Daily Devotions
John
An ancient Mosaic Law
Text: John 5:16-47
AN ANCIENT MOSAIC LAW
In the Old Testament, God gave to Israel not only spiritual laws, He also gave them a Civil Law code. If a person was to be charged and tried, reliable witnesses must be produced. No one is allowed to be convicted without at least two or three witnesses who would testify against the person charged. Let us take a look at the following text(s).
“And these things shall be a statute of judgment to you
Throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
Whoever kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death
On the testimony of witnesses;
But one witness is not sufficient testimony against a person
For the death penalty”
Numbers 35:29-30 (Cf. Deuteronomy 17:6)
The Jews had decided that they must persecute Jesus to death (John 5:16). However, they had failed to follow proper Biblical and judicial procedures! This ancient law of Moses was still very much in force. They had produced no witnesses that Jesus was guilty of anything worthy of death!
AN APPLICATION OF THE MOSAIC LAW
When Moses taught ancient Israel how they were to apply this law of “the testimony of witnesses” he was making reference to human beings. Jesus applied the spirit of the law and called up “witnesses” that would testify to who He was, and condone what He taught and did.
1. SELF-WITNESS
Is a person allowed to make a statement or to bear witness concerning himself? The answer to that is “Yes”. However, he must also realize that being his own witness is not strong enough a testimony. Jesus knew how The Jews were thinking on this matter. Thus He said,
“If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.”
John 5:31
Jesus was not saying that His words, or His own personal testimony was untrue intrinsically. His words must be read to reflect that He understood how The Jews would interpret Him. If Jesus were to appeal only to His own word of testimony, He knew that The Jews would make strenuous objections.
Jesus had spoken in length concerning who He was. He had declared that He was both Son of God and Son of Man. He had proclaimed that He had power and authority given to Him by none other than God Himself. He said that He was given the prerogative to be Judge on the final Day of Judgment! These claims would be outrageous if they were not true!
2. THE WITNESS OF JOHN
Jesus called on John as His witness. John the Baptizer was a powerful witness to be called upon. He said,
“There is another who bears witness of Me,
and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true.
You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.”
John 5:32
John bore witness concerning Jesus consistently. Let us review what he said concerning Jesus.
a) He testified of the Intrinsic Greatness of Jesus
John had a wonderfully effective ministry. Multitudes were drawn to hear him preach mighty messages that brought people to confess their sins and to seek baptism. John consistently pointed people away from himself. Instead he pointed people to consider The Messiah.
“And they asked him, saying,
‘Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ,
nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?’
John answered them, saying,
‘I baptize with water, but there stands One among you
whom you do not know.
It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me,
Whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.’ “
John 1:25-27
b) He proclaimed Jesus as “The Lamb of God”
When Jesus appeared on the scene, John immediately pointed Him out to the multitudes. He proclaimed again and again,
“Behold, the Lamb of God
who takes away the sin of the world.”
John 1:29, 36
c) The Descent of the Spirit of God upon Jesus.
John went even further. He testified that Jesus was confirmed to be The Messiah because he saw the descent of the Spirit of God come upon Jesus. John the author wrote,
“And John bore witness, saying,
‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove,
and He remained upon Him.
I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize
With water said to me,
“Upon whom you see the Spirit descending,
and remaining on Him,
This is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” ‘ “
John 1:32-33