Jesus, the Truth-Teller

This is a big day for Jesus. Today he appears before the religious leaders in Jerusalem, brought up on two very serious charges.

Charge #1: Jesus broke the Sabbath by healing a man and telling him to carry his mat—effectively doing work.

Charge #2: Jesus was claiming that God was his real Father and that he and God the Father were equals.

What happens next is one of the clearest declarations of truth in all of Scripture.

Questions from your reading

• What is the primary message of Jesus in this passage (v. 18)?
• Jesus calls several witnesses to testify on his behalf. Who are they, and what truth does each one reveal about who Jesus is?
• What does this discourse tell us about Jesus' character?
• What other questions do you still have?

Reflecting on your reading

There has never been—and never will be—a more powerful declaration of the person of Jesus than what we see in this passage. Here is Jesus Christ himself, standing before the religious and political leaders of his day in an all-out defence of who he is. Like a masterful lawyer, Jesus builds his case point by point, witness by witness, to the inescapable conclusion that he really is equal with God. He declares it not as blasphemy, but as fact.

Here is Jesus—fully God, fully man. God in flesh, choosing to live as his creations do, showing us what it means to live in complete dependence on the Father.

How did you go identifying the five witnesses? Let’s take a closer look at each one.

Witness #1: Jesus himself (John 5:19–31)
Jesus says he is loved by the Father (v. 20), has an ongoing intimate relationship with him, has been given authority to execute judgment, and willingly submits to the Father to do only his will (vv. 19, 30). He also makes it clear he is equal with God (v. 23).

Witness #2: John the Baptist (John 5:33, 35)
John had testified about Jesus back at the Jordan River (John 1:19–34). He declared that Jesus was the Messiah—the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. But by now, John is in prison, his voice silenced.

Witness #3: Jesus’ works (John 5:36)
Greater than John’s testimony, Jesus points to his own miraculous works as evidence. These works—such as the healing of the man who had been sick for 38 years—confirm that he is sent by the Father.

Witness #4: The Father (John 5:37–38)
Jesus reminds them that the Father himself has testified about him. When did this happen? Go back to his baptism (Matthew 3:16–17), when the heavens opened and the Father declared, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Witness #5: The Scriptures (John 5:39–47)
Jesus says, “Do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me” (vv. 45–46). That’s a bold claim. But what does he mean?

Many miss the fact that Moses—through the Torah—was writing about Jesus. Modern readers often approach the Bible looking for themselves: What does this say about me? What should I do? While those are good questions, they miss the primary point. The Bible is about Jesus. From beginning to end, it is his story. Likewise, history is not ultimately about us—it is his story. But we are so often self-centred rather than Christ-centred. Jesus invites us to read Scripture with new eyes, looking first for him.

Applying what you’ve read

Here’s a challenge: read the Bible today without looking for yourself—look for him. It will change everything.

Then, share who Jesus is with a friend. Not who you think he is, but who he says he is. Use John 5 as the foundation. Invite your friend to read it and reflect on what Jesus says about himself.

Ultimately, everyone must decide—was Jesus deluded, deceptive, or divine? Let your friend read the evidence and decide for themselves.

Be brave. Be bold. You don’t need to have all the answers. You’re not defending Jesus—he does that better than anyone. Simply share what he said. Start with a conversation.