Jesus’ Divinity (John 5:31-40)
Did Jesus Claim to Be God?
Many of us wonder, “Did Jesus claim to be God?” In passages like John 5:31-40 and John 10, the answer is yes. Jesus speaks of his unity with the Father and the divine authority he holds. In John 10, when the religious leaders try to stone him, they accuse him of blasphemy for claiming to be God. These moments in the Gospels show that Jesus did not shy away from asserting his divine identity, even if it led to confrontation. His words and actions point directly to his divine nature and mission.
In John 5:31-40, Jesus gives us a powerful glimpse into a defense of his identity. At this point in his ministry, he’s made bold claims about being the Son of God, and the pressure to back up those claims is mounting. His actions and words have already stirred conflict, especially with the religious leaders. They’ve already begun questioning his authority and rejecting the truth he brings. In response to their doubts, Jesus doesn’t rely solely on his own testimony—he offers four witnesses to confirm who he is. Each of these witnesses is crucial in revealing the truth about Jesus and exposes the spiritual blindness of those who refuse to believe.
1. John the Baptist’s Testimony
The first witness Jesus calls to stand is John the Baptist. John was a significant figure in Israel, known for his ministry of repentance and for baptizing people in preparation for the coming Messiah. Jesus reminds the religious leaders that John testified about him, calling him the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). John’s testimony was clear and pointed directly to Jesus as the Messiah. The religious leaders knew of John’s influence, and yet, despite his testimony, they didn’t believe.
“Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved.” (John 5:34)
Jesus acknowledges that he doesn’t need John’s testimony to affirm his identity, but he highlights it to remind the people that even a man of John’s stature pointed to Jesus as the one sent by God. This is important because John’s words should have been enough to spark belief. If they truly respected John’s authority as a prophet, they would have recognized that John’s role was to prepare the way for Jesus. Instead, they actively refused to see the truth in John’s declaration.
2. The Miracles of Jesus
“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.” (John 5:36)
Next, Jesus calls attention to his own works—his miracles—as testimony to his identity. The miracles he performs are not mere acts of kindness or displays of power; they are signs pointing to something much greater. Every healing, every act of mercy, and every wonder he performs is a testimony to his divine authority. The religious leaders had witnessed these miracles, but instead of seeing them as signs from God, they dismissed them or even attributed them to other sources.
What other sources? The Pharisees accuse Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub in Matthew 12:24: “It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”
The miracles were meant to reveal the truth about who Jesus is. They were meant to point to God’s power at work in Jesus, validating his claim to be the Son of God. Jesus didn’t perform miracles for show; he performed them to reveal the truth of the Kingdom of God breaking into the world through him. The fact that the religious leaders saw these miracles yet still rejected Jesus is a powerful indication of their spiritual blindness. They couldn’t see the truth even when it was right in front of them.
3. The Testimony of God the Father
Jesus then turns to the testimony of God the Father. Throughout his life and ministry, the Father has borne witness to Jesus in several ways. One of the most significant instances was at Jesus’ baptism when the voice of the Father declared, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Jesus also points out that the Father’s presence and endorsement are seen in the works he performs and in his very words.
The Father’s testimony is the highest form of validation, and yet the religious leaders refuse to accept it. They were supposed to be the ones who recognized and acknowledged God’s work in the world, but instead, they missed it. The Father’s affirmation of Jesus should have been enough to convince them. But their hearts were hardened, and their eyes were closed to the truth. If they had truly known the Father, they would have recognized the Son. Instead, they stand in opposition, blind to the reality of Jesus’ divine nature.
4. The Testimony of the Scriptures
Finally, Jesus points to the Scriptures as a witness to his identity. The Scriptures, which the religious leaders meticulously studied, pointed to him. The Old Testament was filled with prophecies and promises about the coming Messiah, and Jesus was the fulfillment of those prophecies. The very words they held so dear testified about Him. Yet, the religious leaders couldn’t see it. They knew the Scriptures but failed to understand their true meaning.
Jesus challenges them, saying that if they truly believed the Scriptures, they would recognize him as the fulfillment of God’s promises. Instead, they’ve turned the Scriptures into an idol, something to study and boast about, but without recognizing the living truth standing before them. The Scriptures were meant to lead them to Jesus, but their inability to see him for who he truly is exposed the deep spiritual blindness within their hearts. They thought they knew God through the Scriptures, but in reality, they were rejecting the very One the Scriptures spoke of.
Conclusion
The four witnesses Jesus presents in John 5:31-40—John the Baptist, his own miracles, the testimony of God the Father, and the Scriptures—leave no room for doubt about his identity. Each of these witnesses affirms that Jesus is the Son of God, the promised Messiah. Yet, despite the overwhelming evidence, the religious leaders refuse to believe.
ust as the religious leaders missed the truth in front of them, we too can miss it if our hearts are not open. Jesus calls us to listen to the testimonies around us—the testimony of the Scriptures, the testimony of his works, the testimony of those who have gone before us in faith—and come to a deeper understanding of who he truly is. The truth is clear. The question is whether we will believe.
