of me to be true.  I want those who know me best to see in me what God sees in me.  I am a work in progress, but the One working on me has assured me He will complete the work in his time.  Do I have a witness?

John 5:32

“There is someone other than myself who testifies on my behalf, and as a matter of fact, his testimony in my favor is genuine and true. It carries weight.” John 5:32 EFP

Who is that person who testifies on your behalf?  Does the person who knows you best provide genuine and accurate support for your spiritual claims?  Your best friend?  Your children?  Your husband?  Your wife?  You colleagues?  Jesus has someone in his corner that provides “true” support for his claims.  According to Jesus, his witness is unimpeachable!  This can only be because he knows him best and is totally trustworthy in his testimony.  I can imagine who that might be, but he has not told his listeners yet.

I am afraid there have been more than a few moments in my life when my best and most honest witness would have provided “true” testimony of a life that did not match the public’s perception of my claims.  That is more than unfortunate.  I want my family and friends to see no disconnect between my public and private person.  I want to be genuine and gentle in all my encounters.  I want grace to flow from me as it flows to me from God’s throne.  And in then, the only testimony that matters is the one that comes from the one who truly knows me best—my Father in heaven, who also happens to love me most.  His judgment in my favor is genuine and true! It means everything.

John 5:31

“If I ever were to testify or speak for myself, it would be meaningless.” John 5:31 EFP

What does Jesus mean when he says this?  After all, is he not speaking for himself—testifying, even as he engages the group of chagrined guardians of the Jewish faith?  What makes his testimony meaningful?  What prevents his outrageous claims from becoming meaningless even as he speaks them?  His point is well taken—simply because I make a claim does not make my claim valid.

His words are my indictment.  My claim to know Jesus is meaningless.  My testimony of the works of God in my life are pointless.  If all that supports my witness are the words that I speak on my own behalf, I am a sad evidentiary specimen indeed.  This is the seldom spoken side of the Christian life—the active faith that is evidenced by the way I live, dare I say, the things I do.  My deeds to not add any merit to my life in terms of salvation.  My deeds are the evidence that my life is lived for someone other than myself.  I do not need to speak for myself or tout my spiritual credentials.  I have no works of any salvific value.  My merits are Christ’s merits.  My good works are his.  My testimony is his.  My life is his…but is it really?  Am I afraid of being dependent on God’s leading and purposes for me? Lord, help me believe! 

John 5:30

“I do nothing independently—I can’t do it!  My judgment is based on what I hear my Father tell me, and as a result it is the right thing to do.  You see, my goal is to please the One who sent me and not to please myself.” John 5:30 EFP

What must it be like to be totally dependent?  Totally!  I find it interesting that Jesus is in this predicament because he brings a man totally dependent on others for his well-being into physical self-dependence by being totally dependent on his Father for direction and purpose.  He passes judgment on the crippled man because his Father leads him to do it.  He heals a man who has done nothing to deserve it.  As far as we know, he couldn’t even approach Jesus and it does not appear as if he called out to him to heal him while on the ground prone and helpless.  The man simply responds to Jesus’ query, “Do you want to get well?”

Living as a Christ-follower is counterintuitive to me.  It goes against the grain of my independent spirit.  It’s easy to say “I do nothing independently,” but it is a long way from living that way. Yet Jesus entered that arena.  The question for me is, “How can I live to please another with no consideration for myself?”  Jesus did!  There is no way he could have lived the life he did and go through what he went through if not for the fact that he was not living a self-serving life.  But in the end, his dependent life, his just judgment, his desire to please the One who sent him, became his pleasure as well.  His joy will be made complete when he see us with him in his kingdom.  It will be worth it then…but how do I live like him now?

John 5:29

“When the dead hear his voice they will come out of their graves—those having lived their lives for good will rise into life, while those having lived their lives for evil will rise into final condemnation.” John 5:29 EFP

I must admit this text troubled me enough to cause me to go back to my Greek training to try to quell my fears.  After all it literally states that those “good having practiced” or “evil having done” will face the just deserts at the resurrection.  So whether you did one thing bad or lived a life of abject evil you face an adverse judgment.  It does not look good…for any of us, certainly not me.

But there is good news.  If I understand the Gospel, then the one good choice to cast my past at the foot of the Savior cancels the debt. Confession. The gift of God is that my life is reckoned as a life lived for good.  Even the thief on the cross who lived his whole life in pursuits that led him to inescapable condemnation and public scorn, is assured he will be counted among those who are raised up into life because he “has done good.”  What good did he do?  The only one thing that can save. He trusted Jesus with his blighted past and his even bleaker future.  In a moment he is assured paradise.  It’s a choice, pure and simple.  Choose life!

John 5:28

“This ought not to surprise you at all.  In fact, the time is coming when all those who are in their graves will hear the voice of the Son of Man.” John 5:28 EFP

This text is an obvious reference to the resurrection.  Clearly Jesus is sweeping away any doubt about the event that will take place for all who die.  They will hear His voice calling them back to life—good and evil.  Note that they will be in their graves when they hear the voice that raises them back to consciousness. The statement is clear and sobering. 

But I can’t help but see a secondary meaning to the text.  It speaks to me as one who at one time was counted among the “living dead.”  I am not alone.  There are people all around me who do not know the meaning of life.  We are swallowed up by a quasi-life masquerading as the real thing.  It is more existence than the abundant life our Creator wants us to experience (John 10:10).  His voice is calling all the lost and lonely to come to the life-giver.  He calls us to come out of our grave of doubt, despair, and defeat.  He cries out for us to come out of the tomb of fear, failure, and faithlessness. He calles me into life.  And he reminds me daily that “whoever believes in the Son has eternal life.” (John 3:36)  It’s that simple.

John 5:27

“And the reason the Father gives his Son the authority to judge is because he is the Son of Man.” John 5:27 EFP

The term “Son of Man” is not foreign to the religious leaders of Jesus’ day.  The prophet Daniel uses it a couple of times; once to refer to a heavenly being (7:13) and the other as the term a heavenly being used to refer to Daniel himself (8:17).  The prophet Ezekiel uses it many times as the term used by the heavenly messenger to refer to him.  In all cases the “Son of Man” is a messenger used by God to pass on an important message to his audience.

In this case Jesus applies this term to himself.  He already has stated he is the Son of God, when he refers to God as his Father. Now he adds that his Father has bestowed all judgment to him because he is the Son of Man.  Sent by the Father and one with the Father…the concept is consistent with everything said previously by John about Jesus.  It is scandalously inconceivable to the Jewish establishment of his time, but to me it is good news beyond measure.  He is Almighty God garbed in human flesh carrying good news to sinners like me.  He knows my condition.  He shares in my experience.  He experiences the penalty of my sinful condition and many sins. And in the end, he judges me as righteous and invites me to enter his kingdom of grace as I await the kingdom of glory.  How can I not share that?