[Jesus speaking] “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true. “You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.”
‭
We are right now witnessing an incredible amount of people coming forward as eye witnesses to election irregularities and election fraud. This has the potential to be one of the most heavily contested elections in my lifetime. There are also eye witnesses who saw voting machines being tampered with and even witnesses who have seen these same machines throw elections for one person over another, in other countries. There are now more than 1,000 sworn affidavits of eye witness testimony, under the penalty of perjury. If these stories all line up, this becomes extremely powerful proof of election irregularities and fraud. We have a media who likes the outcome of the election, and refuses to cover these eye witness testimonies. Eye witness testimony is considered to be evidence in a court of law. When a number of eye witnesses testify to the same thing happening, it becomes proof and believable. Why? Because it is very hard for many people to lie and also tell the exact same, detailed story, unless they really saw it.

In workers compensation, we sometimes have people who try and commit fraud. How do we prove they are not being truthful about an injury taking place in the workplace? We ask detailed questions at the time of the claim. Then later the adjuster asks detailed questions. If the two accounts do not match up, the person is lying.

Jesus was being accused of lying about his claims to be the Son of God, or the Messiah. So the teachers of the law and Pharisees asked him for proof. He acknowledges here that a person cannot be a witness for themselves. (But this is what the Pharisees did, they encouraged people to trust them because they were “the leaders”. We hear these arguments today too.)

But Jesus reminds them that John the Baptist testified that he was coming. He called people to repentance to “make straight the path of the Lord.” (John 1:23) Here is a summary of John’s purpose in ministry, which he lived out. “He came as a witness to testify concerning the light, so that all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.” (John 1:6-8)

Why does Jesus tell these accusers this? He loves them and wants them to be saved. Can we love those who falsely accuse us? Can we pray for those who ridicule and persecute us? Jesus did.

John was a faithful servant of the King. He let God’s light shine though him, and the Pharisees enjoyed its glow for a time. We must be faithful to shine our lights in any and every situation in life. COVID is not a good excuse to retreat and become self-focused. We must still serve and love, even amidst fear and restrictions. It is our calling. Jesus was preaching to “The One”, he was searching for “The One” believer among many skeptics. He faced persecution to save “The One”. Will we search for “The One” today?