John included seven witnesses to prove Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God; so that readers of his gospel would believe in Jesus and believing, would have eternal life!
God the Father bears witness to the Son.
“There is Another who testifies about Me, and I know that the testimony He gives about Me is valid… The Father who sent Me has Himself testified about Me.” (John 5:32,37a).
The first witness to Christ that John gave was Jesus Himself. The Pharisees were unwilling to believe Jesus’ word about Himself, so Jesus told of a second witness – perhaps this One they would be willing to believe. And who was this witness?
God.
God testified about Jesus through the angels to the shepherds on the night He was born. He used a star to testify to the wise men. He testified through the Old Testament writers about the coming Messiah and all the detailed prophecies were perfectly fulfilled by the conception, birth, life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus!
God testified with His own voice on at least two occasions. The first was by the Jordan River, when Jesus was baptized: When all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized. As He was praying, heaven opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in a physical appearance like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: You are My beloved Son. I take delight in You! (Luke 3:21-22)
The second time God testified with His own voice was on the mountain top when Elijah and Moses stood with Jesus: While he was still speaking, suddenly a cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said: This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him. Listen to Him! (Matthew 17:5)
Clearly, many times and in various ways throughout the Scriptures, God the Father bore witness to Jesus the Son. God provided witness of who Jesus is, of His purpose, power and provision. And God most certainly is a witness we can trust, for God can not lie!
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