In John 5 we read that Jesus healed a weak and sickly man on the Sabbath. The leaders in Jerusalem accused the healed man of violating the Sabbath day because he obeyed the Lord Jesus by carrying his bedding. Then they persecuted Jesus and “sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the Sabbath day.” They considered Him a law-breaker for doing good on the Sabbath, but He was actually obeying God’s law by loving His neigbor!
The Gospel of John was written to show the wonderful miracles that Jesus did so that we would “believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (20:31). You should believe on Jesus Who mercifully healed a man who had been weak and sickly for 38 years. What a sign showing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God!
In verses 30-47 of that same chapter Jesus stated that He was simply doing the will of His Father, God. He then compelled His detractors to receive the witness, or testimony, of God the Father, that the Father gave by having His Son do miracles. God gave Jesus miracles to do and those miracles should be seen as signs, pointing everyone, including you, to believe on Jesus. By the way, have you ever noticed that all of the enemies of Jesus never disputed that He did the miracles. Thousands of people observed them, and many hated Him, but they could not deny those wonders. Jesus said, “The works that the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.”
In verses 37-47 Jesus continued to preach that you should believe the witness of the Father through His Word, the Scriptures. He claims that the Scriptures actually “testify” of Him. He faced those who made themselves His enemies with one of their fundamental failures when He asked, “How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?” Doesn’t that hit home? Does that describe you? Do you refuse to repent of your sin and believe on Jesus because you are so concerned with what other people will think about you? Isn’t God’s consideration of you most important?
Jesus said, “Had ye believed Moses (THE SCRIPTURES OF THE OLD TESTAMENT), ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.” That’s right–Moses’ writings point to Jesus of Nazareth as the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God. You should receive and believe those words of Moses that God gave him to write. Jesus then asked, “But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?” What a question! If you won’t accept what God says in the Bible then you aren’t able to receive Jesus’ words.
You must “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” to be saved from sin and the horrible consequences of sin. You must receive the testimony of God the Father about His Son. Receive the testimony He gave by the works He gave to Jesus and by the Word He gave about Jesus.
**If you have questions, please contact me by phone or email. Bobby Mitchell