John 5: 31b -37a
“‘ There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true.
‘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.
“I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. ‘”
Here Jesus outlines three additional testimonies that add to his own testimony about himself: John the Baptist, the “works” he did, and the Father’s own testimony about him.
The questions a court might ask about such testimony would include:
Are they relevant, that is does the additional testimony apply to the claims made by Jesus?
Are they consistent with Jesus claims?
Are they credible?
To review what has happened, Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath at the pool called Bethesda. Shortly after that, the man Jesus healed goes to the Jewish leaders to point out Jesus as the man who had healed him. The text then says, “So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him.”
Jesus then mounts a defense. He doesn’t yell at them, accuse them back, or call them names. He very clearly lays out a legal defense before these legal minded people.
Claim No. 1: Jesus only does what he “sees” his Father doing which includes working on the Sabbath.
Claim No. 2: Jesus has the power to give life to whom he is pleased to give it. (Just like God.)
Claim No. 3: Jesus has been entrusted with all judgment.
Claim No. 4: Honoring Jesus is the same as honoring God the Father.
Claim No. 5: Believing in Jesus and the Father is necessary to avoid Judgment and gaining life.
Claim No. 6: The dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.
Q: Of all these claims, which one seems to irritate the Jewish leaders the most?
John 5:18 So the Jewish leaders tried all the harder to find a way to kill Him. For He not only broke the Sabbath, He called God His Father, thereby making Himself equal with God.
Looks like that might have been the biggie with them.
Nice Ron – you got a twofer!! Breaking the Sabbath and making himself equal with God! I wonder if Jewish leaders were conflicted on which was worse??
Looks like their loving to argue is not a new issue. Stubborn as mules.
I will go with no. 1,..but I am sure anything Jesus claimed or did kinda rubbed them the wrong way,..
John,
You make an interesting point : Is there anything Jesus could have done that would not have rubbed the Jewish leaders the wrong way? Even if he never did a miracle on the Sabbath, he would still be doing miracles. Even if he didn’t claim to be the Son of God, and equal to God, his miracles would still testify to his being God.
I agree with Ron in that His claim to be equal to God was a game changer. The religious elite did not like that (John 8: 58 – 59; 10: 30 – 33; Matthew 26: 63 – 66; Mark 2: 5 – 7 being some other examples). The breaking of the Sabbath, His power to give life, to forgive sin, to judge, etc… are all flowing from His claim to be God. This was the one thing they could not accept. That His claim could be the truth and they should worship rather than condemn eluded them. Let it not elude us.
I think Ron is correct, but also believe that they didn’t like losing their power & position…and they did not want to be subject to Jesus. I guess I’m insinuating a jealousy factor. They wanted to find a legal violation to cover for their pride and desire.
Good point Rob. The jealousy factor is mentioned frequently in scripture and definitely worth pointing out.