(John 5:15-17) The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. 16 For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.”
Jesus begins a dialogue here with some very clear and bold statements. Remember, in this culture, to say that you are someone's son was the same as if you had said you were equal to your father...
(John 5:18-31) For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.
19 Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. 20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. 22 For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. 25 Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; 27 and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, 29 and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment. 30 I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 31If I alone testify about Myself, My testimony is not true..."
Here Jesus explains to the people that the Father has made Him the Judge of all things. Now for the time being, while Jesus was on earth, we know that His purpose for coming the first time "was not to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him" (John 3:17). But Jesus will judge the nations at His Second Coming, and He will judge all people at the Great White Throne Judgment.
This should be enough for us to believe in Jesus! God in flesh - speaking to us! But, because people struggle with this, Jesus goes into a dialogue about requiring witnesses. Just like scientific facts require something to be present, repeatable and observable, Jesus told the people how "His words could be proven". Because there are witnesses, Jesus is observable...
(John 5:32-35, 37-38) “...There is another who testifies of Me, and I know that the testimony which He gives about Me is true. 33 You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth. 34 But the testimony which I receive is not from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35 He was the lamp that was burning and was shining and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light... 37And the Father who sent Me, He has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His form. 38 You do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent."
If God's testimony is not enough, because people struggle with seeing and believing God, God had a prophet give a prophecy about John, and then provided the prophet, John the Baptist, to announce to the world that Jesus is the Christ. And in case that was not enough, while witnesses were present, Jesus provided repeatable evidences to be observed...
(John 5:36) ...“the testimony which 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."
All the miracles that Jesus performed are evidence! Jesus' death and resurrection is evidence. And many, many people observed all these miracles. And if that's not enough...
(John 5:39-47) You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; 40 and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. 41 I do not receive glory from men; 42 but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. 43 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. 44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”
God's word - the Bible - is evidence! Scientists now have to concede that the Bible is historically accurate. And many scientists have realized that the Bible is scientifically accurate. (You can check out websites like https://www.isgenesishistory.com/ and https://www.creation.com and Dr. Gary Bates' sermon is a "must-hear": http://api.monkcms.com/Clients/embed_video_preview.php?moduleRecordId=5034376&CMSCODE=EKK )
And of course, the words and messages in the Bible are amazingly consistent and life-changing! God is still present and at work changing the lives of believers! Miracles and prayers still happen! God's works are still present, observable and repeatable...
(1 John 5:1-15) Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
5 Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son. 10 The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son. 11 And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.
13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.
No comments:
Post a Comment