The Authority and Witness of the Son

John 5:17-47

17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.” 18 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.

19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. 20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. 25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. 30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.

31 “If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not [a]true. 32 There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true. 33 You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved. 35 He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. 36 But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. 37 And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. 38 But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. 39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

41 “I do not receive honor from men. 42 But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. 43 I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. 44 How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? 45 Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”

Last time, we followed Jesus as He went to the pool of Bethesda, where He saw a man sick for 38 years and healed him by commanding him to “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” The religious leaders, instead of being amazed, focused on the fact that He told the man to work (carry his bed) on the Sabbath, seeing this as breaking their tradition. To their accusation, Jesus answered, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.” 

They immediately understood this as Him making Himself equal with God. This is likely the turning point at which they decided to persecute and eventually kill Him. And today we will see why?

In the rest of the chapter, Jesus embarks on a teaching about His nature and who He is. He doesn’t back down or soften His claim of equality with God. Instead, He clarifies it, expands it, and gives witness to its truth. Jesus claims His equality with God in Nature, in Power, and in Authority. 

To support these claims, Jesus points to multiple witnesses, showing He does not testify of Himself alone. He appeals to:

• John the Baptist, who testified to the truth (John 5:33–35).

• His own works, which bear witness that the Father has sent Him (John 5:36).

• The Father Himself, who has testified of Him (John 5:37–38).

• The Scriptures and Moses, who testify of Him (John 5:39–40).

Through this teaching, Jesus not only declares who He is, but also exposes the unbelief of His accusers—who searched the Scriptures yet refused to come to the One they reveal. Let’s now dig deeper into each point.

Jesus equality with God in Nature:

John 5:17

“My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”

Jesus here calls God “My Father,” a title He consistently uses throughout His ministry—except on the cross, when He cries out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (quoting Psalm 22:1). In John 5:17, He teaches that God has always been working doing good, even on the Sabbath, and so He too keeps working. By this He declares His equality with God in nature: just as the Father’s work is ongoing, so is His own, because He shares the same divine nature.

Jesus equality with God in Power

John 19-21

19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. 20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.

Jesus declares here that He does nothing independently but only what He sees the Father doing. Action by the Son cannot be independent of the Father because of their perfect unity: “for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.” The Father’s love for the Son is so complete that He shows Him all He does, including greater works that will cause people to marvel. Most strikingly, Jesus claims the divine power of giving life: just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so the Son gives life to whom He will. This is a clear statement of equality in power over life and death itself. And Jesus explains this more in verse 26, “ For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself.” Since Jesus has life in Himself like the Father, Jesus can give life. He does not only give life, but He possesses life, is the source of life. This is another testimony to the deity of Christ as only God has life in Himself.

Jesus equality with God in authority

John 5:22-30

22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. 24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. 25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. 30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.

Authority to judge

Jesus teaches here that He has authority to judge everyone—this authority is given to Him by the Father.

Verse 30 explains His judgment is perfectly righteous, because:

“I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.”

Jesus’ judgment is in perfect union with the Father’s judgment. He does not act independently, but in complete alignment with God.

Jesus repeats his authority to execute judgement in v27 because he is the Son of Man. Calling Himself the Son of Man, Jesus denotes three things:

• His humility and gracious condescension: He became man, though He is Lord of all. He accepted the lowliness of humanity to accomplish salvation and to be exalted by the Father.

Philipians 2:8-9

8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,

• His affinity and alliance to us: He took on the nature of man, who he is set over.

Hebrews 2:17:

“Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest...”

He understands human weakness because He became fully human.

• His being the Messiah promised:  The title “Son of Man” comes from Daniel 7:13–14.

Daniel 7:13–14 (NKJV):

“I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.”

Jews understood “Son of Man” as a divine, exalted, end-times Judge, so by calling Himself the Son of Man, Jesus claims He fulfills this prophecy—He is the one with universal authority and the right to judge all humanity.

When Jesus calls Himself the Son of man who executes judgment, He revels God’s plan, that judgment is entrusted to One who is both divine and human. It fulfills prophecy and affirms Jesus’ right to be the perfect Judge of all. He is the bridge between God and humanity—fully God and fully man—, the Mediator, appointed by the Father to execute judgment.

Honor the Son

Jesus says in v. 23 that all should honour the Son just as they honour the Father. We should understand that people who reject the Son are indeed rejecting the Father. You cannot say you believe in God the creator without believing in Christ the Son, who is equal to the Father. 

Resurrection of the dead in Jesus

In verses 25 and 28-29, Jesus describes  two different resurrections:

• John 5:25 => Spiritual resurrection: Jesus describes the spiritual resurrection that happened when a person submits to the voice of Jesus, the Son of God and accepts him as Lord and saviour. This is a resurrection from death, from sin, into eternal life “and those who hear will live”. It is a Promise of life for those who believe.

• John 5:28-29 => Physical resurrection and final judgment: Jesus describes the resurrection of the dead at the end of times, the end of the tribulation at the second coming of Christ. All the dead will hear His voice and rise into judgement. The righteous will be given eternal life and the evil will be given eternal condemnation. This probably could point to Revelation 20.

Revelation 20:11–15

11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second [b]death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Verse 28-29 does not mean that good works is enough to get to heaven but that the fruit of the  person’s life is the culmination of what you have believed. There is no specific timeline explained in the verse, so we shouldn’t speculate too much.

The Bible consistently teaches salvation is by grace through faith, not by works.

Ephesians 2:8–9:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

But true saving faith produces good works as evidence.

Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV):

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

In John 5, Jesus is describing the final judgment, where people's lives will show the reality of their faith or unbelief.

The “good” here refers to lives transformed by faith in Christ. Those who truly believe in Jesus will have lives marked by good. The “good” doesn’t earn eternal life, but proves the presence of eternal life.

Witness of John the Baptist

John 5:31-35

31 “If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. 32 There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true. 33 You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved. 35 He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. 

Jesus now produces other witnesses who bear testimony about Him, rather than relying on His own testimony alone. Why is His testimony not enough or not true? 

His testimony is infallibly true as he declares in John 8:14, “14 Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going.”

But in Jewish law, a single witness was not enough to establish truth legally:

Deuteronomy 19:15 (NKJV):

“By the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established.”

Also, because Jesus understands human nature, He understands that if someone only testified about themselves, their claim was considered unverified or insufficient evidence. So, He is saying: If I alone testify without any other witnesses, you won’t accept it as true. So, He appeals to multiple, external witnesses to confirm His claims.

The first witness is John the Baptist, and we have encountered His testimony in John 1:19-27, which Jesus references here, when He reminds them:

John 5:33 “You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.” ()

They themselves had investigated John. They knew he was a prophet who spoke the truth. John clearly pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God and the One who would baptize with the Holy Spirit.

Jesus calls him in v.35:

“He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.”

John was the lamp—he shone brightly but only reflected God’s light. But Jesus is the Light itself (cf. John 1:9). Jesus uses was (past tense) because by this time John’s ministry had ended—he was imprisoned or possibly already executed.

Witness of the Work of Christ

John 5:36

36 But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. 

Then Jesus appeals to His own works, which bear witness that the Father has sent Him. These “works” refer to:

• His miracles (healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, raising the dead).

• His teaching with divine authority.

• Ultimately, His saving mission, including the Cross and Resurrection.

These works bear witness that: He was sent by the Father, He acts with the Father’s authority and His mission is divine in origin.

Witness of the Father 

John 5:37-38

37 And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. 38 But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. 

Jesus appeals to the direct testimony of the Father as a witness to who He is. The Father bore witness of His Son by a voice  from heaven  at his baptism and transfiguration.

Matthew 3:17

17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 

But this is not the only way God testifies of the Son. And God  reveals the nature of Christ to people always. When God gives a commission, He will not fail to seal it. Where God demands belief, He will not fail to provide sufficient evidence as He has done concerning Christ.

So why did not the religious leaders believe?

• V. 37: “You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form”

They are ignorant of God and His will, as if they have never encountered Him, although they were religious.

• V38: But you do not have His word abiding in you,

The word of God was not constantly in them, maybe among them but not in them, in their heart, ruling their souls. If it did, they would have acknowledged that Jesus was sent by their God.

Jesus exposes the tragic truth: their unbelief wasn’t due to lack of evidence, but to hardened hearts and rejection of God’s Word. True faith requires God’s Word to dwell richly within us, transforming our hearts so we can recognize and receive the One He has sent.

Witness of the Scriptures

John 5:39-44

39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

41 “I do not receive honor from men. 42 But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. 43 I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. 44 How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? 

These religious Jews knew the Scriptures—likely even by heart. They studied them diligently, thinking that in them they had eternal life. But Jesus reproaches them by saying: “These are they which testify of Me.” (v.39)

The very Scriptures they prized pointed to Him as the promised Messiah. Yet they refused to come to Him to have life (v.40).

Jesus exposes their failures:

• Their neglect of Him and His doctrine v. 40

They searched the Scriptures but refused the One to whom the Scriptures pointed. They would not come to Jesus for life. It is not the lack of evidence or testimony or inability to belief but the refusal to believe. Some people just are to stubborn to believe.

• Their want of the love of God v. 42

“But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.”

Their hearts were hardened. Despite their religious appearance, they lacked true love for God. That’s why they would not receive Him who came from the Father.

• Their readiness to entertain false Christs and false prophets v. 43

Though they rejected the true Christ, they would later be ready to embrace impostors. This foreshadows their willingness to receive false messiahs, including ultimately the Antichrist who comes in his own name.

• Their pride and vain glory v. 44

“How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?”

Their pride and desire for human praise blocked true faith. They craved honour from men but ignored the honour that comes from God.

Witness of Moses

John 5:45-47

45 Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”

It is not Jesus who will accuse them but Moses, why? Because he wrote about Jesus in multiple occasions and they did not believe his writing.

Genesis 3:15 – The Seed of the Woman

“And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

The first promise of a Redeemer who would defeat Satan—fulfilled in Christ.

Genesis 22:18 – The Promised Seed

“In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.”

Again pointing to Christ as the Seed who brings blessing to all nations.

Deuteronomy 18:15–19 – The Prophet like Moses

“The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear.” 

Jesus is the ultimate Prophet like Moses.

Jesus in Luke 24, explains how all Scripture points to him

Luke 24:25-26

25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He [a]expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

It may also be that Moses refers to the law which condemns, by knowledge of sin. The law doesn’t justify us—it reveals and exposes sin. This is not the same with Christ, He is our advocate not our accuser. He did not come to condemn but to save.

John 3:17 (NKJV):

“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

Finally

Jesus challenges the religious leaders by testifying to His deity and claiming His equality with God, His authority over life and death, and His right to judge. He then declares all the witnesses that testify to His divine nature and mission. But He also exposes their pride, hypocrisy, and false doctrine. They cared more about outward appearance and tradition than the love of God. Their hearts were hardened against the truth. Jesus confronted them directly with their evil—their pride, their lack of love for God, and their failure to understand His Word. And it was for these very reasons that they ultimately decided to kill Him.

Jesus’ words in John 5 aren’t just a challenge to the religious leaders of His day—they are a challenge to us. He calls us to examine our own hearts. Do we truly honor the Son as we honor the Father? Do we listen to His Word and let it abide in us? Or are we more concerned with outward religion, appearance, and human approval than with the love of God?

Just as Jesus offered life to those willing to hear and believe, He still offers life to us today. He calls us to come to Him—to move from death to life by trusting in Him. Let us not harden our hearts, but respond with humble faith. Let us seek to know Him truly, love Him deeply, and live in a way that honors Him.

May we be a people who don’t just search the Scriptures, but come to the One they testify about—Jesus Christ, our Lord, our Judge, our Savior, and our Life.