A cloud of witnesses

John 5:30-47

30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.

Testimonies About Jesus

31 If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid.

32 There is another who testifies in my favour, and I know that his testimony about me is valid.

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 very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies 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.

39 You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me,

40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

41 I do not accept praise from men,

42 but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts.

43 I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.

44 How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?

45 But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set.

46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.

47 But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?

I. Content:

1>（v30）Jesus, the Son, mentioned “judgment” to show the righteousness of God the Father and his obedience toward God. 


2>（v31-35）Jesus, the Son, pointed out that John the Baptist testified for him. 


3>（v36）Jesus, the Son, pointed out that his work testified for him. 


4>（v37-38）Jesus, the Son, pointed out God the Father who sent him testified for him.

5>（v39）Jesus, the Son, pointed out that the Scriptures testified for him.

6>（v40-44）Jesus, the Son, pointed out that neither did the Jewish leaders understand the Scriptures nor did they obey it.

7>（v45-46）Jesus, the Son, pointed out that Moses would accuse them of rejecting Jesus.

Theme:

1. A cloud of witnesses 
 


II. Who is God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit?

1>（v30）Jesus the Son who is completely obedient to God the Father. 


2>（v30）Jesus the Son who will judge the world. 


3>（v30）God the Father who is righteous ( just, and fair). 


4>（v36）God the Father who commission Jesus the Son. 


5>（v36）Jesus the Son who finished the work God the Father sent him to do. 


6>（v36-38）God the Father who sent Jesus the Son to the world. 


7>（v36-38）Jesus the Son who was sent by God the Father. 


8>（v37）God the Father who testified about Jesus the Son. 


9>（v37）Jesus the Son about whom God the Father testified. 


10>（37）God the Father who is without physical sound and body form, who is the Spirit. 
11>（v38）God the Father who gives his Word 


12>（v38、v43）Jesus the Son who is rejected. 


13>（v40）Jesus the Son who is the source of life.

14>（v42）Jesus the Son who is omniscient.

15>（v44）The one and only true God. 


16>（v44）God the Father who is glorious. 
 


III. What did I learn from the lesson (command, promise, example, blame, and warning)?

The background: From the previous verses 19-29 in chapter 5, Jesus mentioned that he held the position as the Son of God and his relationship with God was inseparable. Other than that, he was sent by God with the missions to give life and to judge.

However, was Jesus’ word true or false? Was there any credibility? To the Jews’ knowledge, it required three witnesses to testify to the credibility of one’s word. (Duet. 17:6; 19:15) The Jews did not accept Jesus’ word that he was the Son of God. Thus, Jesus gave four testimonies to prove it.

1>A cloud of witnesses

The following testimonies testified to his position as the Son of God. 
a.（v33-35）The testimony of John the Baptist 


The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) 
b.（v32、v37）God the Father testified about Jesus 


And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matt.3:17) （v36）Jesus’ work （3:2b）

“For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.” (John 3:2b) （v39）the Scriptures 


But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. (Isa. 53:5) 


Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Hebrews12:1) 

Reflection: Being a Christian, do I testify to Jesus’ position as the Son of God? Am I becoming like John the Baptist, a light that guides people to Jesus Christ the Son of God? How am I serving and how is my work? Is it of power and authority? Is it productive through which God the Father’s glory manifests? And does it testify to Jesus Christ’s position as the son of God?

2>Our approach in serving God （v30）

By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.

Jesus the Son’s description of his position in God and his attitude toward God could be the example for that of today’s Christians. Jesus’ word could be paraphrased in this way: “I could do nothing on my own and I could only serve with the strength that is from God. In addition, there is no personal interest involved and absolutely, it is done according to God’s will.”

Reflection: As a Christian, what is my approach in serving the Lord? Have I ever used God’s name as a cover-up (camouflage) for my personal interests? Or do I deny myself and seek to obey God like that of Jesus the Son?

3>Grasping the essence of the Scriptures （v39-40）

39 You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life. 


The Jews diligently studied the Scriptures because they think that by them they could possess eternal life. In another word, Jesus the Son is the source of life and in him there is eternal life. Furthermore, the Scriptures testify to Jesus the Son, therefore, as long as one accepts the testimonies in the Scriptures and believes in Jesus the Son will have eternal life. 


However, the Jewish leaders diligently studied the Scriptures on the one hand and they obviously rejected it on the other. What a contradiction! It showed that their diligence in studying the Scriptures and in pursuing the eternal life was in vain, because they did not grasp the essence of the Scriptures. In spite of their rich knowledge of the Scriptures, they could not apply it in their daily life. They perceived only the religious doctrines not the Christ to whom the Scriptures testified. 


Reflection: Do I diligently study the Scriptures? Do I grasp the essence of it? Do I hear God’s voice in it? Do I understand God’s will? Do I make the same mistake like that of the Jewish leaders back then? Do I perceive only the doctrines not the testified Christ? 
 


4>The praise that comes from God （v44）41 Jesus said, “I do not accept praise from men.” 44 How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God? 


He said to the Jewish leaders that he did not accept praise from man and he cared about only the praise from God. He scolded them that they only accepted praise from one another (they flattered each other and it was only for show) and they made no effort to obtain the praise that came from God. 


Remember, it is of no value if the praise comes from men does not please God! 

Reflection: Does the praise come from fellow human beings or does it come from God that I care and pursue? 


IV. Prayer/ Life Application

Translated by 曾秀娟