HIS MIGHTY WITNESSES

John 6:36-47

John begins this lesson, with a reference back to a text from Deuteronomy one of the books, of the Pentateuch, credited to Moses. All Jews were very familiar with it as it is a very basic law by which they lived. “At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hands of all the people.”  Deuteronomy 17:6-7.

Without repeating this law, Jesus shamed those who brought a woman, taken in the very act of adultery, and only her, which suggests that it was a staged trap. On that occasion, Jesus stooped and wrote in the dust of the ground, saying to her accusers, Let him that is without sin cast the first stone. Perhaps we wrote the name of the absent partner, for no one cast a stone and they all drifted away.  

The lesson is, let us be careful of any accusation we might make in haste.

Who, or what, were Jesus’s witnesses?  There are three.

JOHN THE BAPTIST

Before Jesus ever came, his Father sent a forerunner to prepare the people that they might have no excuse if they did not accept him. In John 1:7 we read, “There came one for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, (Jesus), that all men through him might believe.” Verse 15, again repeats, “John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This is he of whom I spake.”  And yet again in verse 36, “looking upon Jesus as he walked, he said, Behold the Lamb of God!”

This a powerful witness, but there are more, his very life fulfilling the prophecies over many years, starting even from Eden, his works, miracles that only God could perform, these backed up everything he said.

36  But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

(Matthew 11:4,  John 2:23, John 10:25, John 10:38, John 14”11, John 15:24, John 4:34, John 3:17)

GOD, HIS FATHER

No one can ever have a greater, more reliable witness than that of God. God, himself, spoke “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”

37  And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have never heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.

(Matthew 3:17, Mark 1:11, Luke 3:22, Luke 24:27, John 8:18, 1 John 5:9)

38  And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.

(1 John 2:14, John 3:17)

THE SCRIPTURES

John would have been referring to the many clear prophecies concerning Christ, many of them impossible for him to deliberately fulfill. We have even more. His birth, in Bethlehem, far from Nazareth. His death on a cross. His three days in the Tomb. His resurrection from the dead on the third day. These are only a few. One can not have better witnesses than these. None of these could be faked.

39  Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

(John 7:52, Romans 2:17ff, Luke 24:25, Luke 24:27, Acts 13:27)

40  And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

41  I receive not honour from men.

(John 5:44, John 7:18, 1 Thessalonians 2:6)

It s really a sad fact, that people will often choose to honor a person, an organization, or even a nationality, or ethnic origin, more than Christ Jesus. He, the Lord of lords, and King of kings, is going to keep in mind take into consideration where we placed our love and loyalties, when he comes to call his own home. We need to remind ourselves who has invited us to His table, every Lord’s Day. Nothing is more important, no place to be more important than to honour our host with our presence, dressed for the occasion.     

42  But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you,

43  I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.  

Follow the message, not the messenger.

(Matthew 24:5)

44  How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

(John 5:41, Romans 2:29, John 17:3, 1 Timothy 1:17)

45  Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.

(John 9:28, Romans 2:17ff)

46  For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.

(Luke 24:27)

47  But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

(Luke 16:29, Luke 16:31)

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READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN THIS YEAR

MAY

12th  Sunday  -  Judges 20, 21,    John 7:32-53,    Proverbs 11:22-31

13th  Monday  -  Ruth 1, 2,    John 8:1-32,    Psalm 59:9-17

14th  Tuesday  -  Ruth 3, 4,    John 8:33,-59,    Psalm 60

15th  Wednesday  -  1 Samuel 1, 2,    John 9,  Psalm 61

16th  Thursday  -  1 Samuel 3,4,    John 10:1-21,    Proverbs 12:1-13

17th  Friday  -  1 Samuel 5, 6, 7,    John 10:22-42,    Psalm 62

18th  Saturday -  1 Samuel 8, 9,    John 11:1-27,    Psalm 63

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MEMORY VERSE FOR TODAY

“Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I shall bring, and they shall hear my voice: and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”  - John 10:16b

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HUMOR

On a rural road a state trooper pulled this farmer over and said: “Sir, do you realize that your wife fell out of the car several miles back?”

To which the farmer replied: “Thank God, I thought I had gone deaf!”

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