The Gospel of John- Part 14: The Testimony About Jesus | John 5:31-47// April 26, 2026
Teaching overview
This week’s passage in Gospel of John 5:31-47 looks like a courtroom scene. Jesus appears to be on trial for breaking the Sabbath, but instead of simply defending Himself, He calls forward witnesses: John the Baptist, His works and miracles, the Father, the Scriptures, and even Moses. Each one testifies to who He truly is. The issue isn’t a lack of evidence, it’s that the religious leaders refuse to accept it. Though they know the Scriptures, their own assumptions and biases keep them from recognizing Jesus.
The passage ultimately flips the courtroom entirely. It seems like Jesus is the one being judged, but He shows that we are the ones on trial based on how we respond to Him. To receive Jesus means acknowledging our need and our sin, something our pride naturally resists. Yet instead of condemning us, Jesus steps into our place, the true Judge becoming the accused, so that we can be justified and set free. The invitation is to honestly consider the testimony and decide what we will do with Jesus.
Our prayer for the Community
Father, we come before You asking for humble hearts that are willing to receive the truth about Jesus. Where our pride or assumptions get in the way, soften us so we can see clearly and respond in faith. Help us not just to know Scripture, but to be shaped by it, recognizing our need for You and trusting in what Jesus has done for us. Form us into a community that reflects Your truth with honesty and grace, and let our lives point others to the hope we have in You. Amen.
Group questions and further meditations:
Seeing the Evidence
Meditation:
Reflect on how you’ve personally encountered evidence of who Jesus is, whether through Scripture, experiences, or others’ lives.
Question:
Which of these (His works, Scripture, others’ testimony, etc.) has most shaped your understanding of who Jesus is and why?
Checking Our Bias
Meditation:
The Pharisees knew the Scriptures well, yet their assumptions kept them from recognizing Jesus. Sometimes it’s not lack of knowledge that holds us back, but the lens through which we interpret it. Consider where your expectations or preferences might be shaping how you hear God.
Question:
Where do you see confirmation bias show up in your own life when it comes to faith or trusting God?
Who’s On Trial?
Meditation:
Jesus points out that the religious leaders were more concerned with receiving glory from one another than seeking the glory that comes from God. What we truly value shapes how we respond to Him. Take a moment to reflect on what’s driving your desire to follow Jesus.
Question:
What originally motivated you to follow Jesus, what motivates you now, and how, if at all, have those motivations changed?
