On the Sabbath Jesus healed a man who was lame for 38 years and then commanded him to take up his mat and walk, which was considered to be work, knowing full well that this would instigate a confrontation with the Jewish authorities. When this did occur, His defense was that His Father, God, was working even to this day. The Jews rightly recognized this as a declaration of divinity on the part of Jesus and thus had two claims against Him: violating the Sabbath and blasphemy. Jesus is now expounding upon the truth of Who He is and what He says and at this point in the scripture, and His dialogue, He points to the witnesses that attest to Him and His claims.

Remembering back to the broadcast of the murder trial of O.J. Simpson, we should each be quite familiar with the importance of a witness. Also, a rather familiar scenario of cop shows is a valuable witness which the police must protect at all costs. Why is a good witness so valuable? What does a witness do? One thing a witness does when he gets on the witness stand is to commit himself. As Morris points out, “he no longer has freedom to come down on either side of the question at issue. He has burned his bridges.” (p. 323) That’s what God did when He bore witness to Jesus. He went on record that Jesus is the supreme divine revelation and that if we want to know what Father God is like, we must look at Jesus. He committed Himself to this.

“If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid.

There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is valid.

Jesus starts by affirming that a bearing of witness on His part would not be “true” which here does not mean the opposite of false. According to Jewish law, a man’s testimony for himself was not valid in a court (John 8:13‑14). 

John 8:13-14The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.” Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going.  

Jewish law also required a fact be established on the testimony of 2 or 3 witnesses. (Deuteronomy 19:15)

Deuteronomy 19:15 One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offence he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. 

Jesus is saying that if He testifies for Himself, His testimony is not to be believed, or admitted as authentic testimony. But even more importantly, “the kind of witness which He is bearing is true only if it is supported by the Father.” (Morris p.325) Jesus is claiming to be one with the Father and if the entire universe does not attest to that, then it can’t be true.

Jesus says that these witnesses for Him are important and that they serve the following purposes:

1. they prove that the Father has sent Him (v. 36)
   “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me.
2. so men will believe what He says (v. 47)
   But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?
3. so men might be saved (v. 34)
   Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved.

Jesus claims at least 5 witnesses for Himself and for His claims:

1. the Baptist (v. 33-35)
2. the works of Jesus (v. 36)
3. the Father (v. 37-38)
4. the scriptures (v. 39-40)
5. Moses (v. 46-47)