John 5:36–40:
The Testimony of the Works, the Father, and the Scriptures

Accurate Interpretation of John 5:36–40

After mentioning John’s testimony (John 5:33–35), Jesus now presents greater testimonies that confirm who He is. At the same time, He reveals the central problem: it is not a lack of evidence, but the lack of a proper response.

(v. 36)
«But I have a greater testimony than John’s, because the works that the Father gave me to complete—the very works that I am doing—they testify about me that the Father has sent me.»

Jesus introduces a testimony greater than John’s.

That testimony consists of “the works” that the Father gave Him. These are not isolated actions, but the works He is continually doing.

These works “testify” about Him. In other words, they are not merely deeds, but signs that point to His identity.

The content of their testimony is clear: “that the Father has sent me.”

The verse shows that Jesus’ works are not independent, but reveal His origin and mission.

(v. 37)
«“Further, the Father who sent me has Himself testified about me. You have neither heard His voice nor seen His form at any time.»

Jesus adds another testimony: the Father’s.

He affirms that the Father Himself has testified about Him.

He then makes a strong declaration: “You have neither heard His voice nor seen His form at any time.”

This does not refer only to a literal physical experience, but points to the absence of a genuine relationship with God.

The verse reveals a tension: although they speak about God, they have not perceived His testimony.

(v. 38)
«Nor do you have His word abiding in you, because you do not believe on the very one whom He sent.»

Jesus continues by identifying the root of the problem.

He says that they do not have God’s word “abiding” in them.

The reason is clear: “because you do not believe on the very one whom He sent.”

The verse directly connects a person’s relationship with God’s word to that person’s response to Jesus.

Not believing on the One He sent means that His word does not abide in them.

(v. 39)
«You examine the Scriptures because in them you think you have eternal life, yet they are the very ones that testify about me.»

Jesus now refers to the Scriptures.

He acknowledges that they examine them, meaning that they study them carefully.

However, He points out their perspective: “in them you think you have eternal life.”

The problem is not that they examine the Scriptures, but how they understand them.

Jesus affirms that “they are the very ones that testify about me.” In other words, the Scriptures point to Him.

The verse shows that it is possible to study the Scriptures without recognizing the One to whom they point.

(v. 40)
«But you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life.»

Here Jesus reveals the central problem.

After presenting the testimony of His works, the Father, and the Scriptures, He does not say that these men lack all evidence. Nor does He say that He refuses to receive them. He clearly declares: “you are not willing to come to me.”

The invitation is genuine: life is found in Jesus, and by coming to Him they could receive it. Yet they refused to do so. Their condemnation was not because life was unavailable in the Son, but because, with God’s testimony before them, they were unwilling to come to Him.

To “come” to Jesus does not merely mean approaching Him physically. It means receiving Him, believing on Him, and recognizing Him as the One sent by the Father.

This agrees with what was declared earlier in John 1:11–12.

Some did not receive Him; others did receive Him by believing into His name. However, John also clarifies that this new life comes from God, because those who were given the right to become children of God were begotten “not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a man, but of God” (John 1:13).

Therefore, both truths remain united: God is the One who gives life, but He does not present human beings as victims compelled to reject Christ. Jesus holds accountable those who, despite the testimony they have received, are not willing to come to Him.

His words are not an empty portrayal or an apparent invitation. They express a real and culpable refusal: life is in the Son, but they resist receiving Him.

Implications

• Jesus’ works confirm that He was sent by the Father: His actions reveal His identity and the mission He received.
• The Father has given sufficient testimony about the Son: those who rejected Jesus did not lack testimony, but resisted receiving it.
• Knowing the Scriptures does not necessarily mean understanding them: they can be studied carefully while Christ, to whom they point, is still ignored.
• The Father’s word cannot truly be received while the Son is rejected: a person’s response to Jesus reveals whether God’s word genuinely abides in that person.
• Life is found in Christ: the Scriptures testify about Him, but a person must come to Him to receive the life they proclaim.
• The rejection of Christ involves the human will: Jesus does not accuse His listeners of being unable to find Him, but of being unwilling to come to Him.
• God gives life without eliminating human responsibility: those who receive Christ are born of God, while those who reject Him are responsible for being unwilling to come to Him.

Applications

• Examine the Scriptures in order to know Christ: do not settle for accumulating biblical information without receiving the One about whom the Bible testifies.
• Do not confuse knowledge with life: knowing much about God does not replace coming to Jesus and believing on Him.
• Receive the testimony God has given: Jesus’ works, the Father’s word, and the Scriptures all agree in identifying Him as the One sent by God.
• Examine your willingness toward Christ: the obstacle is not always a lack of information; there may also be a deliberate resistance to accepting what God has revealed.
• Come to Jesus to have life: He does not merely teach about life; life is found in Him.

Summary

In John 5:36–40, Jesus presents testimonies greater than John’s. The works the Father gave Him confirm that He was sent by Him; the Father Himself has testified about the Son, and the Scriptures also point to Jesus.

However, His listeners do not receive these testimonies. Although they examine the Scriptures because they think they have eternal life in them, they reject the One about whom the Scriptures speak. Their problem is not simply a lack of evidence, but that they are unwilling to come to Jesus so that they may have life.

The text holds two realities together: God is the One who gives life through His Son, but those who reject Christ are responsible for their refusal. Life is genuinely available in Jesus, but they resist receiving Him.

Prayer

Our Father, we thank You because You have given clear testimony about Your Son through His works and the Scriptures.

Help us not to approach Your word merely to increase our knowledge, but to recognize and receive Christ, about whom it testifies.

Remove from us every resistance to Your truth. Cause Your word to abide in us and give us hearts willing to come to Jesus, believing that life is found in Him.

Thank You because You are the One who gives life and because You have made Your Son known so that everyone who receives Him and believes into His name may have eternal life.

We ask this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.