John 5:31-38 PODCAST
31 “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true. 33 “You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. 34 Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. 35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light. 36 “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. John 5:31-38
Our text provides the continuation of the conversation the Lord Jesus had with the Jewish religious leaders in Jerusalem after He had healed the lame man at the Pool of Bethesda. In this part of the conversation, the Lord Jesus is making the point that although He was validated through John the Baptist, His greatest validity comes from God the Father.
These religious leaders had heard the testimony of God the Father through the entire Old Testament scriptures for years and years, and when the Son stood before them, they did not believe in Him. Yet, the Lord Jesus healed the man at the pool of Bethesda for the benefit of anyone who was willing to have their eyes opened.
In v.31, the Lord Jesus brings our attention to His testimony about Himself, that He is the Messiah. He isn't saying that His testimony of Himself isn't true. No, He is saying His testimony isn't true to the religious leaders, because they refused to believe the evidence.
In v.32, the word for "know" means "to know inwardly, instinctively." He knew inwardly, instinctively what He was boldly proclaiming was true. On the other hand, these religious leaders should have had this same kind of confidence in the Lord Jesus since they had spent a lifetime studying the Father's for testimony of the Son, but they were hard-hearted. Until we have given up ourselves to the Creator of all, we will lack confidence and authenticity.
In addition, according to v.33-35, John the Baptist testified the Lord Jesus to be the long-expected, long-predicted Messiah, the One of whom the prophets wrote. Also, John announced Jesus to be "the Lamb of God" (John 1:29), the "Baptizer with the Holy Spirit," (John 1:33), and "the Son of God," (John 1:34).
According to v.34, the main theme of all of the Bible is the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ came to provide salvation to all of mankind. And, according to v.35, John was a lamp that shined the light, a witness pointing us in the right direction so that we could see, hear and know the light.
In v.36-38, the Lord Jesus returns to His greatest witness: His Father in heaven. In v.36, the Lord Jesus refers to the works the Father sent Him to do. One of these good works was the healing of the impotent man at the pool at Bethesda.
The Apostle John wrote this Gospel so that we might believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that by believing we may have life in His name. This life is a gift from the Father, given to the willing, through the Son. In v.38 the Lord Jesus identifies the means by which we experience this gift, this life: His word dwells in you. This word, this logos, is none other than the Lord Jesus Himself. This is eternal life that we know the Father, and it is the Son who takes up His abode within us who enables us to know the Father.
The religious leaders stood to lose not only power, if they believed in the Lord Jesus, they ran the risk of losing their comfortable lifestyles. Being a religious leader meant you received a handsome salary every month. This is most largely why they resisted the Lord Jesus, and, do you know what?, this is why we most largely resist Him, too. The reality is this: We are either in the process of resisting God's truth or we are in the process of being shaped and molded by God's truth.
On April 10,1963, a submarine named the Thresher sank during deep-diving tests about 220 miles east of Boston, Massachusetts, killing all 129 crew and shipyard personnel aboard in the deadliest submarine disaster ever. When the investigation was completed it was discovered that the Thresher imploded due to faulty welding.
This illustrates the utter importance of being bolstered within by the truth of God's word. This bolstered conditioned is only the result of the hiding away of the truth of God's word, God's definition of things within. This condition begins by responding to the Lord Jesus as Lord. C.S. Lewis said it so well so many years ago when he said, "There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, 'All right, then, have it your way.'"
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