John 5:31-40 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.… I. A GREAT WITNESS, His forerunner. The Baptist as a witness for Christ was — 1. Human (ver. 34; cf. John 3:31). 2. Brilliant. While he lasted he was like the lamp that gave light to the whole household of the Jewish people. So should every Christian in his place as parent, master, teacher, citizen, be a blazing torch, or, at least, a useful lamp, to guide others to Christ (Matthew 5:16; Philippians 2:15). 3. Acceptable. For a time the people buzzed round him like moths round a flame (Luke 3:15). He was therefore a witness of their own selection, and hence one that might be supposed to be impartial. 4. Transcient. So Christ's witnesses can seldom count on protracted popularity (Hebrews 7:23). 5. Yet permanent (ver. 33). A word truly spoken for Christ never dies. II. A GREATER WITNESS. His works. 1. More exalted in its origin (ver. 34; cf. 3:31). John's was from earth, Christ's from heaven. 2. More direct in its expression. Christ's works, being the Father's, proceeded straight from Him without passing through a subsidiary messenger as John. 3. More conclusive in its significance. John's was necessarily imperfect, he being but human. But Christ's works were such as the Father only could do (John 3:2; John 14:10, 11). The inference from verses 36 and 39 was irresistible that Christ was the Son of God. III. THE GREATEST WITNESS. His Father. 1. The Scriptures the medium of the Father's testimony (vers. 39, 46). 2. The Scriptures the Father's testimony par excellence. The Father speaks in them by the Holy Ghost. To reject them is to reject the last and highest form of evidence God can give. (T. Whitelaw, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. |
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