February 1
Bible Reading: John 5:30-47
John 5:30-32, “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true.”
It’s as if Jesus was on trial! The Jews were seeking to kill Jesus, because he was “making himself equal with God (John 5:18).” The audacity of it all—that He, the creator of the heavens and the earth (John 1:3), should have to defend Himself before them! In the great mystery of the incarnation, He, to whom all judgment was given (John 5:22), humbled Himself before a bunch of hard-hearted, unbelieving religious leaders.
So, Jesus brought forth His witnesses to the stand. Five well-qualified and unimpeachable witnesses that could each vouch for His true identity as the Divine Son of God. Witness #1: John the Baptist. What did he have to say? “And I have seen and born witness that this is the Son of God (John 1:34)!” Witness #2: Jesus’ miracles. What did they prove? “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name (John 20-30-31).” Witness #3: The Father. What did He say? “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him (Matthew 17:5).” Witness #4: The Scriptures. What do they say? “Then he said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled’ (Luke 24:44).” Witness #5: Moses. What did he say? “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen (Deuteronomy 18:15).”
There you have it! Case closed. If you choose to deny the existence of God, then you’ve the witness of creation itself to deal with. If you choose to deny the truth about Jesus, you need to reject the testimony of John the Baptist, the miracles of Jesus, God the Father, the Scriptures, and Moses. They all pointed to Jesus, and their unified message is clear—believe in Him unto eternal life! Jesus was on trial, but his aim in putting forth witnesses was not to save himself, but the souls of others. Have you placed your faith in Jesus? He alone can save us from our sins!
No one needs to take a blind leap of faith. Ample testimony has been given to the truth about Jesus!
TELL ME THE STORY OF JESUS
Tell me the story of Jesus,
write on my heart every word;
tell me the story most precious,
sweetest that ever was heard.
Tell how the angels, in chorus,
sang as they welcomed His birth,
“Glory to God in the highest!
Peace and good tidings to earth.”
Refrain:
Tell me the story of Jesus,
write on my heart every word;
tell me the story most precious,
sweetest that ever was heard.
Fasting alone in the desert,
tell of the days that are past;
how for our sins He was tempted,
yet was triumphant at last.
Tell of the years of His labor,
tell of the sorrow He bore;
He was despised and afflicted,
homeless, rejected, and poor. [Refrain]
Tell of the cross where they nailed Him,
writhing in anguish and pain;
tell of the grave where they laid Him,
tell how He liveth again.
Love in that story so tender,
clearer than ever I see:
stay, let me weep while you whisper,
love paid the ransom for me. [Refrain]
LookingtoJesus 