John 5:33-38
Testimony of John the Baptist
33 You have sent messengers to John, and he has testified to the truth. 34 But the testimony I receive is not from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35 He was the lamp that was burning and shining, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.
Testimony of Works
36 But the testimony I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works that I do—testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.
Testimony of the Father
37 And the Father who sent Me, He has testified about Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. 38 Also you do not have His word remaining in you, because you do not believe Him whom He sent.
Jesus has given His testimony about Himself and now dives into three witnesses to confirm what He's said. John the Baptist, His own works or miracles, and God the Father.
First, all these religious authorities and most the Jewish people knew who John the Baptist was. He had been calling the nation to repent and make way for the Lord's coming. Many came to him, confessing their sins, repenting, and being baptized. The pharisees even sent a group to question who he was. All of them were excited to hear the Messiah was coming. They thought to rescue them from Rome, which is why Jesus showing up to rescue them spiritually was not being received so well.
Second, Jesus calls out the very works, miracles, signs, and wonders He's been doing. He'd just healed a man who had been paralyzed for thirty-eight years. He testified to having the power to raise the dead, having life inside of Him, and they'd watched Him do things only God could do.
Third, Jesus says God the Father who sent Him even testified about Him. He points back to the scriptures, which is the Word of God. However, He calls out they do not have His Word remaining or abiding in them.
The word used for remaining in Greek is menō and means, abide, continue, dwell, to continue to be present. It is an active, ongoing verb here. So, these religious authorities had memorized and knew the scriptures inside out, but it was simply dead knowledge in their minds. Instead of being the Living Word of God, flowing powerfully inside their hearts.
All these witnesses were targeted directly at the religious authorities before Him. These were things they all knew about. Things they were experts on. Things they taught and enforced. However, all it did was shine a light and reveal these men's hearts were not for God, but for themselves.
Christian, have you ever just stopped, looked yourself in the mirror, and asked why is it you follow Jesus? Is it for Him or for yourself?
Now, hear me clearly say this, if the answer jumps out that it's for yourself, know it's a good thing to have it revealed. To know it. Because when things come into the light they can start to be worked on. It's when they hide in the dark, they grow and fester. Sure, your flesh and the enemy will try to bring condemnation with it, but Holy Spirit will use it to convict, bring to repentance, then restore back to the proper focus on God. Think about every program there is in existence to help people, it starts with admitting there's a problem.
I even stop and ask the Lord to search me and show me things that I'm blind to. Like David did in Psalm 139. It's not a fun thing to do but it's necessary sometimes. It's far too easy for us to take the wheel from God and many times not even know it.
That's it for today's Journey in the Word. Don't take my word for it, get in your Bible and see it for yourself!
You are loved. You are prayed over. You are not alone.
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