The testimony of the truth! -- John 5:30-38
The testimony of the truth! -- John 5:30-38
By Pastor Lee Hemen
January 4, 3014
For a lot of folks, truth is relative. In other words truth is only true when it benefits them personally, however, this is not true! Truth is not defined by the moment, the era, social definitions, or our own desire to be happy. Truth is truth, period. In the movie Mary Poppins the main character sings a song to her charges to make things easier for them. The song is "A Spoonful of Sugar." The lyrics relate that anything, even hard work is better with the right attitude, however, far too many think that the truth should be delivered in the same manner, with a spoonful of sugar. They often sugarcoat it in order for it to be more palatable for their listeners.
Jesus knew that truth was relative as well, so-to-speak. In fact, he knew it because his Father was the author of the truth. But he did not change the truth to suit his needs or to make people feel better about themselves. The truth was who Jesus was because his Father was the truth. Jesus here in John's gospel gives us the testimony of the truth, let's discover what he teaches us…
READ: John 5:30-38
My father had so instilled in me that lying was one of the worst things a person could do that I never even attempted to do so. In fact, I was horrible at it. He often said that "the truth will find you out." We learn here in John's gospel that…
I. The truth is the will of God! (Vv. 30-32)
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. If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid. There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is valid. (John 5:30-32 NIV)
1. Jesus continued on the theme he had begun with that by himself, as the Messiah in human flesh, "I can do nothing." And even though he has the authority to judge (v.27), he relates three things concerning his judgment: 1) he judges only as he hears from God, 2) his judgments are always just, and 3) he never seeks to please himself but only seeks to please his Father concerning the judgment he gives. Jesus' will is to do the Father's will. "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. (John 4:34 NIV)" What sustained and satisfied Jesus in his ministry was the fact that he was completely in God's will for his life. We can rely on this truth as well for our lives because when we are in the will of God, we can be confident in all we do with our lives. We know when we are not in the truth of God when we begin to cover up our faith, are embarrassed by our faith, or make excuses for our faith. Jesus would also relate, "The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him. (John 8:29 NIV)" Jesus knew that God never leaves us or forsakes those he loves. Jesus knew that if what he said about himself was only from him, it might sound like boasting, "If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid." He also understood that the Jews wanted more than one source when someone was giving evidence about themselves and he bluntly remarks, "There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is valid." God testified concerning his Son, Jesus. Jesus was content to submit to the Father’s will and to let the Father authenticate Him. The truth is the will of God!
EXAMPLE: David Roper writes concerning the will of God: "We’re often looking for God’s will—especially when we’re in a difficult situation. We wonder, What will happen to me here? Should I stay or does God want me somewhere else? The only way to know for sure is to do what He asks you to do right now—the duty of the present moment—and wait for God to reveal the next step. As you obey what you know, you will be strengthened to take the next step and the next. Step by step, one step at a time. That’s how we learn to walk with God. But you say, 'Suppose I take the first step. What will happen next?' That’s God’s business. Your task and mine is to obey this day and leave the future to Him." Jesus looked to his Father and allowed him to lead him. He did nothing without God's leading. He could do so because he lived in the truth and the truth is the will of God!
I have one of those new flat screen TVs where they measure the resolution in 780p, 1080p, or HD. I have come to the realization that the truth of my resolutions are often in sub-standard definition! Yet, through it all I have discovered that…
II. The truth is the light of God! (Vv. 33-35)
You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light. (John 5:33-35 NIV)
1. Jesus did not just depend on the testimony of himself or that of God the Father, he also reminds his listeners that John the Baptist’s function was that of a witness. He tells them, "You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth." A good witness tells the truth. John’s witness about Jesus had integrity. However, Jesus immediately relates, "Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved." Human testimony is dependent upon human frailties. We cannot see everything, we cannot hear everything, and we certainly do not know everything; but God does! Jesus knew that his listeners respected John the Baptist because of who he was, but Jesus did not necessarily need John's acceptance to be who he was or to say or do what he did. John's gospel began by telling us that John the Baptist "came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. (John 1:7-8 NIV)" It was through the light of God that all men would believe and be saved. Jesus mentioned John's testimony about himself so his listeners would "be saved." Jesus' truth, his light burns eternally, but "John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light." John's light, his testimony, only burned for a little while and then Herod ended up killing him, but Jesus' testimony, his truth shines forever! John the Baptist was sent for the people’s benefit, however sinful people are in such darkness that they need someone to tell them what is light! "In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. (John 1:4-5 NIV)" How interesting is it then when Jesus is in front of Pontius Pilate, who accuses him of declaring himself a king, Jesus responded, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me. (John 18:37 NIV)" The truth of God shone brightly in front of sinful man, but they were blinded to its truth! The truth is the light of God!
EXAMPLE: One of the things we like to do when we go into the nearby Ape Cave is to turn off any lights. We are immediately engulfed in complete and utter darkness. You cannot even see your hand in front of your face. Just as it is hard to see in utter darkness, it is difficult for us to see the truth when we are in the darkness of personal sin. Sin blinds us to the light of the truth in our lives. Jesus would teach, "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! (Matthew 6:22-23 NIV)" We learn here that the truth is the light of God!
The problem with a new year is that it goes in one year and out the other! Kind of like our New Year's resolutions. We make them only to break them. How wonderful to know then that there is something and someone we can utterly depend on and that is Jesus. The reason is simply because…
III. Seeing is believing the truth of God! (Vv. 36-38)
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. And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. (John 5:36-38 NIV)
1. Not only did Jesus have his own testimony, God's testimony and the testimony of John the Baptist but he also had " testimony weightier than that of John." Sometimes we are trusted and known not just by what we say about ourselves but in what we actually do with our lives. Our actions speak louder than our words. Jesus was also justified by the things he did. He relates, "For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me." The very miracles the Jews had such a hard time with because Jesus was willing to display God's compassion instead of their legalism, spoke volumes to who Jesus was. Jesus would later tell Philip, one of disciples who wanted Jesus to prove who he was, "Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. (John 14:10-11 NIV)" Earlier Jesus told his detractors, "Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father. (John 10:37-38 NIV)" When Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, and then died on the cross and rose from the grave, he testified to the truth of who he was! Isaiah the Old Testament prophet would declare concerning the coming of Jesus, "Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. (Isaiah 35:5-6 NIV)" Sadly, the Jews of Jesus' day were so calloused and hardened by sin they could not recognize who he was, but those of who do recognize Jesus for whom he is are blessed! Jesus retorted, "For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. (Matthew 13:17 NIV)" This is why he said to those Jewish leaders, "You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent." The question this morning would be, "Do you see, hear, and recognize Jesus for who he is and will you give your life to him?" For Jesus, seeing is believing the truth of God!
EXAMPLE: My Uncle and I were working in my grandmother's garden. I had been entrusted to weed it while he had worked on the other side of the house. When he came back he asked me how in the world I had gotten done so fast, then he realized I had just cut the tops off all the weeds instead of pulling them up by their roots. He informed me that a real man is not only seen by their words but by their work ethic as well. I learned that day that simply saying I did something carried little weight, but instead I was judged by what I had actually done. The legacy we leave in life is not just with our words but in what we do with our lives. We may struggle with believing in Jesus by what he said, but when we look intently at his life seeing is believing the truth!
Conclusion:
The truth is the will of God, the truth is the light of God, and seeing is believing the truth of God!
—
This article is copyrighted © 2015 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.
By Pastor Lee Hemen
January 4, 3014
For a lot of folks, truth is relative. In other words truth is only true when it benefits them personally, however, this is not true! Truth is not defined by the moment, the era, social definitions, or our own desire to be happy. Truth is truth, period. In the movie Mary Poppins the main character sings a song to her charges to make things easier for them. The song is "A Spoonful of Sugar." The lyrics relate that anything, even hard work is better with the right attitude, however, far too many think that the truth should be delivered in the same manner, with a spoonful of sugar. They often sugarcoat it in order for it to be more palatable for their listeners.
Jesus knew that truth was relative as well, so-to-speak. In fact, he knew it because his Father was the author of the truth. But he did not change the truth to suit his needs or to make people feel better about themselves. The truth was who Jesus was because his Father was the truth. Jesus here in John's gospel gives us the testimony of the truth, let's discover what he teaches us…
READ: John 5:30-38
My father had so instilled in me that lying was one of the worst things a person could do that I never even attempted to do so. In fact, I was horrible at it. He often said that "the truth will find you out." We learn here in John's gospel that…
I. The truth is the will of God! (Vv. 30-32)
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. If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid. There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is valid. (John 5:30-32 NIV)
1. Jesus continued on the theme he had begun with that by himself, as the Messiah in human flesh, "I can do nothing." And even though he has the authority to judge (v.27), he relates three things concerning his judgment: 1) he judges only as he hears from God, 2) his judgments are always just, and 3) he never seeks to please himself but only seeks to please his Father concerning the judgment he gives. Jesus' will is to do the Father's will. "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. (John 4:34 NIV)" What sustained and satisfied Jesus in his ministry was the fact that he was completely in God's will for his life. We can rely on this truth as well for our lives because when we are in the will of God, we can be confident in all we do with our lives. We know when we are not in the truth of God when we begin to cover up our faith, are embarrassed by our faith, or make excuses for our faith. Jesus would also relate, "The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him. (John 8:29 NIV)" Jesus knew that God never leaves us or forsakes those he loves. Jesus knew that if what he said about himself was only from him, it might sound like boasting, "If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid." He also understood that the Jews wanted more than one source when someone was giving evidence about themselves and he bluntly remarks, "There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is valid." God testified concerning his Son, Jesus. Jesus was content to submit to the Father’s will and to let the Father authenticate Him. The truth is the will of God!
EXAMPLE: David Roper writes concerning the will of God: "We’re often looking for God’s will—especially when we’re in a difficult situation. We wonder, What will happen to me here? Should I stay or does God want me somewhere else? The only way to know for sure is to do what He asks you to do right now—the duty of the present moment—and wait for God to reveal the next step. As you obey what you know, you will be strengthened to take the next step and the next. Step by step, one step at a time. That’s how we learn to walk with God. But you say, 'Suppose I take the first step. What will happen next?' That’s God’s business. Your task and mine is to obey this day and leave the future to Him." Jesus looked to his Father and allowed him to lead him. He did nothing without God's leading. He could do so because he lived in the truth and the truth is the will of God!
I have one of those new flat screen TVs where they measure the resolution in 780p, 1080p, or HD. I have come to the realization that the truth of my resolutions are often in sub-standard definition! Yet, through it all I have discovered that…
II. The truth is the light of God! (Vv. 33-35)
You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light. (John 5:33-35 NIV)
1. Jesus did not just depend on the testimony of himself or that of God the Father, he also reminds his listeners that John the Baptist’s function was that of a witness. He tells them, "You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth." A good witness tells the truth. John’s witness about Jesus had integrity. However, Jesus immediately relates, "Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved." Human testimony is dependent upon human frailties. We cannot see everything, we cannot hear everything, and we certainly do not know everything; but God does! Jesus knew that his listeners respected John the Baptist because of who he was, but Jesus did not necessarily need John's acceptance to be who he was or to say or do what he did. John's gospel began by telling us that John the Baptist "came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. (John 1:7-8 NIV)" It was through the light of God that all men would believe and be saved. Jesus mentioned John's testimony about himself so his listeners would "be saved." Jesus' truth, his light burns eternally, but "John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light." John's light, his testimony, only burned for a little while and then Herod ended up killing him, but Jesus' testimony, his truth shines forever! John the Baptist was sent for the people’s benefit, however sinful people are in such darkness that they need someone to tell them what is light! "In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. (John 1:4-5 NIV)" How interesting is it then when Jesus is in front of Pontius Pilate, who accuses him of declaring himself a king, Jesus responded, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me. (John 18:37 NIV)" The truth of God shone brightly in front of sinful man, but they were blinded to its truth! The truth is the light of God!
EXAMPLE: One of the things we like to do when we go into the nearby Ape Cave is to turn off any lights. We are immediately engulfed in complete and utter darkness. You cannot even see your hand in front of your face. Just as it is hard to see in utter darkness, it is difficult for us to see the truth when we are in the darkness of personal sin. Sin blinds us to the light of the truth in our lives. Jesus would teach, "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! (Matthew 6:22-23 NIV)" We learn here that the truth is the light of God!
The problem with a new year is that it goes in one year and out the other! Kind of like our New Year's resolutions. We make them only to break them. How wonderful to know then that there is something and someone we can utterly depend on and that is Jesus. The reason is simply because…
III. Seeing is believing the truth of God! (Vv. 36-38)
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. And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. (John 5:36-38 NIV)
1. Not only did Jesus have his own testimony, God's testimony and the testimony of John the Baptist but he also had " testimony weightier than that of John." Sometimes we are trusted and known not just by what we say about ourselves but in what we actually do with our lives. Our actions speak louder than our words. Jesus was also justified by the things he did. He relates, "For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me." The very miracles the Jews had such a hard time with because Jesus was willing to display God's compassion instead of their legalism, spoke volumes to who Jesus was. Jesus would later tell Philip, one of disciples who wanted Jesus to prove who he was, "Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. (John 14:10-11 NIV)" Earlier Jesus told his detractors, "Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father. (John 10:37-38 NIV)" When Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, and then died on the cross and rose from the grave, he testified to the truth of who he was! Isaiah the Old Testament prophet would declare concerning the coming of Jesus, "Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. (Isaiah 35:5-6 NIV)" Sadly, the Jews of Jesus' day were so calloused and hardened by sin they could not recognize who he was, but those of who do recognize Jesus for whom he is are blessed! Jesus retorted, "For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. (Matthew 13:17 NIV)" This is why he said to those Jewish leaders, "You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent." The question this morning would be, "Do you see, hear, and recognize Jesus for who he is and will you give your life to him?" For Jesus, seeing is believing the truth of God!
EXAMPLE: My Uncle and I were working in my grandmother's garden. I had been entrusted to weed it while he had worked on the other side of the house. When he came back he asked me how in the world I had gotten done so fast, then he realized I had just cut the tops off all the weeds instead of pulling them up by their roots. He informed me that a real man is not only seen by their words but by their work ethic as well. I learned that day that simply saying I did something carried little weight, but instead I was judged by what I had actually done. The legacy we leave in life is not just with our words but in what we do with our lives. We may struggle with believing in Jesus by what he said, but when we look intently at his life seeing is believing the truth!
Conclusion:
The truth is the will of God, the truth is the light of God, and seeing is believing the truth of God!
—
This article is copyrighted © 2015 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.
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