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Did Jesus really need "witnesses" at all?

Text: John 5:16-47

DID JESUS REALLY NEED “WITNESSES” AT ALL?

Jesus might well have sighed as He spoke to The Jews, and to those within earshot. This time round, He spoke about “witnesses”. Did He really need “witnesses” at all? Had His words not been sufficient? Had the miracles that He had performed been inadequate? Who else did The Jews know who could heal a paralyzed man who had been paralyzed for the last thirty-eight years? If Jesus could do that, and this was a real miracle, why then did they find it so hard to believe what He had said?

Nevertheless, knowing their hardness of heart, Jesus brought in “witnesses” to help them believe. He did everything possible to help The Jews come to faith.

“You have sent to John,
and he has borne witness to the truth.”
John 5:33

Jesus knew that The Jews had sent a delegation to John. (Cf. John 1:19-27). What had they learned from the delegates they had sent? Did not John bear witness for Jesus? Did not John speak of The Messiah who was to come? Had he not spoken truly?

Even if John bore witness for Jesus faithfully and fervently, the testimony of a human being did not in fact go very far. If The Jews were to sit down and evaluate the worth and the truth of what Jesus had said and done, they too would find faith.

“Yet I do not receive testimony from man,
But I say these things that you may be saved.
He was the burning and shining lamp,
And you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.”
John 5:34-35

Jesus did not even need to appeal to John as a witness. He did so, only in the hope that his witness would help The Jews and others to have faith. Few things in life could be as important as salvation. If receiving a witness would help them come to faith, then Jesus would bring John in as His witness.

Who was John the Baptizer? He had declared himself to be “the voice crying in the wilderness” (John 1:23). He cried out that he wasn’t anyone important. In his own opinion, he paled in comparison to the Messiah Himself. He saw himself as a lowly and unworthy servant, not fit even to remove the sandal strap from the feet of Jesus (John 1:27). Jesus praised John for his life and ministry. He compared him favourably to a burning and shining lamp casting necessary light in a dark corner of the earth.

For a brief season, multitudes came to hear John preach the Word of God. For a little while, many people seemed to rejoice in his light. However, “he was not that Light but was sent to bear witness of that light” (John 1:8).

The salvation of their souls hinged on recognizing Jesus for who He was. It would require an exercise of faith to believe in Jesus! What was so difficult about believing in Jesus?

3. THE WORKS OF JESUS AS WITNESS

Jesus had personally borne testimony of who He was. He had every right to make a statement concerning Himself. He was His own witness. He had then gone on to appeal to John the Baptizer as a witness. Surely, John’s word counted for something?

Jesus realizing that there was still some resistance to what He had said went on to adduce further evidence.

“But I have greater witnesses than John’s;
For the works which the Father has given Me to finish –
The very works that I do – bear witness of Me,
That the Father has sent Me.”
John 5:36

The works of Jesus were indeed a powerful witness. The Jews should have realized the significance of the mighty works that Jesus did. There were only a few possible explanations for His miracles.

Were the miracles of Jesus faked? Then they should have exposed those “miracles” as empty and deceptive means used by a false teacher! But they could not dispute the power that was in Jesus! He really did perform those miracles! Nobody would fake paralysis for thirty-eight years! Jesus had really healed the man! His ability to get up and walk proved that Jesus had the power of life in Himself.

If the miracles performed by Jesus were true, and He was preaching the Word of God faithfully all the time, then He must have been sent by God! Jesus had not spoken of His works to draw attention to Himself at any point of time. Gently and humbly, He had always attributed all glory and honour to be ascribed to God, whom He called lovingly, “Father”.

How would The Jews explain away the power and significance of His mighty miracles? They couldn’t! If they were fair-minded at all, they would have at least considered the explanations Jesus gave.

If only The Jews would listen carefully to what Jesus had said, they would have realized that His words were truly unique! How did Jesus see His mighty works? His explanation was so profound! His works were given to Him by His Father! His works were God’s assignments to Him. His response to His Father’s will was one of complete obedience.

Did He choose to heal the paralyzed man on the Sabbath? It was His Father’s directive. Did He also tell the man that he could take up his bed on the Sabbath and walk? It was also the Father’s will for that to be said!

The works of Jesus were not just mighty miracles! They bore witness of Jesus in a special way – that God the Father had sent Him. Jesus was most conscious of His being “sent”. We are reminded of what Isaiah wrote about the life and ministry of the Messiah.

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted…”
Isaiah 61:1