"Searching the Scriptures and Seeking the Lost"

Four Great Witness Of Christ

by Wayne Jones 

Within the fifth chapter of John, Jesus makes many claims about Himself.  He claims to be the Son of God (5:19); He claims that the Father has committed all judgment into His hands (5:22); He claims to be the Giver of life (5:25); He claims that at the sound of His voice the graves will open and the dead will come forth (5:28). Although His own testimony should have been enough to verify theses claims, Jesus realized that many would not believe based solely on His witness (John 5:31).  Therefore, Jesus calls to the mental witness chair four great witnesses which will forever prove that Jesus is God’s Son, man’s judge and man’s hope for life eternal. 

John the Immerser (5:32-35)

            According to this text, John was a witness to the truth (5:33).  The “truth” to which Jesus is referring was brought when Christ came to earth (John 1:17).  Furthermore, Jesus was/is the way, the truth and the light (John 14:6).  Was it not John who, when he saw Jesus announced, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29)?

            The very attitude that John possessed verified that fact the Christ was indeed the Messiah.  John noted the Christ was preferred before him (John 1:30). John illustrated this by first even refusing to baptize Jesus because he was unworthy (Matt. 3:13-14).   John did not consider himself to be worthy of even unlatching the shoes that Jesus wore (Mark 1:7; Luke 3:16).  Truly, John was a faithful witness to the claims of Jesus Christ. 

The Works of Christ (5:36)

            Many times people claim to be one thing, but there actions show something much different.  We often call these individuals hypocrites.  Because there is the chance of finding a hypocrite in the Lord’s church and even in positions of great influence, we are encouraged to “try the spirits whether they are of God” (I John 4:1).

            However, in the life of Christ, His claims are consistent with His actions.  Jesus even notes that His works (miracles) are a greater witness than John (John 5:36).  In fact, the reason that Jesus performed those miracles was to support His claim of Deity (John 20:31).  Consider, for example,  that Jesus claimed to be the Giver of life and He supported that claim by restoring physical life to his good friend Lazarus (John 11:43).  Throughout the course of His ministry, Jesus exercised power over disease (Matt. 8:2-4); distance (Matt. 8:5-13); the spiritual realm (Matt. 8:28-34); and nature (Matt. 8:23-27).  Truly, His works are an undeniable testimony to the claims He made. 

God the Father (5:37-38)

            Jesus has vocal support from the Father on at least two occasions.  At the baptism of Christ, there was a voice from heaven that said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17).  Again, those words where spoken from heaven at the tranfiguration of the Christ.  But this time, these words were added: “Hear ye him” (Matt. 17:5).  The witness of God was, no doubt, important to Christ’s claims.  Therefore, if the Jews were going to continue to reject the Christ, they also must reject God the Father.  What a powerful witness this must have been! 

The Old Testament Scriptures (5:39)

            The Jewish leaders prided themselves on knowing and keeping the Law of Moses.  They gloried in it and even used it to vault themselves as superior to the Gentile world.  After all, they were God’s chosen people.  And God had chosen to give the Scriptures to them.  Yet, Christ said that if they had really known those Scriptures that they would have known that He was who He claimed to be.  The Old Testament spoke of the miracle of His birth (Isa. 7:14); the place of His birth (Micah 5:2); His suffering and death (Isa. 53); His resurrection (Psalm 16:10); His new covenant (Jer. 31:31-34); His law (Isa. 2:2-3); and His kingdom (Dan. 2:44).  Truly, had they known and trusted the Word of God, they would have known that Christ was who He claimed to be.

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