DAY 1 - You are the Juror, What is Your Verdict

Imagine if you are on jury duty.  You are sitting on the bench with the
rest of the jurors.  You are in a court room and you are going to hear
witnesses upon witnesses.  Each of the witness will give testimonies and
finally at the end of the trial, you have to give your verdict.  What will your verdict be?

Now, as much as it seems like that the event above is only an
illustration, it is a true event.  You are a juror and you are going to
hear testimonies that bear witness about a very famous person.  The
trial is set up with the four witnesses.  Each witness gives testimony
regarding this very famous person.  Finally, you will be asked to give
your verdict.  The only difference this time is, the verdict will impact
your life forever, for eternity.  This is not just a verdict that you
will give and you will forget, but this is a verdict that will change your life.

This week we are going to see four testimonies that are recorded in the
book of John 5:31-47.  Each of those witnesses testifies that Jesus
Christ is the Son of God.  Then, after hearing those evidences, a
verdict is demanded.  You are the juror and you'll have to make the verdict.

Why does John records these testimonies?  The answer is simple, "so that
you may believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."  Many people want
to accept Jesus as a good man, but not as God.  In John 5:31-47, John
provides evidences that prove that Jesus is God.

Jesus does not need to defend Himself, He knows who He is.  But He lets
these witnesses speaks of Him, so that "we may believe."  It is for the
unbelieving heart, that Jesus through John provides these evidences.
During Jesus' time on earth, the Jews have problem accepting Him as
God.  The Jews accused Jesus with "blasphemy" due to His claim that He
is God.  Therefore, John wrote these fourfold testimonies about Jesus to
prove that Jesus is God in such a way that those Jews able to understand and accept it.

How about you?  Let us see the evidences then let us see what verdict are we going to give.
 
 

DAY 2 - First Witness -Testimony of John, the Baptist
So you are the juror, and today you'll hear the first witness to bear a testimony about Christ.  Are you ready?  Now, you can hear the court calls the first witness, which is John the Baptist.

Who is Jesus Christ according to the testimony of John the Baptist?  John 5:33 "You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth" :
a. John 1:20, John the Baptist said that "I am not the Christ."
b. John 1:20, The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"  Verse 32, "Then John gave this testimony:  "...I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."

So, the first witness testifies that Jesus is the Son of God.  How does John, the Baptist knows that He is the Son of God?  This is how John knows who Jesus is.   John 1:32-24, "Then John gave this testimony:  "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on Him.  I would not have known Him, except that the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, "The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit."   I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God." That is how John knows who Jesus is.

How credible is John, the Baptist?  In John 5:31-47, "John was a lamp that burned and gave light."  John has a credibility that was well accepted among the Jews.  He was accepted as the lamp that burned and gave light.  Therefore, he is a credible witness.

Now, we have seen the first witness.  The next three days, we will see the other testimonies.
 
 

DAY 3 - Second Witness - Testimony of the Signs and Miracles

Yesterday, we studied John's testimony regarding the Deity of Jesus (i.e., Jesus is God)  from John 5:31-35.
Today, let us continue our reading from John 5:36, "I  have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given Me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me."  The second testimony about Jesus as the Son of God is the "signs and miracles that He does."

Let us study the "signs and miracles" of Jesus from the book of John:
a. Jesus changed the water in a wedding in Cana into wine (John 2:1-11).  Jesus has power to satisfy the need of man.
b. Nicodemus has a changed of life.  He has everything that he can hope for; he is a successful, respected and significant man.  Yet, he knows that he still want something more.  There is still a missing thing in his life.  He is not completely satisfied.  Finally, he found the answer in Jesus.  Jesus has the power to give complete satisfaction to mankind.

c. A Samaritan women.  A rejected, sinful, immoral woman.  She needs a changed life.  Jesus offers an abundant, loved and joyful life.  She accepts the offer and she tells the whole village about her changed life.  Then, many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of her testimony.  Jesus, the living water, can change people's life.
d. Jesus heals a nobleman's son.  Jesus has power over illness.
e. Jesus heals a man at the pool that has been invalid for 38 years.  He is sick due to his sin.  Jesus tells him to sin no more.  Jesus has power over sin.
f. Jesus feeds the five thousand by 5 loaves of bread and 2 pieces of fish.  Jesus understands man's desire and needs.  Jesus provides the answer to man's problems.   Jesus has power over any problem.
g. Jesus walks on water.  Jesus has power over natural sources.
h. Jesus is the Bread of Life.  Jesus is all that we need to lead our lives.
i. Jesus resurrects Lazarus from his death.  Finally and ultimately, Jesus has power over death.

With these kinds of signs and miracles, how can any man deny that Jesus is God?   Jesus has power over illness, over natural sources, over any problem, over sin, over life and finally also over death.  Only a God can perform and has power over those things.

"These signs and miracles" bears the second testimony on who Jesus is and this testimony is more powerful than that of John's (John 5:36).
 

DAY 4 - Third Witness - Testimony of the Holy Spirit
 

We have studied the first testimony from John the Baptist (John 5:31-35)
regarding Jesus Christ.  Then, we studied the second testimony that is
greater that that of John's, which is the "signs and miracles of Jesus"
(John 5:36).  Jesus has power over illness, over natural sources, over
any problem, over sin, over life and finally also over death.  Only a
God can perform and power over those things.  Today we are going to
continue with the third testimony.  John 5:37-38 "And the Father who
sent me has himself testified concerning me."  Yes, the third testimony
is the voice of God the Father himself.

What more can you asked for?  Now, God Himself provides testimony
regarding Jesus.  I John 5:6-12, "...And it is the Spirit who testifies,
because the Spirit is the truth ... We accept man's testimony, but God's
testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has
given about his Son.  Anyone who believes in the Son of God HAS this
testimony in his HEART."

How does God provide testimony regarding Jesus?  So far we have been
studying evidences that pursues the "intelligence."  Christian belief is
not a blind belief system.  Christian belief is a belief that can be
supported by intelligent, proofs and evidences.  But, finally, we do
have to move from "intelligence" to "faith."  Intelligence can only go
so far.  We can provide as many intelligent supports as we want it to
be, but ultimately, it is a question from the heart.  Will you by FAITH
acknowledge Him as God and accept Him as your Savior?

This is why John 5: 37-38 states that even though God the Father himself
provides testimony regarding Jesus Christ, people that choose to not
believe will not and will never understand.  "You have never heard his
voice nor seen his form, nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not
believe the one he sent."  Only those that choose to believe by faith
will understand this testimony of God.  I John 5:10-12 "Anyone who
believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart."

Now, let us go back to the question that we have asked earlier.  How
does God provide testimony regarding Jesus?  He provides the testimony
through our hearts.  Those that believe in the Son of God have and
understand the testimony in their hearts.  By faith, we just know it,
because our hearts said so.

Yes, will you finally use the belief that is based on "intelligence"
into "faith"?  Do you have the testimony of God in your heart regarding
Jesus Christ as the Savior?
 
 

DAY 5 - Fourth Witness - Testimony of the Scriptures

We have studied the first testimony from John the Baptist (John 5:31-35)
regarding Jesus Christ.  Then, we studied the second testimony that is
greater that that of John's, which is the "signs and miracles of Jesus"
(John 5:36).  Jesus has power over illness, over natural sources, over
any problem, over sin, over life and finally also over death.  Only a
God can perform and power over those things.  Yesterday, we studied from
John 5:37-38 that God Himself provides testimony regarding the Deity of
Jesus (i.e., Jesus is God).

Finally, today we are going to study the fourth witness from John
5:39-40, "You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by
them you possess eternal life.  These are the Scriptures that testify
about me."  The fourth witness is the testimony of the Scriptures.

The Scripture has been bearing witness regarding Jesus Christ as the Son
of God through the prophets in the Old Testament, including Moses.  John
5:46, "If you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about
Me."  In fact, the Scripture is divided into two categories: the Old
Testament and the New Testament.  Do you realize that it is called the
"testaments"?  Yes, it is because the Scripture is a book of
testimonies.

Many prophets in the Bible wrote about the coming of the Savior, "yet
you refuse to come to Me to have life ...  but I know you.  I know that
you do not have the love of God in your hearts.  I have come in my
Father's name, and you do not accept me.  (John 5:40-43)."   Yes, that
is the condition of those that choose to NOT BELIEVE.

Now, you have heard the four testimonies regarding Jesus Christ as God.
These testimonies were written "so that you may believe."  As a juror,
you have heard the whole testimonies, now the trial is over.  So, what
is your verdict?  Will you put your life into the hand of Jesus Christ
for he has the power to heal, to deliver, to forgive sins, to fulfill
your life and to give you eternal life?  Or will you keep refusing Him?
There will come a time when it will be too late and the opportunity to
accept Him as your Savior has gone.  The time to believe in Him, trust
Him as Your Savior and let Him change your life is NOW.  I John 5:12 "He
who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not
have life."