John 5:30-47: “Jesus Continues
To Defend Himself For Healing On The Sabbath By Revealing Those Who Testify Of
Him”
By
1.
INTRO:
1.1.
In our last study we looked at verses 17-29 of chapter 5.
1.1.1. In our last study, we saw
that Jesus had gone to the temple in order to tell a crippled man whom He had
healed who He was who had healed him.
Then, Jesus had come under scrutiny by the Jews for healing this man on
the Sabbath, which the Pharisees claimed had broken their Sabbath Law. So, in this last half of chapter 5 of the
book of John Jesus defends Himself and His actions to the Jews by attempting to
explain to them His very nature and why and how He did all of the things that
He did.
1.1.2. We looked at the first part
of Jesus’ defense in our previous study, and we will look at the second half of
Jesus defense in this study. We have
seen that this second half of John chapter 5, and Jesus’ defense of Himself,
could perhaps be the most provocative section of scripture in our entire Bible,
for Jesus explains the essence of His nature and the things He does in terms
that we as people can and should understand.
1.1.3. We saw also that when we
come to this second half of John chapter 5 that we can only scratch the surface
in understanding Jesus’ teaching concerning the essence of His nature with all
of its implications. Theologians have
debated the true nature of Jesus Christ in all of its aspects for 2,000 years
and they will continue to do so until He returns, and only then shall we be
able to grasp these truths in all of their fullness for at that time the
knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea (Isaiah
11:9).
1.1.4. In our last study, we looked at the seven things that
Jesus revealed about Himself in those verses that imply that He has to be
divine, the eternal Son of God from all eternity, the second person of the
Trinity:
1.1.4.1.A unique
relationship to God.
1.1.4.2.He cannot
act independently of the Father.
1.1.4.3.Equal
intelligence with the Father.
1.1.4.4.Sovereignty in all His actions.
1.1.4.5.Authority to judge all creatures.
1.1.4.6.Equal honor with the Father.
1.1.4.7.Life in Himself.
1.2.
In our
study today, we are going to look at verses 30-47 of chapter 5.
1.2.1. We will see in our study that Jesus is still defending
Himself for healing on the Sabbath a man who had a crippling disease that had
lasted 38 years. In our previous study
we looked at the first part of Jesus defense in which we saw that His defense
consisted of trying to explain to these Jews in clear and plain terms the
essence of His nature as well as why He did the things that He did. We will finish this defense of Himself by
Jesus as we will see that Jesus will begin to discuss the various witnesses who
testify of Him: His own works, the
Father, and the word of God itself.
1.2.2. In considering John the apostle’s motives in writing
the things that he wrote in this gospel, it is important for us to understand
what was happening in the world and the church at this time. Writing towards the end of the first century,
John had seen many things come into the church and many heretical teachings
emerge.
1.2.2.1.In the book of Revelation, John in his writing combats
the teachings of a group called the “Nicolaitans” (the first heretical
group to emerge within the early church who were firmly entrenched by 85 AD)
from Nicholas of
1.2.2.2.We also see in the three epistles that John wrote as
well as this gospel that He is combating the heresies of a group that had
emerged called the “Gnostics.”
Some have traced this group back 4,000 years or more, however it is hard
to trace their arrival because there were so many different flavors of “Gnosticism”
that came into being with each group adding their own variations to their
teachings. These Gnostic heresies crept
into the church alongside of the church’s teachings when people came in who had
previously been exposed to various occultic philosophies. John saw where these heresies were headed in
the church and thus in all of his writings, including this gospel, he tried to
expose the false teachings that were becoming prevalent by expounding upon the
truth. In this gospel, John has shown in
many different ways how that Jesus was God the Son from all eternity who came
to earth in the incarnation, and in writing this way he was combating the
Gnostic teachings.
1.2.2.3.The teachings of the Gnostics:
1.2.2.3.1.Iraneus, bishop of Lyon, wrote the following in his
treatise “Against The Heresies” which was written about 175 BC and which
ended up greatly curbing the expansion of the Gnostic heresies at that time, “Gnostic
is the name applied to a fluctuating set of Eastern dualist beliefs, older than
Christianity, though they took over features from Christianity in the course of
their spread westward. The Docetists of Ignatius' day may be regarded as a
branch of the Gnostics. In general the latter took the view that the creator of
the gross world of matter, the God of the Old Testament, was a dark and brutal
deity, forever at war with the pure and spiritual God of light, depicted in the
New Testament, from whom Jesus had been an emanation. Jesus, therefore, only
appeared to be born and die and could never have suffered contamination by
mortal flesh.” The Gnostic
movement, with its denial of Christ's humanity, vexed the Church in one form or
another for several centuries. In the Middle Ages it was known as Manichaeism.
1.2.2.3.2.The Gnostics believed in the concept of “Dualism,”
which among other things taught that matter was evil but spirit was good. Our bodies are inherently evil because they
are made of matter. God on the other had
is inherently good because He is spirit.
The Gnostics denied the doctrine of the Trinity and that Jesus was truly
divine. They did not believe that deity
could dwell within humanity and so Jesus had to be either God or man. So, they taught that Jesus became divine at
His baptism. However, divinity could not
die a humble death upon the cross, so they taught that divinity left Jesus
before He went to the cross. They
believed that Jesus suffered and died as a man.
1.2.2.3.3.The Gnostics did not believe that God is actively
involved in this world but rather that angels are employed in the affairs of
every day life. They also did not
believe that God created everything from nothing but rather that there had been
various emanations in which matter was basically reformed (a doctrine of
Mormonism today).
1.2.2.3.4.The various branchings of Gnosticism continued after
the first century until we arrive with Arius, a priest at
1.2.2.3.5.As we consider the teachings of the Gnostics in its
various forms, we can see that the influence of Gnosticism has continued down
to this present time and that it is an underlying part of much of our modern
cultures and the “spiritualism” that we observe in so many peoples’
lives.
1.2.3. So, John’s recording of Jesus’ defense of Himself in which He stated the seven things which affirmed that He is deity was included in part to combat those growing heresies of the Gnostics.
1.2.4. In our last study, we looked at the handout I provided and considered several things relative to understanding the nature of Jesus Christ. Today, I want to look at the second side of that handout concerning the nature of Christ, and consider the following (taken from www.bibleone.net) :
1.2.4.1.All three persons of the Godhead are referred to as God, possess
divine attributes (qualities), and are engaged in the works of God:
1.2.4.1.1.All are referred to as God (F=Father; S=Son; HS=Holy
Spirit) F (1 Peter 1:2); S (Hebrew 1:8); HS (Acts 5:3,
4).
1.2.4.1.2.All possess divine attributes (same abbreviations as above):
·
Self-existence:
F (Acts 17:25); S (John 5:26); HS (Romans 8:2).
·
Eternal
existence: F (Psalm 90:2); S (John 8:58); HS (Hebrews 9:14).
·
Immutability:
F (James 1:17); S (Hebrews 13:8); HS (2 Corinthians 3:18).
·
Omnipresence:
F (Jeremiah 23:23, 24); S
(Matthew 28:20); HS (Psalm 139:7).
·
Omniscience:
F (Isaiah 40:28); S (Colossians 2:3); HS (1 Corinthians 2:10).
·
Omnipotence:
F (Jeremiah 32:17); S (Colossians 1:16, 17); HS (1 Corinthians 2:10, 11).
·
Truth:
F (John 7:28); S (John 14:6); HS (1 John 5:6).
·
Holiness:
F (Leviticus 11:44); S (Acts 3:14); HS (John 16:7, 8).
·
Wisdom:
F (Psalm 104:24); S (Colossians 2:3); HS (1 Corinthians 2:10, 11).
1.2.4.1.3.All are engaged in the works of God (same abbreviations as above).
·
Creation
of the world: F (Genesis 2:7); S (John 1:3); HS (Genesis 1:2).
·
Incarnation
of Jesus Christ: F (Hebrews 10:5); S (Hebrews 2:14); HS (Luke 1:35).
·
Resurrection
of Christ: F (Acts 2:32); S
(John 2:19); HS (Romans 1:4)
1.2.4.2.Biblical Support for Christ’s Humanity:
1.2.4.2.1.References to Jesus Christ as a man.
·
During
His earthly ministry (John 8:40; Acts
2:22; 1 Corinthians 15:21; Philippians 2:7, 8).
·
After
His resurrection (Acts 17:31; 1
Corinthians 15:47; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 2:14)
1.2.4.2.2.Christ was conceived supernaturally, but
born naturally.
·
Matthew 1:25; Luke 2:7; Galatians 4:4.
1.2.4.2.3.Christ experienced normal human growth and
development.
·
Luke 2:40-52; Hebrews 5:8.
1.2.4.2.4.Christ was subject to human limitations.
·
Weariness
(John 4:6).
·
Hunger
(Matthew 21:18).
·
Need
for sleep (Matthew 8:24).
·
Thirst
(John 19:28).
·
Sweat
(Luke 22:44).
·
Temptation
(Matthew 4:1-11).
·
Lack
of knowledge (Mark 5:30-32; 13:32).
1.2.4.2.5.Christ experienced human pain and death.
·
Mark 14:33-36; Luke 17:25; 22:63; 23:33.
1.2.4.2.6.Christ manifested a full range of human
emotions.
·
Joy (Luke 10:21;John 17:13).
·
Sorrow
(Matthew 26:37).
·
Friendship
Love (John 11:5).
·
Compassion
(Mark 1:40, 41).
·
Weeping
(John 11:35).
·
Astonishment
(Luke 7:9).
·
Anger
(Mark 3:5; 10:14).
·
Loneliness
(Mark 14:32-42; 15:34).
1.2.4.2.7.Christ possessed the essential qualities
of a human being.
·
Body
(Matthew 26:12).
·
Bones
(Luke 24:39).
·
Flesh
(Luke 24:39).
·
Blood
(Matthew 26:28).
·
Soul
(Matthew 26:38).
·
Will
(John 5:30).
·
Spirit
(John 11:33).
1.2.4.3.Biblical Support for Christ’s Deity:
1.2.4.3.1.Divine titles proclaimed by or attributed
to Christ.
·
God (John 1:1, 18, 18; 20:28; Romans 9:5; Titus
2:13; Hebrews 1:8, 2 Peter 1:1).
·
Lord
(Mark 12:35-37; John 20:28; Romans
10:9-13; 1 Corinthians 8:5, 6; Philippians 2:11) .
·
Messiah
(Matthew 16:16; Mark 14:61; John 20:31).
·
Son
of God (Matthew 11:27; Mark 15:39; John
1:18; Romans 1:4; Galatians 4:4).
·
Son
of Man (Matthew 16:28; 24:30; Mark
8:38; 14:62-64; Acts 7:56; cf. Daniel 7:13, 14).
1.2.4.3.2.Prerogatives or actions of God in the Old
Testament proclaimed by or attributed to Christ.
·
Worship
of God (Isaiah 45:23/Philippians 2:10,
11).
·
Salvation
of/from God (Joel 2:32/Romans 10:13).
·
Judgment
by/of God (Isaiah 6:10/John 12:9-41).
·
Nature
of God (Exodus 3:14/John 8:58).
·
Triumph
of God (Psalm 68:18/Ephesians 4:8).
1.2.4.3.3.Divine names, actions, or roles proclaimed
by or attributed to Christ.
·
Creator
(John 1:3; Ephesians 3:9; Colossians
1:16; Hebrews 1:2, 10, 12).
·
Sustainer
(1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:17;
Hebrews 1:3).
·
Universal
Ruler (Matthew 28:18; Romans 14:9;
Revelation 1:5).
·
Forgiver
of sins (Mark 2:5-7; Luke 24:47; Acts
5:31; Colossians 3:13).
·
Raiser
of the dead (Luke 7:11-17; John 5:21;
6:40).
·
Object
of prayer (John 14:14; Acts 1:24;
7:50-60; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 2 Corinthians 12:8, 9).
·
Object
of worship (Matthew 28:16, 17; John
5:23; 20:28; Philippians 2:10, 11; Hebrews 1:6).
·
Object
of saving faith (John 14:1; Acts 10:43;
16:31; Romans 10:8-13).
·
Image
and representation of God (Colossians
1:15; Hebrews 1:3).
1.2.4.3.4.Divine attributes or qualities proclaimed
by or attributed to Christ.
·
Eternal
existence (John 1:1; 8:58; 17:5; 1
Corinthians 10:4; Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 13:8).
·
Self-existence
(John 1:3; 5:26; Colossians 1:16;
Hebrews 1:2).
·
Immutability
(Hebrews 1:10-12; 13:8).
·
Omnipresence
(Matthew 18:20; 28:20; Ephesians 1:23;
4:10; Colossians 3:11).
·
Omniscience
(Mark 2:8; Luke 9:47; John 2:25; 4:18;
16:30; Colossians 2:3).
·
Omnipotence
(John 1:3; 2:19; Colossians 1:16, 17;
Hebrews 1:2).
·
Sovereignty
(Philippians 2:9-11; 1 Peter 3:22; Revelation
19:16).
·
Authority
(Matthew 28:18; Ephesians 1:22).
·
Life
in Himself (John 1:4; 5:26; Acts 3:15).
1.2.5. We will also see in this study that Jesus begins to make several indictments against the Pharisees who are accusing him of breaking the Sabbath laws.
2.
VS 5:30 - “I can do nothing on My own
initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not
seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.”
– Jesus tells the Jews that He cannot do
anything on His own initiative and that His judgment is just because He seeks
the will of the One who sent Him
2.1.
This
statement by Jesus is sort of a continuation of what He said in our previous
study about Himself as something that affirms His deity, that He can do nothing
of or out of Himself.
2.2.
But, this is also the true key to the spiritual life
of the Lord Jesus, He “can do nothing of His own initiative.” In everything that He did, He followed God
the Father and performed what was His will.
2.3.
Jesus reveals in this verse that He always listened
closely to the Lord’s voice and that He relied upon the strength that the
Father gave Him to perform whatever task He did.
2.4.
Can you imagine what our lives would be like as
Christians if we were to live our life like Jesus and also do nothing of our
own initiative, and rely completely upon the strength that Christ provides to
perform everything that we do? We too
would be tremendously fruitful for God and fulfilled in our lives. No matter how small the task, we ought to
rely upon Christ’s strength to perform it, even if it is sweeping the
floor. And in every single decision we
make, we ought to look to Christ to reveal His will.
3.
VS 5:31 - “If I alone
bear witness of Myself, My testimony is not true. There is another who bears witness of Me, and
I know that the testimony which He bears of Me is true’” - Jesus says
that if He bears witness of Himself His testimony is not true but there is
another who bears witness of Him and He knows that His testimony is true
3.1.
The word “alone” is added in my translation to
convey that this verse should be interpreted such that Christ is saying that
God the Father bears witness of Him and His work, and that if He alone bore
witness of Himself, His testimony would not be true. In the Old Testament it is written that based
upon the testimony of two or more witnesses that every legal and civil case is
determined. So, it is not that there is
anything wrong with or lacking in Jesus’ testimony concerning Himself. Rather, it is the case that even the Lord
Messiah must have multiple testimonies in revealing Himself to mankind because
this is how God has established things.
3.2.
There are many ways that God has borne witness to
Jesus:
3.2.1. Hundreds of years
before Jesus came that the Old Testament prophets writing under inspiration of
the Holy Spirit prophesied a few hundred times concerning Jesus Christ and the
things that He would do when He finally came to earth.
3.2.2. The mighty
and miraculous signs that God performed through Jesus also bear witness to
Him.
3.2.3. God the
Father spoke up verbally at His baptism to bear witness that Jesus was His ‘only
begotten Son in whom He was well pleased.’
4.
VS 5:33-35 - “‘You
have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. But the witness which I receive is not from
man, but I say these things that you may be saved. He was the lamp that was burning and was
shining and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light’” - Jesus reminds these Jews that they had
already sent and asked John the Baptist to testify as to whom He was, but the
witness that Jesus has in God the Father is even greater than that of John the
Baptist
4.1.
The Jews had sent a delegation to John the Baptist to
see if he was the Messiah, but John the Baptist pointed them instead to Jesus
and testified that Jesus was the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the
world, that Jesus was before Him, and that he (John) was unworthy to untie the
thong of Jesus’ sandals.
4.2.
Even though the people had for a while a fair amount
of respect and awe for John the Baptist and his ministry (until he stepped on
too many toes), Jesus didn’t need John’s testimony concerning Himself in order
to validate His ministry. Rather, the
Father by producing the works through Jesus which He did, and by the prophetic
word of the Old Testament, was plenty enough of a validation for them to
believe.
4.3.
Jesus could have defended Himself to these Jews using
John the Baptist’s witness of Himself, however Jesus really doesn’t make much
of that fact because He wishes to refer
to higher authorities.
5.
VS 5:36 - “‘But
the witness which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father has given Me
to accomplish, the very works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father
has sent Me’” - Jesus tells
these Jews that the witness that He has of Himself is greater than the witness
of John the Baptist of Himself, it is the witness of the works that the Father
has given Him to accomplish
5.1.
The first
testimony of Himself given by Jesus here in His defense is: the incredible and wonderful works (attesting
miracles) that He performed.
5.2.
The greatest witness of the validity of Jesus’
ministry was the very works that the Father performed through Him. These works of Jesus’ only God could perform.
6.
VS 5:37-38 - “‘And
the Father who sent Me, He has borne witness of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time,
nor seen His form. And you do not have
His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent’” - Jesus tells these Jews that that the Father
who sent Him has borne witness of Him, but they have never Heard His voice or
seen His form, and they do not have His word abiding in them
6.1.
The second testimony of Himself given
by Jesus here in His defense is: the Father has borne witness of Him.
6.2.
At Jesus’ baptism the Father sent the dove down upon
Jesus for all to see and then spoke for all to hear, saying, ‘This is my
beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.’
This was a direct validation of Jesus’ ministry by the Father.
6.3.
Also, at Jesus transfiguration, the Father spoke to
the Peter, James, and John after Peter said that he would set up a separate
tabernacle for Moses, Elijah, and Jesus, “This is my beloved Son, listen to
Him.” 2 Peter 1:16-19, Peter writes
about this incident stating that seeing this gives greater credibility to the
gospel stories and our faith in Jesus Christ, “16 For we did not
follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For
when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this
was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am
well-pleased”— 18 and we ourselves heard this utterance made from
heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. 19 So we
have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay
attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the
morning star arises in your hearts.”
6.4.
These incidents are at least in part what Jesus was
referring to when He says in His defense here that the Father bears witness of
Him.
6.5.
The first of Jesus’ indictments against the Pharisees
in Jesus’ defense is in these verses for He tells them that they have, ‘neither
heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.
And you do not have His word abiding in you.’ We can only imagine the anger that this
indictment of these religious authorities in the Jewish temple by Jesus
caused. Yet, Jesus was merely telling
the truth, just telling it like it was.
7.
VS 5:39-40 - “‘You
search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal
life; and it is these that bear witness
of Me; and you are unwilling to come to
Me, that you may have life.” - Jesus tells
these Jews that though they search the scriptures thinking they have eternal
life in them, that the scriptures testify of Him and yet they are unwilling to
come to Him so that they might have life
7.1.
The third testimony of Himself given by
Jesus here in His defense is: the Old Testament scriptures.
7.2.
Verse 39 can also be translated as a command, ‘Search
the scriptures,’ and there are many good commentators on both sides of the
translation issue. I think the evidence
is stronger for the other translation though because of the added phrase, ‘because
you think that in them you have eternal life.’
7.3.
In either case, this phrase is a command and we as
people should ‘search the scriptures.’
The scriptures adequately reveal Jesus, and the reason the people in
Jesus day, just as the people now, do not come to Christ is because of their
free will. They are simply unwilling to
believe in Christ, they do not believe because the evidence is not there for
them to believe.
7.4.
In John 7:17,
Jesus said the following about the source of people’s unbelief, “17 “If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching,
whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.”
7.5.
As a Christian, is your will placed totally in
obedience to Christ today? God does not
take away our free will when we accept Christ.
Rather, we have choices every day to submit or rebel against God’s
revealed will. We are either letting
Christ reign on the throne of our life, or we have kicked Christ off of the
throne and have enthroned ourselves.
7.6.
Jesus shows compassion for these Pharisees by telling
them with that they are unwilling to come to Him so that they ‘may have life.’
8.
VS 5:41-42 - “I
do not receive glory from men, but I know you, that you do not have the love of
God in yourselves.” - Jesus tells
these Jews that He does not receive glory from men but that He knows that they
do not have the love of God in them
8.1.
Jesus is saying here is that He is not concerned about
receiving the glory from men, and this is because as God He is complete in and
of Himself without being glorified by anyone.
As God the Son, Jesus glorifies the Father.
8.2.
Jesus also makes another indictment of the Pharisees,
one which is very stinging. He tells
these Jews that their story is completely different than His. Revealing His omniscience, Jesus tells these
Jews that He knows them and knows that they do not have the love of God in
themselves. The Jews have demonstrated
this reality about themselves by not receiving His teaching and by seeking to
murder Him, amongst other things.
8.2.1. A word of
wisdom here is to beware of religion that has no love as that which existed in
9.
VS 5:43 - “I
have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another shall come in his own name, you
will receive him.” - Jesus tells
these Jews that He has come to them in the Father’s Name and they have not
received Him, however if someone else comes to them in His own name they will
receive him
9.1.
Jesus rebukes these Jews, with another indictment
against them, because they did not receive Him even though He had come to them
as the Messiah with the Father giving complete validation of His ministry
through many attesting signs.
9.2.
Yet, Jesus tells these same Jews that they will
readily accept a false teacher who has no credibility. This verse has been proven reliable as from
what I have read the Jews have to this day accepted sixty-four men claiming to
be their Messiah.
9.3.
I would ask you to consider also if in this verse that
Jesus is not referring also to the fact that during the 7 year Tribulation of
the book of Revelation that the nation of Israel will accept the anti-Christ as
their Messiah? The book of Revelation
tells us that the nation of
10.
VS 5:44 - “How
can you believe, when you receive glory from one another, and you do not seek
the glory that is from the one and
only God?” - Jesus asks
these Jews the rhetorical question of how it would be possible for them to
believe in Him if they receive and value glory from one another when they
should be receiving glory from God alone?
10.1. This a
big reason why men do not receive Jesus:
because they value the opinions of men.
10.2. This next
indictment of the Jews by Jesus is that they wanted to be honored by men
because of their selfish ambition, and men cannot commit their lives to God
while they continue to seek the honor of men.
Worrying about what men think about you instead of what the Lord thinks
about you is a huge trap, and a great disrespect of the Lord.
10.3. Jesus said
to His disciples on another occasion that man cannot serve God and mammon, and
he cannot have two masters. Jesus is
either Lord of your life, or you are on the throne, it is one or the other.
10.4. Do you O
Christian seek the glory and honor of men, or the glory and honor of God? It is one or the other.
11.
VS 4:45-47 - “Do
not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you
have set your hope. For if you believed
Moses, you would believe Me; for he
wrote of Me. But if you do not believe
his writings, how will you believe My words?’” -
Jesus tells these Jews that He Himself does not accuse them to the
Father, rather it is Moses (and the Law of Moses) that accuses them, for Moses
wrote prophetically of Jesus, but they did not believe his writings nor Jesus’
words
11.1. There is something that is amazing in these words of
Jesus in these verses. If there was
anything that the Jews in Jesus’ day would say that they believed in it would
be Moses, and the writing of Moses.
However, Jesus tells these Jews that they do not believe Moses!
11.2. These Jews
knew the Law of Moses, and thus knew that they were not able to keep the
Law. This knowledge should have pointed
them to Christ and revealed their need for a salvation based upon grace and
faith.
11.3. Also, Moses
wrote of the Messiah who would come. He
called Him, ‘the Prophet’ who would come and show them all things. Jesus told them that though they knew Moses’
writings, they did not believe them.
11.4. If the
Jewish leaders had believed the writings of Moses, their lives would be drastically
different, and they would have believed in Jesus. The history of the nation of
12.
CONCLUSIONS:
12.1. As we
consider this study and how we ought to apply it to our lives, we ought to be
in awe of the faithfulness of our God.
The seven things that affirm that Jesus is deity coupled with the many
witnesses to Jesus seen throughout the scriptures provide an incredible sum
total. Plus, these whom Jesus tells us
testify of Him (His works, the Father, and the scriptures) also are a great
bolster to our faith.
12.2. Truly, the
Lord has given us all that we need to live our lives in faith and trust and
obey the Lord.
12.3. Truly, His
word gives us the foundation for a faith that ought to be so strong that
nothing could rock it. Lets hold fast
our confession with unwavering faith as we face whatever life holds for us.