(REFLECTIONS ON John 5:31-47)

In the context of John 5, we must keep in mind that Jesus is responding to the Jews accusing Him of healing on the Sabbath. It is in the context of these accusations that Jesus responds in courtroom fashion to the legitimacy of His actions and calling God His Father. In doing so, He reveals Himself not only to the Jews of the time, but to the church.

This revelation is not just based on His own testimony, because in Jewish tradition trust was established by multiple witnesses. For example, Deuteronomy 19:15 teaches that a matter must be confirmed by “two or three witnesses.”

When Jesus says in John 5:31, “If I alone testify about Myself, My testimony is not true,” He is not denying the truthfulness of His words; rather, He is speaking within that legal context. By Jewish standards, self-testimony was insufficient in court.

What follows is the testimony of John the Baptist, the “signs” (miracles) that point to Jesus’ identity as the Christ, God the Father who sent Him, and the Scripture or God’s Word itself. Jesus said,

39 You examine the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is those very Scriptures that testify about Me; 40 and yet you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.

It all points to Him, that is Jesus is the Christ. Whether it is John the Baptist, God the Father, the signs that Jesus performed that point to His identity and purpose on earth, to Holy Scripture, it all points to Him.

However, as Jesus said to the Jews, “yet you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.” Those that examined the Scriptures, the chosen people of God, those searching for eternal life, have eternal life right in front of them, and although it all points to Him, they were unwilling to come to Jesus that they may have what they are searching for.

Today’s Scripture also asks us the same question. Given that it all points to Him, are we willing to come to Him so that we may have life? We can search the Bible, and see that it all points to Him, but knowledge of Him doesn’t mean that we are willing to come to Him so that we may have life.

Let us not only study the Bible to know that it all points to Him, but let us come to Him, give our lives and all authority to Him, and call Him, LORD, so that we may receive what we have been searching for. It all points to Him, are we willing?

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: John 5