John.5.31

But an independent witness confirms me, the most reliable Witness of all.

John.5.31

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

John.5.31

"If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.

John.5.31

"If I were to testify on my own behalf, my testimony would not be valid.

John.5.32

Furthermore, you all saw and heard John, and he gave expert and reliable testimony about me, didn't he?

John.5.32

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

John.5.32

There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true.

John.5.32

But someone else is also testifying about me, and I can assure you that everything he says about me is true.

John.5.33

"But my purpose is not to get your vote, and not to appeal to mere human testimony. I'm speaking to you this way so that you will be saved.

John.5.33

"You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth.

John.5.33

You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.

John.5.33

In fact, you sent messengers to listen to John the Baptist, and he preached the truth.

John.5.34

John was a torch, blazing and bright, and you were glad enough to dance for an hour or so in his bright light.

John.5.34

Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved.

John.5.34

Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved.

John.5.34

But the best testimony about me is not from a man, though I have reminded you about John's testimony so you might be saved.

John.5.35

But the witness that really confirms me far exceeds John's witness. It's the work the Father gave me to complete. These very tasks, as I go about completing them, confirm that the Father, in fact, sent me.

John.5.35

John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.

John.5.35

He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.

John.5.35

John shone brightly for a while, and you benefited and rejoiced.

John.5.36

The Father who sent me, confirmed me. And you missed it. You never heard his voice, you never saw his appearance.

John.5.36

"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.

John.5.36

But I have a greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish--the very works that I do--bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.

John.5.36

But I have a greater witness than John--my teachings and my miracles. They have been assigned to me by the Father, and they testify that the Father has sent me.

John.5.37

There is nothing left in your memory of his Message because you do not take his Messenger seriously. [JC]

John.5.37

And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form,

John.5.37

And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.

John.5.37

And the Father himself has also testified about me. You have never heard his voice or seen him face to face,

John.5.38

"You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think you'll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest for the trees. These Scriptures are all about me!

John.5.38

nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent.

John.5.38

But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.

John.5.38

and you do not have his message in your hearts, because you do not believe me--the one he sent to you.

John.5.39

And here I am, standing right before you, and you aren't willing to receive from me the life you say you want.

John.5.39

You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me,

John.5.39

You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.

John.5.39

"You search the Scriptures because you believe they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!

John.5.40

"I'm not interested in crowd approval.

John.5.40

yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

John.5.40

But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

John.5.40

Yet you refuse to come to me so that I can give you this eternal life.

John.5.41

And do you know why? Because I know you and your crowds. I know that love, especially God's love, is not on your working agenda.

John.5.41

"I do not accept praise from men,

John.5.41

"I do not receive honor from men.

John.5.41

"Your approval or disapproval means nothing to me,

John.5.42

I came with the authority of my Father, and you either dismiss me or avoid me. If another came, acting self-important, you would welcome him with open arms.

John.5.42

but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts.

John.5.42

But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.

John.5.42

because I know you don't have God's love within you.

John.5.43

How do you expect to get anywhere with God when you spend all your time jockeying for position with each other, ranking your rivals and ignoring God?

John.5.43

I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.

John.5.43

I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.

John.5.43

For I have come to you representing my Father, and you refuse to welcome me, even though you readily accept others who represent only themselves.

John.5.44

"But don't think I'm going to accuse you before my Father. Moses, in whom you put so much stock, is your accuser.

John.5.44

How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?

John.5.44

How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?

John.5.44

No wonder you can't believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don't care about the honor that comes from God alone.

John.5.45

If you believed, really believed, what Moses said, you would believe me. He wrote of me.

John.5.45

"But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set.

John.5.45

Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you--Moses, in whom you trust.

John.5.45

"Yet it is not I who will accuse you of this before the Father. Moses will accuse you! Yes, Moses, on whom you set your hopes.

John.5.46

If you won't take seriously what he wrote, how can I expect you to take seriously what I speak?"

John.5.46

If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.

John.5.46

For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.

John.5.46

But if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me because he wrote about me.

John.5.47

But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?"

John.5.47

But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?"

John.5.47

But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?"

John.5.47

And since you don't believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?"