John - Week 14

A Greater Witness 

READ 

John 5:36-37 

36 “But I have a greater witness than John—my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has testified about me himself. You have never heard his voice or seen him face to face. . . . ” 

The religious leaders were impressed with John the Baptist at first but not with Jesus. So He explained to the unbelievers about what proved Him to be the Messiah sent by the heavenly Father. Then Jesus made the charge against these proud religious leaders that they had never heard the heavenly Father or seen Him. The works Jesus had done, however, proved that the Father had sent Him. The unbelief of these trained religious leaders was no different than a person uneducated in the Scriptures. 

REFLECT 

Do you realize that a faithful student of the Bible is spiritually wiser than the most educated unbeliever? 

RESPOND 

Talk with a fellow believer and read 1 John 4:12-16 that tells about God living in a believer. This is true of every person who receives Jesus as Savior.  

 The Scriptures Point 

READ 

John 5:38-40 

38 “…and you do not have his message in your hearts, because you do not believe me—the one he sent to you. 39 You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! 40 Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.” 

Verse 38 reveals that one who does not believe Jesus does not believe the heavenly Father either. Notice Jesus’ comment that the Scriptures point to Him. After His resurrection Jesus read portions of the Old Testament from Moses and the Prophets showing how they pointed to Him (see Luke 24:25-27). 

REFLECT 

Have you read Luke 24 recently that tells what Jesus said to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus after His resurrection? 

RESPOND 

When witnessing to someone willing to read the Old Testament, point out to them Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22. These chapters clearly point to the Lord Jesus Christ. 

 Honor from God 

READ 

John 5:41-44 

41 “Your approval means nothing to me, 42 because I know you don’t have God’s love within you. 43 For I have come to you in my Father’s name, and you have rejected me. Yet if others come in their own name, you gladly welcome them. 44 No wonder you can’t believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don’t care about the honor that comes from the one who alone is God.” 

Today a Christ-follower need not think he must have the approval of religious leaders to share his testimony. It’s helpful to have mentors who are older in the faith, but this is different than thinking you need their permission before telling how Jesus has changed your life. The main concern is that you are engaged in the Bible seeing what it says and living accordingly. 

REFLECT 

Do you know of religious leaders in your area who do not believe in the foundational truths of Christianity—such as the virgin birth and the death and resurrection of Jesus? 

RESPOND 

What do you do and believe to show you honor the Lord Jesus more than any religious leader who denies the foundational truths of the Bible? 

Moses Will Accuse You 

READ 

John 5:45-47 

45 “Yet it isn’t I who will accuse you before the Father. Moses will accuse you! Yes, Moses, in whom you put your hopes. 46 If you really believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. 47 But since you don’t believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?”  

Jesus told who the religious leaders should fear. Most of the religious leaders when Jesus was on earth were Jewish. This is the reason Jesus appealed to Moses and what later was called the “Old Testament.” Most religious leaders you will meet today are not Jewish, but you can use what converted Jews wrote about Jesus and salvation. 

REFLECT 

Do you know what Peter, a converted Jew, said in Acts 4:12 so you can use this verse in witnessing? 

RESPOND 

The apostle Paul was a converted Jewish Pharisee, one of the strictest groups in Judaism. Notice what he wrote about salvation in Ephesians 2:8-9. See also what he wrote about the resurrection of Jesus in 1 Corinthians 15:3-9.  

The Sea of Galilee 

READ 

John 6:1-2 

1 After this, Jesus crossed over to the far side of the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea of Tiberias. 2 A huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick.  

After His encounter with the religious leaders, Jesus left and has more ministry elsewhere. The town of Tiberius, on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, was the capital of Galilee. It received its name from the Roman Emperor Tiberius. The sea was also called after his name. 

A large crowd usually followed Jesus because of the miracles He was able to perform. There were many sick and disabled who were desperate to get to Him so they could receive healing.  

REFLECT 

Do you have access to a Bible map so you can locate the Sea of Galilee? Your computer Internet will also show pictures of it. You will have a better understanding of the movements of Jesus as you trace them on a map. 

RESPOND 

As you read the chapters in the Gospel of John, take special note of the many times people approached Jesus for the benefit of His miracles. Do you think all were believers? Can you support your answer? You will find some verses in John 6 to give an indication of the answer.