The Witness of Christ Rejected                                    John 5:1-47                                   (Continued)

3. THE WITNESS TO THE DEITY OF CHRIST (John 5:31-47)
1. His Witness Concerning Himself (John 5:31)
1. The testimony of Christ (John 8:12-18)
2. The need for two witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15; 2 Corinthians 13:1)
2. The Witness of John the Baptist (John 5:32-35)
1. A second witness (John 5:32)
2. A true witness (John 5:32)
3. A confirmed witness (John 5:33) – you sent unto him and proved that you thought he was a reliable witness (John 1:19-29).
4. An unnecessary witness (John 5:34-35) – unnecessary in the sense that more and greater witnesses are available
1. The testimony of men not needed to verify the ministry and deity of Christ (John 5:34)
2. But salvation is so important that the proofs accepted by men need to be given (John 5:34).
3. But the testimony of John was valued by the Jews for a time (John 5:35).
1. As a burning and shining light
2. As a light you rejoiced in for a season
3. The Witness of His Works (John 5:36)
1. Greater than the witness of John
2. Given by the Father to the Son
1. As a job to be finished
2. As a witness that the Father sent Him
4. The Witness of the Father (John 5:37-38)
1. The testimony of the Father (John 5:37)
1. At the baptism of Christ (Matthew 3:16-17)
2. At the transfiguration of Christ (Matthew 17:5-6)
3. At the triumphal entry of Christ (John 12:28-30)
2. The ignorance of the Jews (John 5:37)
1. Not hearing His voice
2. Not seeing His shape
3. The rejection of the Jews (John 5:38)
1. The absence of the abiding word (John 8:47)
2. Their denial of the Sent One (John 1:11)
5. The Witness of the Scriptures (John 5:39-47)
1. The testimony of scripture (John 5:39)
1. They are worthy to be searched (Jeremiah 15:16).
2. They are the source of eternal life (1 Peter 1:23; James 1:18, 21).
3. They are the true witness of the Son (Luke 24:27, 44; Hebrews 10:7).
2. The rejection of the Jews (John 5:40-47)
1. Their rejection of God’s life (John 5:40)
1. They will not come to the Son.
2. They will not receive eternal life.
2. Their rejection of God’s love (John 5:41-42)
1. The divine honor of the Son (John 5:41)
2. The absence of love in the Jews (John 5:42)
3. Note: the assumption is that they cannot receive the Son of God if they do not know His love.
3. Their rejection of God’s Son (John 5:.43-44)
1. Their rejection of Him who comes in the name of the Father (John 5:43)
2. Their acceptance of those who come in their own name (John 5:43; Matthew 24:5; 1 John 4:1-3)
3. The fatal flaw in their ability to believe (John 5:44)
1. They receive honor one of another.
2. They do not seek the honor that comes only from God.
3. Note: it is a question of authority. Because man is their authority for truth, they cannot find the truth. Truth is found only when we have the correct authority for truth.
4. Their rejection of God’s law (John 5:45-47)
1. The accusation of Moses against them (John 5:45)
1. He will accuse them to the Father.
2. He is the one in whom they trust.
2. Their rejection of the writings of Moses (John 5:46-47)
1. Seen in their rejection of Christ (John 5:46)
1. Proves their unbelief of Moses
2. Since Moses wrote of Christ
2. Confirmed their rejection of Christ (John 5:47)
1. Since they believe not the writings of Moses
2. They could not believe the words of Jesus

Extra Notes

1. Note: The acceptance of the Son
1. By those who have God’s word abiding in them (John 5:38)
2. By all who know the Father (John 6:37, 45; John 8:42)
3. By those who are His sheep (John 10:24-30)
4. Given by the Father to the Son (John 17:6-11, 24)
5. All that belongs to the Father will be given to the Son (John 16:15).
6. Given to the sheep to come to the Son (John 6:44-45, 64-65)
7. Never to be lost by the Son (John 6:39; John 17:12; John 18:9)