Witnesses - Part 1

Jewish law requires the testimony of at least two people to convict someone (Num 35:30). This principle remains today, that our courts will seek more than the word of a single person and reporters desire to corroborate a source before they print a story. In this week's passage, Jesus recounts a number of witnesses whose story bears witness of Him.

Read again this week's passage (John 5: 30-36).

• What are the five witnesses that are referred to in this passage?
  
• What is the testimony of these witnesses?
• What was the response that some had that Jesus was speaking against?
  
• What is the response that these witnesses desire to elicit?
• What is at stake with regards to the response to these witnesses?
• What is your response to these witnesses? Have you in some ways responded the way Jesus opponents did, unwilling to believe because the message wasn't the one you wanted to hear? Are there parts of Jesus' message that are difficult for you to hear? How would this passage call you to respond to those truths?

The truth of the message of Jesus is not made true by the response of people. It is true in an of itself. God does not need our response to validate His message. Spend some time in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal to you areas where you may be slow to accept the testimony of witnesses about Christ.

On Wednesday we will look at our role, as Christ-followers as witnesses ourselves.