The Gospel of John-31 – The Divinity of Jesus and the Testimony of the Cross

John 5:31–37

"If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true. You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light. I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me." Amen.

 

The Radical Proclamation of Being the Son of God

It is difficult for us to fully grasp that when Jesus called God His Father, He was expressing His equality with the Father. At that time, the Jewish people could not even dare to utter the name of God. For instance, the sacred name 'Yahweh,' which we often use in our prayers today, was a word they could not bring themselves to speak. Even when transcribing the Scriptures, if the name 'Yahweh' appeared, they would stop to wash their brushes to ensure purity before continuing. To the Israelites, the name 'Yahweh' was an object of extreme fear and trembling. Thus, instead of pronouncing the name directly, they used the term 'Adonai' as an expression of profound reverence.

 

Therefore, the fact that Jesus called God 'Father' was bound to be an indescribable shock to them. The Jews protested, saying, "How dare you call God your Father and consider yourself equal to Him?" Jesus' argumentation regarding this issue is the most pivotal content of today’s text. The Lord describes Himself by saying that the Son does nothing without seeing what the Father does; the Son does not act of His own accord but does exactly what He sees the Father doing. He also proclaims that just as the Father gives life, so the Son gives life, and that the Father has entrusted all authority of judgment to the Son. In this way, the Lord continues to emphasize from the preceding verses that the Father regards the Son as equal to Himself.

 

Jesus’ Self-Testimony and Its Existential Weight

The word 'judge' is used in Genesis 18:25 to indicate that God is the Judge who judges us. Ultimately, the only one who can judge us is the one who created us, and only He possesses the right of judgment. Yet, Jesus now declares that the very authority of judgment belonging to God has been transferred to Him. To the Jews, the conclusion of this declaration was unmistakably clear. Their fury was: 'How shall we kill this man? He is blasphemously insulting God.'

 

However, to us today, this claim often does not feel particularly overwhelming. We read the Bible and simply accept it calmly, thinking, 'So, that is what Jesus said.' But imagine for a moment: a thirty-year-old young man in the land of Judea standing before the people and claiming to be a being with the same rights as God. This is a proclamation that is difficult to accept—not only for the Jews of that time but for us today as well. He is merely a young man in the flesh, yet he claims to possess the authority that only God holds.

 

If these words of Jesus are indeed true, you and I are faced with a truly grave problem. Conversely, if they are false, we are encountering the greatest religious fraud in human history. Many have struggled between these two extreme choices. Consequently, some have attempted to understand the literal records of the Bible as symbols or means of conveying meaning rather than accepting them as they are. Books reflecting this perspective have become bestsellers and are read by many; their gist is that the biblical records are not facts themselves but literary devices intended to convey certain values.

 

For example, suppose someone tells a story at their mother’s birthday banquet to entertain the audience, describing something the mother didn't actually do as if she had. People would simply laugh and enjoy the story; no one would pull the speaker aside afterward to demand, "Did your mother really do that?" It is enough that everyone spent a joyful time together for the purpose of the celebration. Similarly, views suggesting that Jesus' words are not actual events but literary expressions and confessions of faith by the disciples to reveal His greatness still enjoy significant support today.

 

The Solemnity of Scripture Dealing with Life and Death

The attempt to understand the Bible literarily has its merits in helping us discard a rigid attitude. There are times when we read the Bible as if we are reading a legal code, but the Bible is originally a literary work containing rich emotions and historical backgrounds. For instance, the expression "all the people of the town came to hear Jesus" does not mean that the population was mathematically counted—say, 2,678 people—and every single one was present. It is a literary technique to convey that a great multitude from the town gathered.

 

Furthermore, the Bible does not describe the Earth as rotating; it depicts the sun as rising. This does not mean the Bible is an unscientific book that believes in geocentrism. Past conflicts regarding geocentrism arose from a misunderstanding of the relationship between the Bible and science. In fact, wise believers and scientists of those eras were not greatly hindered by such issues. The Bible is not a book intended to deliver scientific knowledge; it is a book that makes life known to us and reveals who Jesus Christ is.

 

However, it is extremely dangerous to dismiss all biblical records as mere literary symbols. This is because there is a logical leap—often called a 'fallacy'—hidden within such an approach. It is unreasonable to place a humorous anecdote from a birthday party on the same level as the records of the Bible. While any story can be enjoyed at a banquet, the theme proclaimed by the Bible concerns death and life, and thus possesses a completely different weight.

 

Every claim or analogy must be treated according to the seriousness of its content. While no one asks for the facts behind a story made up to liven up a feast, if someone says, "By the way, my uncle has died," in the middle of a pleasant conversation, people will be startled and ask about the circumstances. The theme of death is a grave matter that can never be passed over lightly.

 

The reason Jesus' words cannot be dismissed as mere literary expression, metaphor, or exaggeration is because of this weightiness. The theme the Lord deals with is our life and death. The Lord sternly warns, "I will judge." This is not a joke, nor is it a story we can listen to with a smile. If those words are not true, we are in a serious predicament. It would mean that Jesus was either mentally ill or a megalomaniac, or at the very least, the Apostle John, who recorded this, was a religious fraud. Judgment is not a topic to be discussed for amusement; it is literally a matter of life and death.

 

If the message of this power over life and death, which has held humanity for 2,000 years, was merely a fiction to highlight Jesus' greatness, we should dig up the Apostle John's grave and hold him accountable. But if this is truly the truth, you and I ought to treat these words with more sincerity and solemnity than ever before.

 

The Cross and Self-Denial as True Evidence

C.S. Lewis, who was a professor of English literature at Oxford University, wrote in his book: "A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of Hell." This is because the theme he deals with is not a light one. If he used hyperbole regarding a matter where our life is at stake, it would be a very evil thing. If the story of life and death was recorded merely as a technique to make Jesus stand out, we could not tolerate it.

 

If it were not true, we would have no choice but to call Jesus Christ or His disciples insane or fraudsters. However, examining historical records, they were clearly not insane. In the many records left by Polycarp or Irenaeus, the disciples of the Apostle John, there is no trace of John being gripped by madness. Rather, they testify to how much he loved the saints until the end of his life and how he dedicated his life to Christ. We are standing before the historical reality of a young man who proclaimed Himself to be equal with God.

 

Jesus unhesitatingly called God Father, and this created a situation so serious that the Jews picked up stones to kill Him. If you and I also revere God, it is natural to have the same serious heart. Regarding this matter, the Lord presents four pieces of evidence. The first is the testimony of John the Baptist, the second is the work of doing God's will, the third is the Father’s testimony, and the last is the testimony of the Old Testament. Today, I would like to examine the first two.

 

In verse 31, the Lord says, "If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true." Logically, who would believe someone who calls themselves God? However, these words contain a deeper meaning. It is a declaration that the Lord, who is God, does not need to beg for evidence from a lower being to prove Himself. Furthermore, the Lord shows His will not to prove Himself through His own power, status, or authority. We often think people believed in Him because of the miracles He performed, but the Lord does not develop His logic in that way. Rather than saying, "Look at what I do and know who I am," He says, "The very works that I am doing testify that the Father has sent me."

 

If Jesus had intended to prove His authority, He would have turned stones into bread when tempted by Satan in the wilderness to flaunt His power. He could have jumped from a high place and received the service of angels to crush Satan's spirit. But the Lord did not use God's authority and power as tools to prove Himself. He knew that miracles or the wisdom of words alone could not fully save us. The Lord was not one to wield power to force submission.

 

The History of Salvation Perfected by Death

Jesus had a consistent teaching from the beginning to the end. It is the fact that the purpose for which the Lord came to this earth never changed. The Lord did not come to persuade us with excellent teachings or try to create a beautiful community, only to choose the cross as a secondary option after encountering social resistance. The idea of 'choosing death as a last resort to incite the masses to reform society' simply did not exist in the Lord’s thinking. The Lord said from the beginning that He came to die. Because His death was essential for us to realize the truth. Without the history of the Lord dying and rising again, His teachings are of no use to us.

 

Religious pluralism is prevalent today, and while it is self-evident in a democratic society that we should not deny the existence of other religions or disparage them, that does not mean we need to compromise the truth. The core of what the Bible testifies about Jesus Christ is His unique method of delivering the truth, not just the uniqueness of the truth itself. Some say regarding the path of salvation that 'the summit of the mountain is one, but there are many paths to climb.' This is a result of looking at Jesus' teachings only one-dimensionally. The teaching to "love your enemies" or the spirit of mercy exists in Buddhism as well. Because of the similarity in teachings, people mistakenly believe that all religions eventually lead to the same destination.

 

A representative figure who did not believe in Jesus but considered His teachings excellent and tried to follow them was Gandhi of India. He did not see Christianity as significantly different from Hinduism or Buddhism, and the world reveres him as one of the saints. But everyone, is the path Gandhi showed truly the path of salvation that humans can follow? Though extraordinary individuals occasionally appear in history, even they did not consider themselves perfect. Mother Teresa also did not think of herself as a perfect human being. This is a completely different attitude from the Apostle Paul, who boldly proclaimed, "Follow my example." While we can respect the teachings of saints, the Bible is clear: no one has reached the place of salvation the Lord desires through any superior teaching.

 

This is a truly difficult problem. God wants to meet us and build the Kingdom of God with us. However, there is no human being who can perfectly keep and follow all His teachings to become a being who can walk with God. That is why Jesus came. God proved through the history of Israel that teaching alone is not enough. Even though He led them for 40 years in the wilderness and provided for them directly so that their shoes and clothes did not wear out, humanity ultimately betrayed God. In modern terms, it’s like experiencing a miracle where God personally takes responsibility for your livelihood for 10 years even though you do nothing; wouldn't you then have to follow God with all your life? But the history of the Old Testament vividly shows that humans are self-centered beings who do what they want rather than what God wants.

 

The Son of God Beyond the Limits of the Law

God gave Israel the best law, the Torah. When you read the law, you realize it represents the most beautiful and good duties a human can keep. However, the Jews used keeping that law as their own boast and despised those weaker than themselves, such as tax collectors and prostitutes. Regarding this hypocrisy, Jesus declared, "You say you have not murdered, but anyone who insults his brother is already a murderer; you may have committed fewer sins than others, but because of that sin, we are all destined to die." This is the essence of the Lord's teaching.

 

Ultimately, the Lord did not come to make us clean by persuading or making us understand. He says, "I say this to you because I know you will not understand these words. But when I die and rise again, only then will you realize what these words mean, and only then will you know what true freedom is." This consistent attitude of the Lord never wavered. From the beginning, He did not rely on human reputation, nor did He flaunt His identity or incite the masses. What He did was difficult even for His disciples to understand. Although the twelve disciples and many followers followed Jesus, not a single person clearly understood who He was. That is our reality as fragile humans.

 

Yet, in today’s text, Jesus says, "I do not testify for myself," and yet He uses John the Baptist as an example. Looking at verse 33, He said, "You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. Not that I accept human testimony." Why did He mention John’s name even though He said He does not accept human testimony? It is because John the Baptist was the last prophet of the Old Testament whose mission was to proclaim the coming Messiah. In verse 35, the Lord called him a "lamp that burned and gave light." John was not the light itself but a lamp lit by someone else to reflect the true light, Jesus Christ. This is the essence of the testimony John performed.

 

The Lord says there is a testimony greater than John’s, and in verse 36 He proclaims, "The very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me." The 'works' mentioned here do not refer merely to simple miracles or excellent teachings. It is the 'work that achieves salvation.' This is because He explicitly stated in verse 34 that the reason for saying all these things is "that you may be saved." What then is the reality of the work the Lord accomplishes? In John 17, before taking up the cross, the Lord prayed for His disciples, saying, "I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do." The decisive evidence the Lord mentioned is the act of taking up the cross and dying for us. Not authority, power, or worldly strength, but that obedience in facing insults and death on the cross was the only way to prove that Jesus is the Son of God.

 

The Unbound Gospel and the Glorious Freedom of the Saints

The Bible does not call only the Lord in this way, but sets us before the same calling. Although the Lord was by nature equal with God, He gave up all authority, came down to this earth, and perfectly obeyed the word of God. Philippians expresses this as 'emptying Himself and taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.' The Lord did not stop at walking this path alone but also says to us: "Deny yourself and take up your cross and follow me." This is the very core of the Christian life for a saint. It is far more important to realize what it means to deny oneself before Jesus Christ than how much joy or how many amazing miracles we have experienced.

 

The Lord denied that He was God and denied that He was the one who possessed true authority and power. Because He thus emptied Himself and took the form of a servant, the Apostle Paul could also deny everything he had, confessing, "I consider everything a loss." Isn't Paul's life truly amazing? As you know, Philippians is a letter he wrote while imprisoned. Yet, the tenor of the entire book is "Rejoice, rejoice in the Lord." From a worldly perspective, he seems to be in a state that is difficult to consider sane. What could he be so happy about in the barren environment of a prison that he would shout to people to rejoice?

 

An even more interesting point is his reaction when the saints collected an offering and delivered it to help the imprisoned Paul. While Paul rejoiced at their sincerity, he also said firmly, almost coldly, "I am a person who doesn't care whether you give me help or not." Anyone who has ever helped someone with all their heart knows how disappointing these words can sound. After all, you provided for him with all your sincerity, and he replies, "I can live without it." But Paul immediately adds his true intent: "I rejoice not because of the money, but because you are participating in the holy work of God."

 

The reason a pastor rejoices when you treat him is the same. It is not simply because of material abundance, but because the fact that the saints are participating in the ministry of God in that way is precious. A church becoming grand in appearance is not itself the joy of God. God considers it commendable that we are participating in His work. God is truly pleased not by the result of a child ranking first in school, but by the fact that through that process, the child prayed, sought God's grace, and came to know the Lord deeply. Participation in God's history in the place of one's life is more important than gaining a name and praise in the world. The reason Paul could be at peace even in prison was that he was truly satisfied. The conviction that "I am bound in prison, but the word of God is never bound" set him free.

 

The Work of God Overwhelming the Environment

Dearly beloved, we are each building our lives here in a foreign land. Some of you may have found some stability, but some may still be struggling with the weight of life, finding each day burdensome. In this deep recession, there may be times when you want to give up everything. Our flesh and circumstances may feel as though we are trapped in every direction, like Paul in prison. But remember: though you may be bound by your environment, the word of God is never bound.

 

The promise that God loves you is not bound by any suffering, and the heavenly freedom He has granted you is never imprisoned. God's plan of salvation for you is never interrupted, and the Kingdom of God that He will eventually achieve in your life cannot be blocked by anything in this world. Though the reality we face is weary and tearful, if the Kingdom of God is expanding through our weakness, and if we trust that the unbound word of God will eventually triumph, we can be thankful.

 

Let us meditate deeply once more on what we are living for. If you are living not for the illusion of success but for the purpose of God's work being fulfilled through your life, there is no reason to be frustrated. This is because the true joy of our lives comes only from God's history intervening in our lives. Though many things do not go as we wish, God's good plan for our lives will surely be fulfilled.

 

Therefore, let us take heart. Do not succumb or fall before your environment. God is alive, and His word is never bound. Though we may seem lacking and weak, our Lord is never lacking. The unbound word of the Lord has saved you, and the rich fruit of that salvation will be magnificently perfected through your entire life.

 

Let us pray.

Dear Lord, who are we that You grant us such great love? We do not even know how to love You fully, yet You consistently speak of love to us. We seem like those who fall every day, bound by our environment, but the Apostle Paul boldly confessed: it is not worldly power and authority that prove us. Just as Jesus proved Himself not by power but by death, may we also live by holding onto the word of the Lord that is never bound, even though we may be bound by our circumstances.

 

O God, we thank You that Your love is not bound by any situation. We thank You that the grace that comforts us is not bound, so that it overflows. We praise You that the strong hand of God that holds us is never bound. Though the environment before our eyes is staggering, we believe that God's hand does not rest and Your plan will surely be fulfilled. Because of this conviction, our lives are still worth living. If such a precious God governs our lives, we will live by forgiving, loving, and giving thanks in all things, following the example of Jesus Christ on the cross. Holy Spirit, please help us.

 

We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.