It’s Not Circumstantial Evidence

I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. — John 5:30-32

In this part of Jesus's speech, he transitions from who he claims to be to evidence about these claims. Verses 30-47 feel like we just entered a courtroom. And because most of us have watched courtroom proceedings over the last six weeks, we should know that Jesus's evidence is far more substantial than anything presented in the Murdaugh Trial. In his defense, Jesus presents three witnesses and their testimony to defend that he is the Son of God. First is the prophet John the Baptist and his declarations about Jesus, which Jewish authorities had already investigated. Second, Jesus's works and wonders, which a Divine being could only accomplish. Third, Moses and the writings of the Holy Scriptures which tell of a coming Messiah.

So what Jesus is clarifying is they have evidence. It's not even circumstantial. It's real and actual evidence and testimony. Moses testified. Their Holy Scriptures testify. The prophet John testifies. The works and wonder testify. And they have seen much of this firsthand. Exhibit A is the lame man. There is no doubt they all knew this lame man. He had been lame for four decades. And he came back to Jewish authorities and testified as another eyewitness that Jesus was the one who performed the healing.

The point is this. If twelve jurors can find Alex Murdaugh guilty of killing his wife and son with circumstantial evidence (i.e, a Snapchat video recording with his voice on it that puts him near the scene just moments before the murder). This should mean that we, and these religious leaders, should be able to convict Jesus of being the Son of God because there is a mountain of evidence that is far more substantial and less circumstantial.

Make today the day you stop doubting and believe. Believe in Jesus. And then look around. You might witness a miracle.

ASK THIS: Is it time to believe?

DO THIS: Stop doubting and believe.

PRAY THIS: God, remove every doubt. Today I believe.

PLAY THIS: No Doubting You.