Lesson 15: John 5:30-47 - The Fourfold Witness to Jesus’ Authority

30 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.
31 If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true.
32 There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true.
33 You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.
34 Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved.
35 He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.
36 But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.
37 And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen,
38 and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent.
39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,
40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.
41 I do not receive glory from people.
42 But I know that you do not have the love of God within you.
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 do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope.
46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me.
47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

In a court of law, a statement is proven by the testimony of witnesses. If Jesus alone testifies about Himself, His testimony will not be accepted because at least two witnesses must testify in order for a thing to be established (Deuteronomy 17:6). Jesus presents four witnesses to testify. These are John the Baptist, Jesus’ works, the Father and the Scriptures. Jesus states John testifies of Him and Jesus knows this testimony is true. Jesus then said His works should have been all the proof any would need to know that the Father was with Him and sent Him (John 3:3, 7:31). He then added His Father and the Scriptures as additional witnesses.

Jesus was not upset because they didn’t endorse Him, but because they had no love for God. Jesus said they did not like His claim to be from the Father. Moses, whom they claimed as their defender, will be their accuser even though they have set their hope in him. If they really believed Moses, they would believe in Jesus because Moses wrote about Jesus. But if they do not believe Moses’ writings, they won’t believe Jesus either.

*Do you believe Jesus is God? Why or why not?