Three Minute Bible

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?  Continue reading “Testimony (II)”

John 5: 31a

 ” If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true.”

How should we approach this passage on testimony? If we wanted to dive in deep we could spend several weeks looking into the rules of testimony that Moses laid down at God’s command. These are the rules that Jesus is referring to when he says, “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true.” What he is saying, as I understand it, is that the testimony of one person alone is not valid in a court of law. The Amplified Bible translates this passage this way: “If I alone testify about Myself, My testimony is not valid.” Continue reading “Testimony (I)”

John 5: 30

“ 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.”

Yesterday we looked at the first six words of this verse. Today we will let Jesus finish what he was saying. 🙂 Contextually, he is continuing his defense before the Jewish leaders. Technically he is explaining the answer to yesterday’s question, “What is needed for Jesus to be able to do anything?” The ability, the power to do anything; the wisdom to judge justly, all comes from seeking to please God the Father.  Continue reading “Asking”

John 5: 30a

” By myself I can do nothing…”

Sometimes the mysteries of God are revealed in as few as six words. “By myself I can do nothing…”, is such a phrase. Here are the words of a man who has moments before said he only does what he sees his father doing. In fact, he has already said, “… the Son can do nothing by himself…” (v19) so he is repeating himself here. Normally Jesus repeats himself because what he is saying is important and something we should pay attention to.

It is a remarkable thing to do: to claim to be the Son of God, to claim you are able to give life to whom you are pleased to give it and to claim that people who believe in you will have eternal life, and then… then to point out that, “By myself I can do nothing…”  Continue reading “Nothing”

John 5: 26-29

” For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.  And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. 

“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out —those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.”

Jesus continues his defense before the Jewish leaders. Here he sums up his arguments so far. Leaving aside the issue of working on the Sabbath, Jesus restates that the Son has life in himself just like the Father has life in himself. Continue reading “Works”

John 5: 26

” For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.”

This verse stands out to me for a couple of reasons. One is that the Greek word for “life,” is “Zoe,” which happens to be my granddaughter’s name. It is a very appropriate name for her as she is full of life in every sense of the word.

The other reason this stands out to me is the concept of the Father having “life in himself.” What does that mean?  Continue reading “Life”

John 5: 25

” Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.”

This saying of Jesus’ is interesting because it seems to answer the question, “What about all of those people who lived and died before Jesus was born? How do they get to heaven?  Continue reading “The Voice of God”

John 5: 24

” Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”

If you are following along in your Bible as we do this study, I strongly recommend underlining this verse and then putting at least five stars next to it in the margin. What an amazing statement!  Continue reading “The Other Side”

John 5: 23

” …that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.”

Today Jesus continues the thought we started yesterday: “… the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son…”  In today’s verse, Jesus gives us the reason God has entrusted him with all judgment. It is God’s intention that the Son should be honored just as the Father is.  Continue reading “To Honor Jesus”

John 5: 22

” Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son…” 

In this verse, Jesus is defending himself against the persecution of the Jewish leaders. Verse 18 says Jesus ticked them off by making himself equal with God. Apparently making himself equal with God wasn’t enough. Jesus had to go and take his case one step farther.

The power of God is found not only in his ability to create and sustain creation but also in the threat of judgment.  Continue reading “Thinking About Jesus”