Another Witness of Jesus – John the Baptist

John 5:33-35 [1]

³³ ‘You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. ³⁴ Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. ³⁵ John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.

Last week, we studied that there should be at least two witnesses to establish a matter according to the Law (Deuteronomy 19:15) and Jesus has other witnesses who testify for Jesus [2]. Today let us study Baptist/Witness John, one of four witnesses of Jesus.

I. Jesus acknowledges the testimony of John being true (33)

“You have sent to John” (33a) refers to the event written in John 1:19-34 (See [3]). “and he has testified to the truth” (33b, John 1:7-8) is written in John 1:29, 34, 30-33.

II. Jesus does not depend on human testimony (34a)

See v34.

³⁴ Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved.

Jesus does not depend on human testimony (34a).  God’s testimony is greater (1 John 5:9b) and He has God’s testimony (Matthew 17:5, Mark 9:7, Luke 9:34-35).

III. We need human testimony/witness for our salvation (34b-35)

We accept and need human testimony for our salvation (34b, 1 John 5:9a).

Baptist/witness John was sent from God for us to believe (John 1:6-7). The Gospel of John, which we are studying right now, was written for us to believe and be saved (John 20:31). God wants all people to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4) and pleased with evangelism (1 Corinthians 1:21).

See v35.

³⁵ John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.

Baptist John worked in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17). Elijah (1 Kings 17:1-19-18) was a prophet like fire and his word burned like a torch (Sirah 48:1). He was not the light (John 1:8a) but only a witness to the light (John 1:8b). Matthew 5:14 says that we are the light of the world, but not as the source of the light but as a lamp (Matthew 5:15) and a reflection of the light to glorify the source of the light (Matthew 5:16).

References

1. The Holy Bible: New International Version. Anglicised. Revised and updated. ed. 2011: London: Hodder & Stoughton.
2. Park, Y. The Testimony of Jesus Is Always True. 2023 23/04/2023]; Available from: https://comnc.org/the-testimony-of-jesus-is-always-true/.
3. Park, Y. Baptist John Storyboard. 2022 23/04/2023]; Available from: https://comnc.org/baptist-john-storyboard/.