John 5:33-35

“ Ye have sent unto John, and he hath borne witness unto the truth. 34. But the witness which I receive, is not from man; and what I say unto you here, is to the end that ye may be saved. 35. He was the lamp that burneth and shineth; and ye were willing to rejoice for a season in his light. ”

The testimony of John the Baptist had made so much noise that Jesus might suppose that, at the moment when He was saying: “I have another witness,” every one would think of that personage. Jesus rejects this supposition, but does so while calling attention to the fact that, from His hearers' standpoint, the testimony of John should certainly be regarded as valid; for it was they themselves who had called it forth (an allusion to the deputation, John 1:19 ff.). The word you, ὑμεῖς, at the beginning of the verse, places the hearers in contrast to Jesus, who does not ask for human testimonies and contents himself with being able to allege that of the Father. The perfect μεμαρτύρηκε, hath borne witness, declares that the testimony of John preserves its value notwithstanding the disappearance of the witness (John 5:35: he was, etc.). On this truth to which John bore witness, comp. John 1:20; John 1:27; John 1:29. The ἐγὼ δέ, but I, of John 5:34 forms an antithesis to the you of John 5:33.

This human testimony which they demanded, is not that by which Jesus supports the truth of His own, even though it was favorable to Him. But does Jesus regard the testimony of John the Baptist as purely human? Some interpreters escape the difficulty by translating οὐ λαμβάνω in the sense: “I do not seek” or “I am not ambitious of.” This is to strain the meaning of the expression, which merely means: I do not make use of it. It is enough if we take account of the article τήν before the word testimony; “ the testimony,” means here: “that of which I have need, the only one which I would allege as confirmation of my own.” John's testimony was designed to direct their eyes to the light; but, when once the light had appeared, it gave place to the direct testimony of God Himself. That testimony was, indeed, the fruit of a revelation; but, as Keil says, this inspiration, passing through human lips, might be called in question. Nevertheless, Jesus recalls, in passing, this testimony of John. It is the care which He has for their souls, which does not permit Him to pass it over in silence: “If I recall it, it is to the end that you (ὑμεῖς) may profit by it unto salvation. It is, then, for you, not for me.”

The 35th verse expresses the transitory character of the appearance of John the Baptist. John was not the light, the sun (John 1:8); but he was the torch, lighted by God for giving light before the day came. The article the before the word torch has been explained in many ways. Bengel finds here an allusion to Sir 48:1 : “ the word (of Elijah) shone as a torch. ” Luthardt believes that John is compared to the well-known torch-bearer, who ordinarily preceded the bridegroom in the marriage feasts. Meyer, Weiss, Keil, understand: the true torch which is designed to show the path. Perhaps there is an allusion to that single light which was lighted at night to illumine the house (Mark 4:21). We might see in the two epithets: which burneth and shineth, only this one idea: which is consumed in shining. But it is more simple to find here the two conditions of the usefulness of the light: to be lighted and not to be covered (Weiss). The imperfect ἦν, was, proves that, at the moment when Jesus was speaking, the light was already covered. For there is evidently an allusion in this past tense to the imprisonment of John the Baptist. The second part of the verse: Ye were willing...., continues the figure. Jesus compares the Jews to children who, instead of making use of the precious moments during which the light shines, do nothing but frolic in its brightness. To rejoice is contrasted with to be saved, John 5:34. It wasimpossible better to characterize the vain and puerile curiosity, with which the people were infatuated by an appearance so extraordinary. Comp. Luke 7:24: “ What went ye out into the wilderness to see? ” Weiss thinks that Jesus meant to indicate the hopes which had at first been excited in the rulers by this appearance. Can this be in accordance with Luke 7:30 ? ᾿Ηθελήσατε : you pleased yourselves with...