You Want Proof Of Who I Am?

Day after day all kinds of needy people come to church doors asking for some kind of help—a few dollars for gas to get down the road a bit, some morsels of food for hungry stomachs, or some rent money so they will not be evicted. And so often they will pull out some dog-eared papers which are supposed to prove their identity and need. Like them so many of us are trying to do the same thing, trying to prove who or what we are to people around us. “Let me tell you who I am.” “Look at me; I’m really doing some things that are important.”

Throughout this section the key word testify or testimony appear ten times. And Christ Jesus offers four answers to the unasked question He read in the mind of the Jews: “Who will give evidence of who you are?” Christ Jesus admitted that if His own words represented all He could bring to the witness stand, His accusers would have every reason for their doubt and scorn.

Christ Jesus once more made a reference that the Jews would readily know, the Old Testament principle central to later Jewish law. That law being that two witnesses were necessary to prove a capital case. (Deut 17:6) "On the evidence of two witnesses or three witnesses, he who is to die shall be put to death; he shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.” So this morning let's look at four witnesses that give testimony as to who Christ Jesus really is.

John 5:30-40
 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. 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.
 

1. The Testimony of John the Baptist (vs. 33-35)

Christ Jesus did not need to prove who He was or why He had come. If He had constantly pointed to Himself, His own witness would have eventually become a lie. Christ Jesus had come to glorify His Father, not Himself. His integrity was transparent and He was surrounded by witnesses who eagerly validated His mission.

At the outset of Christ Jesus’ ministry there was one witness who prepared the way for His coming. For some, John the Baptist had been a passing fad or another interesting prophet. Yet the power of his influence lived on. In faithfully pointing to “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,” John had been a “burning and shining lamp,” a witness to the Truth. The Jews were happy to see their Elijah, delighted at his message of a coming Messiah. But they didn't care for what he delivered. 

Now Christ Jesus who is the Light of the world accused the Jews of not taking John's message seriously. How about you this morning, are you taking the saving grace offered by Christ Jesus seriously? 

John the Baptist was a prophet highly regarded by those who challenged Christ Jesus' authority. But Christ Jesus did not stop with John's witness.

2. The Testimony of Works (vs. 36)

The works which Christ Jesus was doing could not be separated from who He is! Nor could they be separated from the One who sent Him! Christ Jesus' works, too, were a witness. Notice the word works is plural, Christ Jesus' works or miracles were not just a one time incident. John used the word works frequently to describe Christ Jesus' miracles. The word ergon (er'-gon) appears 27 times in this Gospel.  

A man asked another man he hardly knew to “scalp” his lawn, which the man agreed to do for ninety dollars. The reason the man hired this man he had never met was because a dear neighbor whose word he trusted said, “Oh yes, Tony does great work. He really took care of my lawn.” It is the same with Christ Jesus! He could be trusted because of His works! 

While faith should never rest in works alone, those works always attest to Christ Jesus' character. Furthermore, God was not hesitant to use works to demonstrate His point (Moses' burning bush; Gideon's fleece; Elijah's burning altar). While many were dazzled and intrigued and even made shallow commitments because of Christ Jesus' works, there were others who knew they could only be the work of God. What they saw Christ Jesus doing revealed the glory of the Father. Christ Jesus still reveals the glory of the Father if you will let Him. Won't you invite Him into your life this morning?

Christ Jesus had met the requirements of the law. He produced two witnesses to show by what authority He ministered. But that was not enough, now Christ Jesus produces a third witness.

3. The Testimony of the Scriptures (vs. 39-40)

The Scriptures bear witness to Christ Jesus. On every page there is some promise, some claim, some echo which speaks of His living presence. The Scriptures, rightly understood, are centered in Him and leads you to Him! What an sad tragedy that the very ones who searched the Scriptures, who prided themselves on being experts as they worked over every jot and tittle, thinking in all this they had eternal life. 

Because they read the Scriptures as, “Do this and you will have life in the world to come,” they were not willing to come to the One of whom the Scriptures spoke. They rejected Him, and in doing so they disobeyed the Scriptures. Here was Christ Jesus the Messiah standing before them, bold and clear, inviting them and challenging them, and they turned on Him in anger—all the time believing they were being faithful to the Scriptures. They did not hear the voice of the Father, nor could they perceive His form, and in the end, the words they studied did not abide in them. Many today still do not hear the voice of the Father. 

People read the Scriptures and they still miss the message of saving grace found there. They reject the invitation of Christ Jesus, (John 6:47) "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. (John 7:38) "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, "From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'" (John 10:9) "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” 

An open heart and open eyes will produce an open mind - but you begin with an open Bible. A Christian's belief in the Bible is not some superstitious reverence. Instead it is a belief in the living Word; a Word that is to be used in a practical way in your everyday life. Therefore we must search the scriptures, and may hope to find eternal life in that search, because they testify of Christ; for this is life eternal, to know him; (Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition)

Well there is the testimony of John the Baptist, of works, and of the Scriptures and you would think that would be good enough for anyone. But Christ Jesus goes one better.

4. The Testimony of the Father (vs. 32, 37-38)

I have saved the best testimony for last. This is the testimony of God the Father. Back in verse 32 Christ Jesus states that, “There is another who bears witness of Me,” 

Some detractors of God's Word or of Christ Jesus might say that this verse is a bit ambiguous. However the Jews of Christ Jesus' day often spoke of God in roundabout terms. So they would have known who Christ Jesus was talking about. 

In verses 37-38 Christ Jesus returns His attention back to the testimony of the Father. He now focuses on His will and His word. The idea of a universal fatherhood of God applies only to creation and humanity. However when it comes to spiritual sonship, the issue is person faith. How ironic, when God made himself known to the Israelites at Sinai they believed . (Ex 19:16-17) So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 

Here in front of them was the fuller revelation of God in the form of Christ Jesus and they rejected Him. How sad, that the Jews could not grasp the testimony of the Father about Christ Jesus, because they refused the testimony of Christ Jesus about the Father. His Father gave these differing witnesses their authority, and was constantly placing His stamp of approval on Christ Jesus and His work! Nothing would have happened—no work of mercy, no teaching with authority, no sharing of life—if the Father’s approval had not rested on the Son. He could do nothing of Himself! All that Christ Jesus was and said and did witnessed to the intimate, eternal, loving relationship He shared with the Father! You to can share in an intimate, eternal, loving relationship with the Father all you have to do is ask Christ Jesus into your life. Won't you do so this morning?

Conclusion: What is the leading argument of those who deny Christ Jesus and His Sonship? They claim it is lack of evidence or that His Word is intolerant. Yet you have heard four different witnesses as to the identity of Christ Jesus this morning. There was the eyewitness report of John the Baptist, there was the works which only God could do through Christ Jesus, there was the Scriptural evidence, and if that were not enough there is the testimony of the Father.

And what was the purpose of Christ Jesus coming to suffer rejection at the hands of His own? It was and is still love. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” (John 3:16-17) and (Rom 5:8) But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.