FY 27
February 27
John 5:31-39. The defense continued.
It is supposed that Jesus at this time was standing in the presence of the great council of the Jews, called the Sanhedrin. He had been accused of having healed the paralytic on the Sabbath-day; and then of having made himself equal with God. Did he deny either charge? By no means; but he more fully declared his own glory as the Son of God. He brought forth his witnesses. His first, a great witness, was his Father who sent him. (See ver. 32.) "There is another that bears witness of me."
Yet He condescended to appeal to a human witness also, even to John the Baptist. He said, "You sent unto John, and he bore witness unto the truth." You have not forgotten what is recorded in John 1:19-23. "The Jews (that is, the chief men) sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask John, Who are you?" They came to him in the wilderness where he was preaching; and he took that opportunity of bearing witness to Jesus. He said, "There stands one among you whom you know not; he it is who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose." (Ver. 26, 27.)
How could the Jews resist this testimony? For a season they had rejoiced in his light; that is, for a time they had admired his preaching; yet they would not believe. John had now ceased to preach, for he was shut up in prison.
Jesus next described the different ways in which his Father witnessed to him. There were three ways— First, By enabling him to do miracles, such as healing the poor paralytic—those were "the works which his Father had given him to finish," mentioned in verse 42.
Secondly, (see verse 37.) His Father himself had borne witness of him, by speaking from heaven at his baptism, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Such a voice had never been heard at ANY TIME before, witnessing for the old prophets, nor had such a display of glory been seen. It was the excellent glory, as Peter calls the brightness of the Father. (2 Peter 1:17.)
Thirdly, The Father had borne witness to his Son, in the Scriptures, that is, in the prophecies. Jesus bade the Jews search the Scriptures; saying, "They are they which testify of me." (See ver. 39.)
Had not the Jews of old sufficient proofs that Jesus was the Son of God? And we also have abundant evidence of this important truth.
We have not heard John the Baptist preach, that burning and shining light, but we have heard other preachers speak of Christ with devoted affection.
We have seen no miracles wrought, no blind eyes nor lame feet restored; but we have seen greater works than these. We have seen miracles done upon the SOUL. Have we never known a person, who lived a wicked life, changed by the power of the Gospel into a holy creature? Is it not far more wonderful to see a man's mind changed than his body? None can make such a change but God. "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then can they who are accustomed to do evil learn to do good." Had we seen a black man changed into a white man, we would not have seen so great a wonder as if we had seen a child of the devil changed into a child of God.
We have another witness—the Old Testament Scripture. It is filled with prophecies concerning Christ. Have you read them? See how Isaiah declares, that he shall be brought like a lamb to the slaughter—how Zechariah says he shall ride on a donkey, and be sold for thirty pieces of silver—how Micah foretells, he shall be born in Bethlehem; and how David in the Psalms predicts, that vinegar shall be given to him in his thirst, that his garments shall be parted, and his hands and feet pierced. The Jews, though they will not believe in Jesus, regard these prophecies as the word of God, and have kept them sacred for many ages. How can we disbelieve such proofs? And if Jesus be the Son of God indeed, and in truth, let us consider whether we are prepared to stand before his judgment-seat? Have we believed in him with our hearts?