John 5

25 The dead—that is, the spiritually dead—will hear the voice of the Son of God. Among those who live in darkness—in transgressions and sins (Ephesians 2:1)—there will be some in this life who hear Christ’s voice and believe. Those who hear and believe will live (see verse 21 and comment). Jesus said, “The time is coming and has now come when this will begin to happen—the dead will begin to live.”

26 Just as the Father is the source of all life, so the Son (Christ) is also the source of life, both physical life and spiritual life. God has given His own life to Christ (see John 1:4; 3:35; 1 John 5:11). This is why death could not conquer Christ. Because of God’s life within Him, Christ Himself rose from the dead. And because of God’s life within Him, Christ is also able to give life to those who are dead in sin (verse 25).

27 Because Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of Man, God has given Him the authority to judge (see Matthew 28:18; John 5:22; 17:2 and comments). Being the Son of Man, Jesus knows men’s hearts; therefore, He is qualified to judge (see John 2:24-25). Being the Son of Man, Jesus has the authority, glory and sovereign power to execute judgment on all men (Daniel 7:13-14).

28-29 In these verses Jesus is not speaking of this present life; He is speaking of the last judgment, which will occur at the end of the world. He is speaking not only in a spiritual sense, but also in a physical sense. All who are dead and buried will be raised at the end of the world. There will be a resurrection of the bodies of all men, both good men and evil (see Acts 24:15 and comment). The righteous will receive new bodies in heaven. The unrighteous will receive new bodies in hell.

All the dead will rise from their graves at the voice of the Son of God. At that time the Son will judge men according to their works (2 Corinthians 5:10). Those who have done good will obtain eternal life in heaven; those who have done evil will receive eternal punishment in hell.

We must remember two truths. First, salvation comes only by faith, not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9). But, second, we are rewarded or condemned according to our works (see Matthew 16:27 and comment). Works are the proof our faith.

In one sense, our judgment is taking place on earth right now. Because what we do in this life will determine how Christ judges us on that final day of judgment.

30 When Christ judges, His judgment is not independent of God’s judgment. Christ does nothing by Himself (verse 19). “I judge only as I hear,” said Jesus. Christ’s will is the same as God’s will. For that reason, Christ’s judgment is always just and true (John 6:38; 8:16).

As it is for Christ, so it is for us. When we remain in God’s will, our life is righteous. But when we follow our own will and seek to please ourselves, our life becomes unrighteous. In everything let us pray as Christ prayed: “Yet not what I will, but what you will” (Mark 14:36).

31 If Jesus alone had testified about Himself, His testimony would not have been valid;⁴³ that is, it would not have been legally acceptable. According to the Bible, everything must be determined on the testimony of two or three witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15; Matthew 18:16; 2 Corinthians 13:1). Therefore, Christ alone cannot give a valid testimony about Himself; another witness is necessary.

32 But He has another witness, and that witness is God Himself (John 8:17-18). God had spoken from heaven: “You are my Son” (Mark 1:11; 9:7).

33-35 After saying that God was His main witness, Jesus here mentions the witness of John the Baptist. The Jews had gone to John (John 1:19). Some of the Jews had been attracted by John’s preaching. John testified to the truth (verse 33). He was a lamp showing the way of salvation. If the Jews had believed John fully, they would also have believed Jesus and found salvation.

The Jews couldn’t accept God’s witness directly (verses 37-38). But they could have believed John, who gave the same true witness. Jesus did not need John’s witness to prove He was the Messiah. Jesus does not accept human testimony (verse 34). God’s witness is sufficient. Jesus only mentions John the Baptist to remind the Jews that John had indeed shown them the way of salvation.

36 Jesus’ greatest witness was God (verse 32). But the Jews did not accept God’s witness. Therefore, Jesus mentions still another “witness”—that is, His work. The Jews could see Christ’s work. Christ’s work is the same as God’s work (verse 19). Therefore, Christ’s work testifies or proves that Christ is sent from God (see Matthew 11:2-5). Surely the Jews should have accepted the witness of Christ’s works (John 14:11). And surely today men should also.

37-38 Here Jesus again says: “And the Father … has himself testified concerning me.” God had Himself spoken from heaven (verse 32). He had testified through the prophets, through the Old Testament, through John the Baptist. But the Jews had not heard His voice or accepted His word. They had refused to believe God’s testimony. Because of unbelief, God’s word did not dwell in them. They heard God’s word with their ears, but they did not accept it in their hearts.

The meaning of these verses is this: Only when we believe in Christ can we then accept the witness of God. God has come to earth in the form of Christ. If man rejects Christ, he rejects God (verse 23). And if he rejects God, he rejects God’s witness.

39-40 The Jews prided themselves on their knowledge of the Scriptures, that is, the Old Testament. Yet they didn’t believe the testimony of the Scriptures. The Old Testament spoke clearly of Christ; but when Christ actually came, the Jews rejected Him (John 1:11).

The Jews made a terrible mistake. They supposed that by following the Jewish law written in the Old Testament they would possess eternal life. But they were wrong. Eternal life comes only through faith in Christ (John 3:15). When they rejected Christ, they rejected life (John 3:36).

Notice that Jesus says: “You refuse to come to me.” It is not because of ignorance or poor understanding that men don’t come to Jesus. The reason is because they refuse to come. They love darkness. They do not want to give up their sin (John 3:1920). Ignorance is no excuse for not believing in Christ.

41 Jesus did not accept praise from men. That is, He did not seek the honor and praise of men. He did not try to please men in order to receive their praise. He desired only to please God. Whether men praised Him or not, He did not care.

42 Jesus didn’t want the praise of the Jews, because they did not truly love God. God’s love was not in them (see John 2:24 and comment).

43 Jesus said to the Jews, “… if someone comes in his own name, you will accept him.” The Jews loved to receive honor from men. They gave honor to others, hoping they would be honored in return. They readily accepted others, hoping they would be accepted in return.

Those who come in [their] own name are false prophets. They are of the world. They speak the thoughts of the world. Therefore, the Jews accepted them. But the One who came in God’s name, that is, Jesus, they couldn’t accept. They couldn’t accept Him because He came from a different world.

44 Because the Jews only thought about the praise of men, they had no desire to obtain the praise that comes only from God. They preferred to receive temporary honor from one another rather than lasting honor from God Himself.

Those who love God seek to honor God. Those who do not love God—such as these Jews (verse 42)—seek only their own honor. It is impossible to seek one’s own honor and God’s honor at the same time (see Matthew 6:24 and comment).

45 On the day of judgment, Christ will not have to accuse the Jews, because Moses will accuse them. The writings of Moses will accuse them.⁴⁴

The Jews set their hope on Moses, their ancient leader. Moses gave them the Jewish law. They thought that by obeying the law they would gain salvation (verse 39). But they didn’t understand the law. No one could follow the law perfectly. Instead, the law showed them their sin (see Romans 7:7-11 and comment). The law condemned them (see Romans 8:1-2 and comment). The law, above all, showed them that they needed a Savior. And Moses prophesied that, indeed, a Savior would come (Deuteronomy 18:15; John 1:45).

46-47 Therefore, the Jews didn’t really believe Moses, because when the Savior about whom Moses had written came, they rejected Him. That is why Moses will be the Jews’ accuser.

If the Jews didn’t believe Moses, whom they respected, how would they believe Christ, whom they hated?