Preamble
Good morning and a very warm welcome to Medway Community Church.
This morning we are going to continue our study into the book of John -- and if you were here last week then you will know that we looked at the first 18 verses of chapter 5.
Jesus makes his way to Jerusalem and there at the pool of Be-thes-da he singles out a man who has been disabled for 38 years. Jesus heals him! He tells him to “get up and walk” and immediately the man is cured of his ailment. The Jewish leaders confront the man -- because, in their minds, he has broken the law by doing physical labour on the Sabbath… they are completely blind to the miracle that has been performed.
When they find out that it is Jesus, they confront him and begin to persecute him. To begin with, and in his defence in v17, Jesus makes a simple statement and in so doing calls God his father… making himself equal with God… the leaders are incensed and want to kill him.
In the time we have, we are going to look at the rest of the chapter, but before we begin, there is a disclaimer.
The verses we are going to study are a key passage to the central Doctrine of our Faith… and speak to the very Person and Nature of Jesus. IT IS A HEAVY PASSAGE. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WADE THROUGH IT. THERE WILL BE APPLICATION AT THE END.
We are going to be systematic in our approach, but we need to resist the temptation of allowing our minds to wander. Again 3 fingers pointing back at me.
For this reason I have put an outline on the paper provided… I have left some gaps for you to make notes, to fill in some of the details… but really so that we don’t get bogged down and lose our way in the very important detail.
Introduction
I am not sure if you have been following the news this week, but OJ Simpson, a former American Football star, passed away on Wednesday. He was 76 years old and had been struggling with pancreatic cancer.
Many of you may remember his highly televised trial from 1994.
As I read some of the articles, I went down a bit of a rabbit hole remembering the details of the trial… I was left wondering…
How did OJ get away with it?
I mean how did he get away with the cold-blooded murder of his Wife, Anne-Nicole Simpson and her friend Rod Goldman?
As they say, He was dead-to-rights.
Of course you could argue that ultimately he didn’t get away with it… in the end one cannot escape God’s judgement… And that would be true.
And yet, in what is now known as the ‘trial of the century’, he walked away a free man… a jury of his peers found him NOT GUILTY.
The evidence that he committed the act was undeniable… he was caught red-handed!
OJ, was a violent man, there was a history of domestic abuse, Nicole had been admitted to hospital on several occasions. The murder weapon, a knife, belonged to him… His gloves, the gloves used in the murder, were covered with the victim's blood. Their DNA was found on OJ and all over his car.
Yet despite the overwhelming evidence a jury came to the decision that the evidence was not enough to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
How could this have happened? Well, for one, there were no witnesses to the crime and so the defence attorneys were able to argue that the evidence was in question. The critical moment in the trial came when OJ tried to put on his gloves, live in front of the jury, and they didn’t fit!
Our judicial system has come a long way, and science has allowed evidence to play a critical role in the investigation and conviction of criminals, but on its own physical evidence can not be enough. An accurate and reliable account from a witness remains vital to determining the truth.
A reliable witness is someone with good standing, someone believable.
If Mrs Green was accused of killing Professor Plum in the Library with a candlestick, and one of the witnesses to the crime was STUART… the first question is, is STUART a good witness?
He is a headmaster of a school, an elder in the local church, a father of two lovely boys, the dedicated husband of one wife…. And never been convicted of any crimes, bar bullying his younger brother a little bit. He is, by all measure, an upstanding member of society! Is he a good and reputable witness? YES!
Maurice on the other hand…
So why are witnesses foundational to our judicial system? Because this is the pattern God has put in place.
In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses outlines God’s plan for Israel… Law’s upon which a healthy society is to be built.
In Deuteronomy 19 he focuses on the judicial system and the need for witnesses…
“15 One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offence they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”
You see, under no circumstances could someone be convicted of murder based on the testimony of a single witness.
The law required two or three witnesses.
In 1 Kings we see this law being twisted. Queen Jezebel comes up with a plan to steal Naboth’s vineyard. She declares a holiday, organises a feast, she seats Naboth in a position of honour, and places two scoundrel’s opposite him. She then instructs them to bring false charges against Naboth of cursing God (blasphemy). They then take him outside and stone him.
In this case, Jezebel manipulated the law revealing her wickedness… She has to go to great lengths in order to turn the situation in her favour. In the end she was tossed out of a window and the dogs devoured her body. NICE…
A single witness might be able to easily get away with falsely accusing someone of a crime, but it is much harder for multiple witnesses to conspire to abuse justice.
This principle repeats itself in the New Testament when Paul reminds the Corithians that he would come among them to rebuke and discipline them, confirmed with two or three witnesses. Jesus repeats the need for witnesses in Matthew 18, and in 1 Timothy the early church is prohibited from bringing a charge against an elder unless there are two or three witnesses.
Now witnesses can attest to someone's guilt, but they can also be used to prove innocence or to validate your claims.
So why have I gone to such lengths to explain the role of witnesses?
BECAUSE, last week when Jesus claimed equality with God, the leaders questioned the truth of his claims and accused him of blasphemy. A crime punishable with death.
In his defence, Jesus presents us with NOT two or three but FIVE witnesses to validate his claims.
The Authority of the Son
But before we do that -- let's get into the claim (v17-30). You see although Jesus’ reply in v17 was short, simple and profound.
“My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working”
What did he mean by this?
Well what Jesus is saying is that God is continuously at work, from creation until the moment that he spoke these words -- even on the Sabbath.
The whole universe, and everything in it, was created by God and it is sustained by God. Without His sustaining grace, the entire created universe would cease.
The restriction of working on the Sabbath does not apply to God. God rested on the 7th day of creation, not because He was tired but because His work was complete.
And so because the Father works on the Sabbath, so Jesus works on the Sabbath.
Jesus is putting himself on the same level as God.
Again in other words he is not just saying “I am God”, what he is saying is “I am God” because the Father and I are united in our work… a reason why he is God!
In verse 19-30, he then expands on his claim and, along with the claim of unity in work, declares another 6 ways, bringing the total to 7, of how he is in unity with God.
What we are going to do now is that we are going to read those verses, and I want you to jot it down the 6 ways Jesus is in UNITY with God.
READ JOHN 5:19-30
I warned you – it is heavy reading
But let's look at the 7 claims Jesus makes…
The first has already been mentioned and to help you a little bit I have added that one already.
- He declares a Unity in Work (v17-18)
- Father is working and the Son is working and they’re working together
- He declares a Unity in Knowledge (v19)
- The Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing -- for whatever the Father does the Son does.
- In other words one member of the Godhead CANNOT be at odds with any other member.
- Both the Father and Son had one purpose and they worked that purpose in unison.
- Their activities were in perfect harmony.
- The Son operates in total alignment with and in total agreement with the Father knowing.
- He declares a Unity in Love (v20)
- The complete unity of action from verse 19 is justified by the Father’s love of the Son.
- The Son does not force His submission to the Father. It is based on the love of His Father.
- He declares a Unity in Power over Death (v21)
- Jesus’ ability to raise the dead is equal to the Father.
- Only God has the power to give life.
- Later in John 11 Jesus raises Lazerus from the dead, demonstrating his power over death
- The Father is the source of life, so Jesus can give life.
- He declares a Unity in Glory & Honour (v22-23)
- Since the Father does nothing apart from the Son and the Son nothing apart from the Father, they deserve equal honour
- Any praise to God honours the Son.
- Any praise that ignores or rejects the Son does not honour the Father.
- To reject the Son is to dishonour the Father.
- He declares a Unity in Giving of Eternal Life (24-26)
- Jesus has unity with God, because like God Jesus can grant eternal life.
- Jesus is God’s Son and he has eternal life inherent in His essence.
- He declares a Unity in the Final Judgement of Man (v29-31)
- V29 speaks of the Final Judgement of Man
- To those that have believe there will be no judgement, rather life
- To those that have rejected the Son, condemnation at the Great White Throne
- Our judgments are distorted by self-interest, but Jesus’ judgement is perfect, because He was in perfect harmony with the Father.
- He allows nothing to deter Him from the will of God.
- V29 speaks of the Final Judgement of Man
This is the claim that Jesus declares to the Jewish leaders!
It is foundational to the Christian Faith. If he is not God -- If he is not who he claims he is -- then he is at best a good man… and if he is not God -- then I don’t need to listen to him -- I don’t need to take him seriously -- and the bible… cannot be trusted.
So what reason do we have to believe him?
Let's now look at the evidence that Jesus presents that backs up His claim for being God
YOU STILL WITH ME?? GOOD!
READ v31-32
Right at the beginning of this passage, in v31-32 Jesus tells us that we do not need to accept his claims IF he testifies about himself.
Jesus knows that the proof would NOT be very compelling if his own testimony was the only one that the Pharisees had to go by.
In fact, as we mentioned earlier, the Old Testament Law did not accept a person to testify in their own case, rather it required witnesses.
You see Jesus' testimony was TRUE, but it was not reason enough for others to believe. The testimony of witnesses is critical to supporting his claims.
The Pharisee’s had a right to expect other testimony and evidence to back up the statement.
The first witness that Jesus produces is John the Baptist.
The Witness of John the Baptist (33-35)
READ v33-35
In John 1:19 the Pharisees send people to John the Baptist to see if he is the Messiah, they want to know who he was.
His response is to quote Isaiah 40 “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,'”
And in so doing points out that he, John the Baptist, is the fulfilment of that prophecy
The rest of the chapters in Isaiah contain rich promises and revelations about the coming Messiah
In other words IF John is the fulfilment of this prophecy, then the one he points to is the Messiah… John stands as a witness that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God.
Jesus was the light, and John was the lamp that carried the light.
Some of those to whom Jesus spoke – were the same ones that had gone to John in the wilderness and acknowledged John as a prophet
They had enjoyed his ministry for a short time
They had accepted John’s message, they saw him as a distinguished prophet, but they had stopped enjoying his light
WHY? Was it that he pointed to Jesus?
The same is true today, people follow Jesus for a while until they start to see things that they do not like or want to do
The Witness of His Deeds (v36)
Good evidence? Well, Jesus has stronger and more compelling evidence than that!
READ v36
Last week we quoted John 20:30-31, which clearly tells us the purpose of John’s Gospel and the purpose that the signs are recorded… so that we might BELIEVE…
Jesus performed many miracles. He healed the sick, made the dumb speak, the blind see, the lame walk, the dead rise! But far more impressive than this – he lived a sinless life and defeated death by rising on the third day.
Nicodemus in John 3 says that the works that Jesus was DOING could only come from God.
Jesus by his words and actions -- point to the fact that He is God!
But His works were on display for all to see.
John chose to use the word SIGNS rather than miracles -- because he knew the purpose of the miracles… They were to heal, but more importantly they were a SIGN that Jesus was God!
Not only was Jesus able to appeal to the witness of John the Baptist, and His own works -- but he also had the witness of the Father
The Witness of His Father (37-38)
READ v37-38
God testified about Jesus in three way:
- By sending the Spirit as a dove during the baptism of Jesus
- By revelation in the Old Testament Scriptures as God spoke through the prophets and angels
- By the miracles done by Jesus
Plan and simple! If only they would open their eyes, they would see the Father witness to who he was.
Jesus rebukes the Jews for not believing the evidence that He was the Messiah
God spoke through the prophets and audibly from time to time. What Jesus is saying here is that the proof that they had not heard God – was in the way that they had rejected Him!
In many ways it is like a parent who tells their child to do something – and they elect not to do what they are told!
This must have been a stinging rebuke to the Jewish leaders.
As much as they loved the Old Testament and prided themselves on its knowledge, it had no power in their lives – it did not penetrate their hearts.
They knew the word of God, but it did not abide in them
The Witness of the Scriptures (39-47)
The fourth and final witness that Jesus presents is the scriptures themselves
READ v39-47
The Pharisees did not hear the voice of God, nor had they seen him – so they searched the scriptures because they thought the scriptures contained eternal life -- in many ways like a miner searching the earth for precious metals, they revered the scriptures -- and yet they did not have the word in them
They knew the scriptures like the back of their hands, in fact their knowledge of the scriptures was so great that they knew how many letters there were in the Old Testament – they recited scripture – they bound it to their arms and forehead – Yet despite this, they missed the chief treasure buried in its pages
What is the evidence - did Jesus provide that he was God, that he is the Messiah… the very scriptures themselves
Jesus accuses them of seeking the praise of others, rather than seeking God’s Glory.
There is a difference between knowing God’s Word and knowing God! An academic vs a heart knowledge!
If we know God, then His Word will live in us and our hearts will be moulded by His Word -- If we know God then it will show in our actions and our attitudes.
Conclusion
Great! So where does this leave us? What have we learnt?
I am sure you are familiar with the saying “Like Father, Like Son”... or “You are your fathers child”
Most of the time the person is pointing out a character trait or or even a fault that someone has that is similar to their parents… I take that as a compliment. If I am half the man my father was, then I would be more than happy.
But in this case Jesus isn’t just making a claim that he is like his father because he looks like him or that he behaves in a certain way that is like his father, NO.
Rather he is proclaiming that although the Son is separate from God the Father, they are equal and have complete unity in all that they do… there is complete unity between God the Father, and God the Son. “Like Father, Like Son” takes on a whole new meaning
Jesus in response to criticisms of the Pharisees makes it clear where He gets His authority from, and how they can know He is equal to God. John the Baptist, His own miracles, God the Father, and the very scriptures themself stand as testimony to these claims.
I mean what a star studded lineup! You don’t get more reputable Witnesses than that!
He is telling them not to just take His word for it, but to look at the source, look at what He is doing, and look at the testimony of others and then they should know clearly that He is speaking the truth and really from God and equal to God.
The second learning is the powerful evidence that a witness can bring.
It is a pattern that God has put in place from the very beginning.
Now for those of you who were paying extra attention, you might be wondering… can Alister count?
You told us that there were FIVE witnesses and you have only covered FOUR. And you would be correct. In John 4 there are FOUR witnesses… But rather I am trying to draw a thread between the powerful evidence of witnesses and what is now our responsibility as believers.
How can this passage of scripture be applied to our lives!
Well in Act 1 the early believers are called to be witnesses for Christ!
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The late Chuck Colson, a senior aide to President Nixon, who was jailed for his part in the Watergate scandal, said the following…
“I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How? Because 12 men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it. Everyone was beaten, tortured, stoned and put in prison. They would not have endured that if it weren't true. Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world-and they couldn't keep a lie for three weeks. You're telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible.”
The apostles and early Christians were called and stand as witnesses to who Jesus is.
As believers in Christ, we are all called to witness and share about God’s greatness to those around us. It must not be a burden but a nature overflowing of our relationship with Jesus.
“for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:20
The desire and willingness to share with others must be because of His work in our lives… the challenge of course is… are we right with God… are we allowing him to work in our lives every day.
Can you think of the first time you heard the gospel? Who told you? – How did they tell you? Did they first share Christ with you through their words or was it their actions?
The challenge I would like to leave with you this morning is this… how can you be witnesses for Christ… how can we testify to who he is…
