The Gospel of John: 5:30-47

After a long hiatus due to several reason I'd rather not mention (like getting married), We are back to the Gospel of John, and chapter by chapter teaching of the Word of God here at Wilderness Ministries and The Word of Truth. Let's jump right in as I present expository teaching. I hope it is a blessing to you! Here we go!

John 5:30-47
(30) I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
(31) If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
(32) There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
Jesus is speaking here, continuing to speak to those who wanted to kill Him, after hearing Him basically say He is equal to God, that God is His Father and he had broken the sabbath law. (John 5:1-29)
He stablishes that he (the man) can do nothing without the Father. He judges what He hears. And it is righteous judgment, so it is just. Not seeking his own will, but the Father's.
We cannot just tell people who we are and expect them to believe it without some other witness. Now he is speaking of the Holy Spirit. That the Spirit of God within each us, will witness that He is the Messiah sent from God the Father. But there were many witnesses who had seen him perform miracles and speak. He didn't have to prove anything. They just had to open their eyes.

(33) Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.
(34) But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
(35) He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
John bore that witness as He saw Jesus coming to be baptized and proclaimed, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the World!" Whoo Hallelujah. What joy that must have brought John to see Him coming, and the Holy Spirit descending upon him after the baptism. That was the witness of the truth. because as Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life...
Jesus goes on to speak about John. Jesus doesn't need that witness from a man to prove who he is. But John was indeed a shining light for the time. After 400 years, God was beginning to deal with people and prepare them for the Messiah. God had been silent. But his voice rang through John, a voice calling for repentance and a return to God. Jesus points out they were happy to have John for a time, but later on they turned from him because of those criticisms from the rulers of the day. No matter, John was brought into this world 6 months before Jesus, and God had prepared him to be "The Messenger" spoken of by Malachi (Mal 3:1)

(36) But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
(37) And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
(38) And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.
His witness is from God, the Holy Spirit. The works he did while on earth showed that He is the Messiah, and there is no doubt that those who listened and would not allow themselves to be bogged down by tradition, too concerned about the Old Covenant to partake of the new, would believe upon Jesus.
He sends them a spiritual blow, saying they don't hear his voice or have not seen his shape. That is, they do not hear him or see him. They are living religiously. They are obeying laws, but they don't have a relationship.
His word doesn't dwell in them, because if it did, they would know the scriptures and see that Jesus was the one prophesied of by Isaiah and others.

(39) Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
(40) And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
He tells them outright to search the scriptures and you will find me. But the scriptures will not save you directly. The one who would come to save the world is speaking to them right now, but they are set on killing him, because he is calling them out.

(41) I receive not honour from men.
(42) But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
Why do you think that is? He knows them, and knows they don't have the love of God dwelling in them. Their fruits. Their body language, and gestures. The spirit they project.
But they love to hear praises sung by men towards them, unlike Jesus.

(43) I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
(44) How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
Jesus came in the name of the Father. They wouldn't acknowledge him. But if someone came saying they were this king and blah blah blah, they would cling to that person because they would think they could get houses and lands from him by treating him nice.
Jesus was a carpenter, he didn't have riches, and they were not interested in this "beggar". They love to praise themselves, to give their fellows glory and honor, only because they are trying to please one another, not God.

(45) Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
(46) For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
(47) But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
Jesus didn't have to accuse them before God because they were condemning themselves by not adhering to waht Moses had already written. If they would have believed Moses, then they would know that Moses spoke of Jesus...
"The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken" -Deuteronomy 18:15
It is obvious that they were only living in religion. They didn't know the Word of God, so how would they know that Jesus is the Word of God? They were in darkness, even tho they presented themselves as "holy". It was all a show. And unfortunately, many claim holiness but live like the devil when no-one else is watching.

Alright, until the next teaching, when we get into John chapter 6
Maranatha!

The Gospel of John