The Gospel of John Made Easy
Chapter 5
Verses 31 – 47
Verse 31 – 37
In a court of law, at least 2 witnesses were needed to prove something. Jesus is saying that his word about himself is not the only witness. John the Baptist was a witness. And Jesus’ works (miracles) are a witness that the Father has sent him. And the Father in heaven is a witness.
Verse 38
Jesus is speaking to the Jewish leaders–he tells them that they do not have God’s word in their hearts because they have not believed and accepted Jesus as God’s son.
Verse 39
Jesus tells them—-you search the scriptures—you know the scriptures well—you think because you know the scriptures so well you have eternal life. Knowing the scriptures is not how we have eternal life.
Jesus told them—-the scriptures you know so well tell of me. Those scriptures prophecy of me. In other words, Jesus is saying—-if you really understood the scripture so well like you think—you would see how I (Jesus) am the promised Messiah. And you would be accepting me.
There are people who know the Bible very well, but they are not believers in Jesus. I was on a trip to Israel. One of the local guides carried a Bible that was well marked so he could read the verses about each of the places we were visiting. He knew the Bible very well. Yet he did not accept Jesus as the Son of God.
Knowing the Bible is a good thing. But just knowing the Bible does not give you eternal life. You must accept and believe and follow Jesus to have eternal life.
Verse 40
Jesus told them: “You will not come to me—-that you may have eternal life.”
Verse 41 – 47
Jesus is still explaining to them how their knowing the scriptures will not save them if they will not accept Jesus. Jesus said that Moses told about Jesus’ coming: Genesis 3:15, 12:3, 18:18, 22:18, 49:10, Deuteronomy 18:15, 18 (Moses wrote the first 5 books of the Bible.)