Lesson for May 25, 2025

The Book of John

Lesson 16

Jesus Asserts His Deity – Part 3

Chapter 5:33-47

Jesus gave the Pharisees multiple witnesses to His deity. The first testimony to His deity was His equality with God the Father, having been given all judgment for the final days. The second testimony was God the Holy Spirit Who enlightens everyone. Let’s look at the other witnesses to His deity.

The Testimony of John the Baptist

Verses 33-35

^“You (Pharisees) have sent messengers to John, and he has testified to the truth. But the testimony I receive is not from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He (John the Baptist) was the lamp that was burning and shining, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.”

Remember, the Pharisees had sent an official delegation to investigate the “credentials” of John the Baptist. John never went to them; they came to him. John the Baptist had the truth and those who were positive toward God came to him to hear the Gospel. The result was many came to know Christ as Savior. The message of John the Baptist was fourfold:

1. The Person of Christ – John 1:29, “Behold the Lamb of God.”
2. A change of mental attitude accompanies faith – Matthew 3:2, “Repent.”
3. How to be saved – Acts 19:4, “Believe in Jesus Christ.”
4. Lift up Christ as the Savior – John 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

You were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. The Pharisees were impressed with John’s ability to draw a crowd. However, they never accepted the Gospel, but they were so impressed that they sent an official delegation to check him out. So, Jesus was saying to the religious leaders, “You wanted to see the power of John and were happy to see it, but you rejected the source of his message.”

But the testimony I receive is not from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. The purpose in asserting His deity was so that these Pharisees would believe in Him and be saved. The men were so wrapped up in their religion that they could not see the truth. Their Messiah was standing before them, and they did not recognize Him.

He (John the Baptist) was the lamp that was burning and shining. On the inside John was burning and shining on the outside. What goes on the inside is unseen; but what you do as a result is seen on the outside. The Christian Way of Life, for example, starts on the inside and works to the outside. Bible doctrine and the filling of the Spirit are on the inside. However, divine good works result from the knowledge and application of the doctrine on the inside toward life on the outside. A lamp gives off light in the darkness, which is a perfect analogy of the light of God’s truth reflected in the life of a believer.

The Testimony of Works

Verse 36

^“But the testimony I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works that I do—testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.”

The third witness was the miracles He performed. John’s power was in the message that he preached, but Jesus performed a lot of miracles which were an even greater testimony to assert and confirm His deity. The religious leaders were impressed with miracles, but rejected the message, just like they did with John the Baptist.

We notice in the Gospels that when Jesus performed miracles, it made these religious leaders mad, and they wanted to kill Him. But they were impressed with John’s crowds and the power of John’s delivery. So, Jesus was saying, “Okay, you were impressed with the power of John the Baptist, so, I’m going to give you a greater witness – the works that I perform. This should prove to you that I am God in the flesh, the promised Messiah of Israel, the Savior of the world.” The miracles of Jesus were to bring attention to the Gospel message He preached.

The Testimony of God the Father

Verses 37-38^“And the Father Who sent Me, He has testified about Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. Also, you do not have His Word remaining in you, because you do not believe Him Whom He sent.”

The fourth witness was God the Father. The Father testified of His Son by sending Him into the world as a human being, to pay the penalty for mankind’s sin. By rejecting the messenger, a person rejects the one who sends the messenger. God the Father sent word of the coming Messiah for over 4000 years, in the form of prophecy.

Not hearing His voice and not seeing Him refers to the Pharisees’ lack of learning (His voice) or understanding (seen) the testimony that God the Father had given throughout the Old Testament Scriptures (you do not have His Word remaining in you).

The Testimony of the Scriptures

Verses 39-47

^“You examine the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is those very Scriptures that testify about Me; and yet you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. I do not receive glory from people; but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you accept glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God? Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have put your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”

The fifth witness was the Word of God. The Greek word for examine is “ereunao,” meaning explore or to investigate something with which you are familiar. The Pharisees knew all sorts of things about the Scriptures, but they never “saw” the Messiah, as a suffering Savior. They were erroneously waiting for a military leader to deliver them from the oppression of the Roman Empire. Therefore, when the Messiah showed up, they rejected and crucified Him.

And it is those very Scriptures that testify about Me; and yet you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. They were depending on keeping the rituals of the Mosaic Law and their own Jewish traditions for eternal life. They were duped into believing that keeping the Mosaic Law and their own system of good deeds would get them to Heaven. They failed in their examination of the Old Testament Scriptures, by refusing to see the truth before them. Jesus told them to go back and examine the Scriptures, because they had a lot of learning to do.

I do not receive glory from people; but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. These religious leaders were arrogant, glory seekers. Jesus, on the other hand, was not a glory seeker. The fact they were seeking glory for themselves meant they were not humble enough to give all glory to God. Therefore, they did not love God!

I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. Jesus came to fulfill the Father’s plan of salvation and was rejected by the Jewish religious hierarchy. Their arrogance blinded them to the truth. However, the Pharisees were quick to receive others who claimed to be from God and embrace their false teachings.

How can you believe, when you accept glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God? Accepting glory from others is a sure sign of arrogance, which blinds people to their need of a Savior. This was what was happening with these religious leaders. They could not humble themselves and acknowledge their need for a Savior. They depended on their own good works and religion to obtain eternal life. Not seeking the glory that is from God meant they did not accept Him or His Son.

Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have put your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words? Jesus summed it up in these verses by referring to one of the great heroes of Judaism, Moses. The Law of Moses was written to point people to Christ. Therefore, it “accused” everyone of being spiritually dead, and in need of a Savior. Moses wrote extensively about the coming Messiah and these so-called scholars of the Law of Moses had no knowledge or understanding of its true meaning. So, if they rejected the testimony of one of their heroes, they would certainly reject the One Who Moses wrote about. How sad!!!!