Jn 5:31-47
[Jesus said to the Jews,] 31“If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony cannot be verified. 32But there is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that the testimony he gives on my behalf is true. 33You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth. 34I do not accept testimony from a human being, but I say this so that you may be saved. 35He was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light. 36But I have testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me.
37Moreover, the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf. But you have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38and you do not have his word remaining in you, because you do not believe in the one whom he has sent. 39You search the scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on my behalf. 40But you do not want to come to me to have life.
41“I do not accept human praise; 42moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you. 43I came in the name of my Father, but you do not accept me; yet if another comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God? 45Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father: the one who will accuse you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope. 46For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me, because he wrote about me. 47But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”
John testified to the truth. In any court trial, witnesses are necessary. They testify to the truth about events and about persons on trial.
We need testimonies, too—for whom or for what does our life testify? Who can testify for us should we be brought to court? Can the Lord find a single poor man who can testify for us when we face the court of heaven? Are we brave enough to testify to the goodness of others?
To testify is to be a burning and shining lamp. We are not meant to be simple decorations or beauty to be praised. We are meant to burn, even if that entails being consumed and dying. We are meant to shine, even if that means shining on others that they may glow! We are to be testaments to the truth.