Witnesses of Christ as Messiah
Lesson 4
Witnesses of Christ as the Messiah
(John 1 & 3)
Copr. 2024, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. If you normally receive this lesson by e-mail, but it is lost one week, you can find it by clicking on this link: http://www.GoBible.org. Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as you study.
Introduction: In American courts the primary way to introduce proof is through witnesses. The other important way to prove something is through documents. Most documents are not self-proving, so they must also come into evidence through witnesses. There are several ways to test the truth of what witnesses say under oath. I recall a 53-day trial in which the direct testimony was submitted through affidavits, and almost all the live testimony was my cross-examination of the witnesses who submitted affidavits. That is very unusual, but it was done to shorten the trial! Let’s dive into our study of the Bible to see what witnesses John calls to testify about Jesus. Because I have some experience in cross-examination, I’ll share with you the relative strength of the testimony just as if I were a skeptic, which I’m not.
- First Witness: John the Baptist
- Read John 1:19-20. What does this suggest the Jewish leadership thought of John the Baptist? (They thought he might be the Messiah.)
- John denies that he is the Messiah. If you were to test John’s testimony, what would go through your mind? (A major ground for cross-examination is bias in favor of personal interest. People like to believe they are more important, not less important. This makes John’s testimony on this point credible.)
- Read John 1:21. Recall that Deuteronomy 18:15 records that Moses prophesied that a “prophet” like him would arise. Would John show he was an important person by saying he was “Elijah” or the “Prophet?” (Once again, bias towards self-importance would support a claim to be either of those important historical figures. So John is telling the truth.)
- Read John 1:23 and Isaiah 40:3. Is John claiming a different, but still important role? (Yes. But this still suggests he is being honest. If you are going to lie, why not go for the lie that the Jewish leaders are already inclined to accept?)
- Read John 1:24-25. Now John is challenged by the agents of the Jewish leadership because he is not claiming to be one of the important people they have been asking about. Why would John’s lesser role making baptism inappropriate? (Albert Barnes commentary informs us that pagans who converted to Judaism were baptized. Jews were never baptized. However, someone who came from heaven could claim this authority to baptize Jews.)
- Read John 1:26-27. Does this sound like truthful testimony? (Absolutely. John states that he is unworthy.)
- Read John 1:29-30. John testifies that Jesus is the Messiah. He ties Jesus to the Jewish sacrificial service. Is this statement credible? (John has already established his credibility. This statement does nothing to undermine it.)
- Consider again the idea that a reason to believe testimony is when it runs counter to the self-interest of the speaker. Does John have an interest counter to Jesus being the sacrificial lamb? (Presumably, John, like everyone else, thought the Messiah would come to overthrow the Romans. Coming to die is inconsistent with that hope.)
- Read John 1:19-20. What does this suggest the Jewish leadership thought of John the Baptist? (They thought he might be the Messiah.)
- Second Witness: Holy Spirit
- Read John 1:32-34. Who does John say is corroborating his testimony? (A Spirit that comes from heaven. This must be the Holy Spirit.)
- Let’s discuss hearsay testimony for a moment. Hearsay is what a witness heard someone else say. It is generally not admissible testimony because, among other things, the speaker cannot be cross-examined. Is this hearsay testimony? (John is testifying to what he has seen and heard. He could testify to this in court. The truth of what the Spirit said cannot be cross-examined, but most of what the Spirit said John saw happen.)
- Notice again John 1:34. To what does John claim he is testifying? (He has “seen” Jesus “is the Son of God.”)
- Read John 1:32-34. Who does John say is corroborating his testimony? (A Spirit that comes from heaven. This must be the Holy Spirit.)
- Third Witness: Andrew
- Read John 1:35-37. John the Baptist is still doing the speaking, but look at the reaction of the disciples. These are whose disciples? (John’s!)
- Why would they leave John and follow Jesus? (Because they believed John. Notice that they have concluded that Jesus is greater than John.)
- Read John 1:38-39. Have the two disciples given an intelligent answer to Jesus’ question? (On the surface it seems idiotic. Perhaps they are star-struck, meaning they do not know what to say to the most important figure in history. Albert Barnes’ commentary suggests they are just being polite. They don’t want to interrupt Jesus, but want to know where they can go to later discuss becoming His disciples.)
- Read John 1:40-41. How would you argue the credibility of Andrew? (While Andrew could be wrong, he is certainly saying something he believes. Why? He changed jobs because of what he heard John say and what he had observed while following John.)
- Read John 1:35-37. John the Baptist is still doing the speaking, but look at the reaction of the disciples. These are whose disciples? (John’s!)
- Fourth and Fifth Witnesses: Philip and Nathanael
- Read John 1:43-46. Andrew, and presumably Peter, were pursuing Jesus to see if they could become disciples. How is it different for Philip? (Jesus calls him.)
- Philip testifies that Jesus is the Messiah. What argument does Philip make to support his statement? (He says that Jesus fits what Moses predicted in Deuteronomy 18:15 and what the Old Testament prophets prophesied.)
- Has Philip changed his job based on his belief?
- On what does Philip base his testimony? (Note that he does not argue the truth of what he said with Nathanael. He just points him to the evidence.)
- Philip testifies that Jesus is the Messiah. What argument does Philip make to support his statement? (He says that Jesus fits what Moses predicted in Deuteronomy 18:15 and what the Old Testament prophets prophesied.)
- Read John 1:47-49. What does Jesus say about Nathanael? (He is an honest man.)
- What is the basis for Nathanael’s testimony that Jesus is God? (Jesus told Nathanael what he had been doing.)
- Does that seem like strong evidence to you?
- What is the basis for Nathanael’s testimony that Jesus is God? (Jesus told Nathanael what he had been doing.)
- Read John 1:50-51. Does Jesus consider this strong evidence? (This suggests that He does not. Jesus tells him he will see greater evidence.)
- How would you argue the credibility of Nathanael? (Nathanael started out with a belief against Jesus being the Messiah. He has now been convinced that he was wrong.)
- Read John 1:43-46. Andrew, and presumably Peter, were pursuing Jesus to see if they could become disciples. How is it different for Philip? (Jesus calls him.)
- Sixth Witness: Nicodemus
- Read John 3:1-2. Does Nicodemus believe Jesus is the Messiah? (No. He calls him a “teacher,” and admits that God must be with Jesus. However, he meets Jesus at a time when no one will know.)
- We are going to skip some verses and concentrate on those that bear on Nicodemus’ view of Jesus. Read John 3:8-10. Is Jesus showing respect to Nicodemus? (No. He is insulting him.)
- Read John 3:11-12. Is this also insulting? (Yes. Jesus says “you don’t believe Me” on more simple things, why would I tell you about heavenly things?)
- Read John 3:13-15. Would this persuade you that Jesus is God if you were Nicodemus? (Jesus is not claiming to be the coming king, He says He is like a snake “lifted up.” See Numbers 21:8-9.)
- Read John 19:38-39. Does this record a statement from Nicodemus about Jesus? (No.)
- Why would we call Nicodemus a witness? (What a person does is excellent evidence of what he believes. Joseph of Arimathea is stated to be a disciple of Jesus. This record of what Nicodemus does suggests that he has also made a decision for Jesus.)
- Commentaries tell us that Nicodemus has brought a huge amount of spices to treat Jesus’ body. Does that say something about Nicodemus’ view? (It tells us that he is rich, but it also tells us that he believed that Jesus is important and worthy of this offering. It tells us that Nicodemus has sided with Jesus, rather than the Pharisees.)
- What does Jesus’ prior discussion in John 3 tell us about the credibility of Nicodemus’ decision? (Normally, we do not appreciate or support people who insult us. This is especially true when we hold a position of importance. Nicodemus had many reasons to resent and reject Jesus. Nicodemus’ actions tell us that he has overcome these obstacles and now honors Jesus.)
- Friend, will you believe these witnesses? Has your cross-examination caused you to believe them? If you have never before stated a belief that Jesus is God, come down from heaven to take away our sins, why not confess that right now?
- Next week: The Testimony of Samaritans.