In the past generations, He allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. Yet, He did not leave Himself without witness, for He did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness. Acts 14:16-17 ESV.
The key takeaway from chapter 5 of John’s Gospel is that Father God never fails to leave a witness of Who He is and what He’s doing. As you engage in Scripture, imagine yourself as an “eyewitness.”
The healing at the Pool on the Sabbath
This chapter begins with the infamous healing at the Pool of Bethesda (5:1-17). The sick and dying have come eagerly to be healed by the moving of the waters. Yet, Christ Jesus, the Son of God, truly heals only one person.
It is the Sabbath.
The others, the blind, the lame, and the paralyzed, remain the same. But one man, only known to us as “Invalid,” is healed. So, he is no longer an invalid. His encounter with Jesus changed him, his destiny, and his identity. All he had to do was obey His voice. So, he got up, picked up his mat, and walked away.
Moral Police:
It was not only the Sabbath, but a feast day, so the entire city was filled with Jews of every walk of life, including Scribes and Pharisees. They have travelled near and far to be there.
How dare this healed man pick up his mat and walk? Who has the audacity to heal on this day? The “moral police” wanted to address this situation immediately.
Their inquiry led them to Jesus, the Christ.
Persecution of Jesus
Designed to injure, grieve, and inflict harm, they persecuted Jesus. They wanted Him to suffer for breaking their sacred rule/tradition. More than harassing Him, their murderous souls wanted to kill Him.
Watch Jesus’ response carefully. This is the longest discourse we have on record, and we can hear His voice telling them the truth.
But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” (John 5:17).
This was why the Jews were seeking to kill Him. Not just because He was breaking the Sabbath, but He was calling God His Father.
If you don’t recognize who Jesus is, then everything He says and does radically opposes what you believe.
The Authority of the Son (John 5:19-29)
Whatever the Father does, He does likewise. The Father loves the Son and has given Him authority. He can do nothing without the Father.
Is Life
They’ve seen Him heal an invalid; life itself is in Him. As the Father raises the dead, even so Jesus gives life to whom He pleases. You see, Someone more sacred than the Sabbath is with them, and they know it not.
Whoever hears His word and believes has eternal life and escapes condemnation. The true believer passes over from death to life. Even the dead will hear His voice, and they will live.
Is the true Judge
They should know it, but they don’t. He also received the authority to judge. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor God.
Watch as the Jews get more disturbed and angry. But we hear no response. The voice of Jesus Christ silences their voices.
Because the Father sent Him as the Son of God, the Father granted Jesus the authority to judge.
Is the Resurrection
A time is coming when, at the sound of His voice, all will rise from the dead to be judged. Those who have done good to eternal life, and those who have done evil (or godless) to condemnation.
The true Judge is just and justly judges to please God.
So, we are eyewitnesses as we listen to Jesus reveal His authority. But Jesus reveals He can do nothing on His own. He does the will of God.
More than His own testimony, there are others who bear witness that He is who He says He is.
Witnesses to Jesus (John 5:30-46)
Testimony of John the Baptist (John 5:33-35)
The Jews in front of Him must have been the ones who asked John the Baptist who he was (John 1:19-34), and he had testified that Jesus was the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
John the Baptist was not just a voice in the wilderness, but a lamp shining in the darkness set to show the way. He was the Way.
They were willing to rejoice with John the Baptist, but only for a little while. One day, John’s voice would be silenced, yet here was the Lamb of God, and they believed it not.
Testimony of works (John 5:36)
Okay, so John the Baptist’s testimony wasn’t the only thing bearing witness that here was the Son of God.
The quality of someone’s work reflects their moral standards, skills, and personal competence. After seeing the healing of the invalid, Jesus showed His power and compassion. They were unquestionable.
Yet, here they were persecuting Him for doing what He does and when He does it. Could any one of them heal this invalid? Miracles, signs, and wonders are clear witnesses that surely this is the Son of God.
Testimony of the Father (John 5:37-38)
How many of them were there when John the Baptist baptized Him? Did they not hear the voice from heaven confirming his identity?
“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matt 3.17 NIV
The Father sent Jesus into the world as His testimony. None of them had ever seen God, and yet here was God in flesh. If they really knew God, then they would know that here is His Son.
If God’s word really abided in them, then their hearts and minds would understand the spirit of the Law and not just the letter of the Law. Does tradition overrule the written Law?
They did not believe the Father’s testimony because they did not abide in the “God-breathed” Scripture.
Testimony of Scripture (John 5:29-47)
After the destruction of Solomon’s Temple (586 b.c), the Jewish scholars of the exile substituted the study of the Law for observation of tradition, temple ritual, and sacrifices. So, they believed studying the Hebrew Scriptures would bring them life.
It was no surprise to Jesus that they were incapable of making the connection between the Scriptures and the Savior.
Scripture does not bring eternal life, but it is in the Son. The Son you are now persecuting. The testimony of Jesus, in Scripture, met deaf ears and blind eyes.
They were unwilling to come to Him for life. He doesn’t receive glory and honor from them, but only harassment and murderous intent.
He knows what’s in their heart. They do not have the love of God in them. Their minds are closed, and the One the Father sent, in His name and power, they do not recognize. Anyone else, even an imposter, would be received with open arms.
How many of them chose Barabbas over Jesus on the fateful day of His death?
The “morale police” think more highly of themselves than they should.
Watch out! Even Moses accuses them before God, the Father. They have placed their hope of salvation in Moses and the One in front of them. So, Jesus told them, “But if you do not believe his writings, then how will you believe My words?” (John 5:17 NIV).
Jesus revealed how true His testimony was, and those who also bore witness did so. Yet, they did not believe. They took their murderous hearts and went home, waiting for the perfect time and place to kill Him.
Were they among the Jews who cried loudly, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”
Let God arise, and His enemies be scattered!
In Conclusion
A witness is a person who gives testimony where there is considerable concern for the truth.
Who bears witness to Christ today?
God has not, nor will He ever, leave Himself without a witness.
You are Walking Witnesses
There is still more than one witness bearing the truth today. His works continue; the Father fills our souls with the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit illuminates the word to bear witness.
This witness continues until the day Christ returns with a trumpet sound.
The Spirit Bears Witness
Let’s not forget that you, if you are a true disciple of Christ, bear witness. Even the assurance of our salvation has a witness.
The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. Rom 8:16 NIV.
The Church Bears Witness
The Christian community, the Church, moves and lives as a continual witness. The witness of the Church reveals His manifest wisdom.
So, that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. Eph 3:10 NIV.
Call to Action
I suggest you slowly read, in the Spirit, this fifth chapter of John’s Gospel. But this time, be an eyewitness of Christ – see Him heal the invalid, watch the Jewish response, and lean in to listen to the Son of God, your Savior.
Write what the Spirit is saying to your soul. Capture echoes of the Holy, and let the renewing of your mind transform you.
Do I have a witness?
Discover more from Christine Malkemes
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Thanks for sending this – I found it very interesting.TorySent from my iPad
Thank you so much for reading this article. I love studying and teaching the Word. It helps to know that someone is reading what the Lord has called me to write. I appreciate your comments. Again, thank you.