Be a Witness

John 5: 30–47

Jesus said, “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek to do not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

“If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that his testimony to me is true. You sent messengers to John, and he testified to the truth. Not that I accept such human testimony, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But I have a testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father has given me to complete, the very works that I am doing, testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself testified on my behalf. You have never heard his voice or seen his form, and you do not have his word abiding in you, because you do not believe him whom he has sent.

“You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf. Yet you refuse to come to me to have life. I do not accept glory from human beings. But I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; if another comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe when you accept glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the one who alone is God? Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; your accuser is Moses, on whom you have set your hope. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But if you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?”

Our gospel text follows the Jewish leaders questioning Jesus about his authority. We now find Jesus turning his attention to proving his identity as the Son of God saying, “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.” Jesus’ claim that he was sent by the Father, equating himself with God, is what the Jewish leaders found so offensive and something they were unprepared to accept. Jesus recognizes this and knows that they need proof of his assertions, leading him to say: “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true.”

Jesus then provides support for his own testimony with witnesses. First, he cites the testimony of John the Baptist, second, his miraculous signs and wonders, third, the testimony of God the Father at his baptism, and finally, the testimony of the Scriptures. To sum it up, Jesus references human testimony, the testimony of miracles, the testimony of God, and the testimony of God’s Word.

But even with this proof, the Jewish authorities rejected the evidence of Christ because they were only willing to consider a Messiah that reinforced what they already believed. Jesus did not meet their expectation of a Messiah who would be a great warrior to deliver them from the oppression of Roman Rule.

Jesus points to the source of their rejection, declaring, “ I know that you do not have the love of God in you.” Jesus’ life and mission were to perfectly reveal and model the true nature of God – that of love. Jesus knew his disciples would face fear and opposition in proclaiming the gospel of love. That is why he appeared to them saying, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” This is the message for us as well.

In our world today, we are called to be witnesses of Jesus. We do so when we follow his teaching and reflect that love through our words, actions, and attitudes. We witness to our faith most effectively in our acts of justice and compassion. May we all seek ways to bear witness to Jesus wherever we find ourselves this and every day.

Faithfully,
Rose+

prayer

Almighty and most merciful God, drive from us all weakness of body, mind, and spirit; that, being restored to wholeness, we may with free hearts become what you intend us to be and accomplish what you want us to do; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.