Testimony

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

TESTIMONY

John 5:31-47

31 "If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid. 32 There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is valid. 33 "You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. 34 Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. 35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light. 36 "I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. 39 You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life. 41 "I do not accept praise from men, 42 but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. 43 I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44 How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God? 45 "But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. 47 But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?" 

NIV

Again, we are going to have to take all this in little bits, but we just could not separate all his words as he is giving a complete answer about his authority. What Jesus seems to be saying is based on the Law that required two or more to testify regarding a man’s guilt in order to be put to death. We would think that his testimony about himself would be enough just because he is the truth, but we know this from both hindsight and because he has revealed himself to us. They did not have this hindsight, nor had they accepted his revelation to them. His miracles and his words should be enough evidence that he was sent by God, that he and God are equals, but it was not enough for them so he tells them John the Baptist, whom they believed was a godly man, testified that Jesus was the Lamb of God, the Messiah, the divinely one sent by God. Why do some believe and others do not? From what evidence we have in the scriptures we could say for the most part that the common man, those like Peter, Andrew, James and John, and the other disciples were not as highly educated as the teachers of the Law, and those of the Sanhedrin, the Pharisees, Sadducees, and the chief priests. These men were steeped in the Law of Moses and because of their knowledge, they are the ones who should have known Jesus was the One, that he was the Messiah for he fulfilled the words of the prophets. But it also seems that we so caught up in praising themselves or each other they did not have room in their hearts to praise God. Jesus tells them he knows they do not have the love of God in their hearts. This has an application in our lives as well. What we have to ask ourselves is do we have the love of God in our hearts or are we more about giving ourselves a pat on the back because of our being such a “Good Christian”? Although it might be true we worship the Lord, but do we also worship, in a sense, our knowledge, or educational levels, even those regarding the scriptures? We have even heard Christians invite people to church because the Pastor is just so good, they just have to come to hear him. Is that giving praise to men or God? What about those who write those volumes of books, or bible studies, or produce videos of seminars? Do we give them praise because they are so good we have to recommend people hear them or read their books? What is all this praise of men about? Are we afraid to tell people we praise God and they should too? Are we not willing to testify about Jesus being the only way to attain eternal life? It seems we are more willing to testify about men, they Jesus. Maybe we think if they would only listen to so and so, or read this great writers’ book, they would hear about Jesus and get saved. Jesus' own testimony should be enough, so we should give them the word of God, the greatest book of them all, or we could tell them about the truth within it, we could testify about Jesus and all he did and who he is. It seems the Pharisees and those others who refused to accept the words of Jesus were more about living for themselves than for God. We have to come to terms with that same issue. Do we spend more of our time living for own wants, our needs, our desires, our plans, in short, our lives, then we do living for God? This even applies to our religiousness or our efforts at righteousness based on what we do and do not do, or who well we keep our form of the law. It is still based on the actions or behaviors of self rather than based on God. It may seem we have more of the love of self, as to how well we act as a Christian, then the love of God in our hearts. Sure, we might say the reason we do or do not do something is because of our love for God. But is it really? Could it be more about the love of self and wanting others to see how good a Christian we are, seeking some kind of praise? So, how do we live such a life that brings praise to God and not to ourselves? How do we live such a humble life, yet one that shines the light of Jesus so brightly, others will see his light through us? This takes some pondering. Give us the insight Lord! Let our hearts shine for you. Let our testimony be about you.