Briefing: A big part of a police officer’s job is responding to calls for service. When an officer arrives he interviews the people involved. The responses they give are called testimony.

Dispatch (Assignment): Read John 5:31-47.

On the Street: Webster’s dictionary defines testimony as, “firsthand authentication of a fact; EVIDENCE.” Our ability to do our job relies on people giving us information/testimony. How hard is it to solve crime when you have no witnesses or evidence?

In John 14:6 (NIV), “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” If Jesus is truth, and He is, then why don’t the Pharisees believe Him? A question just a relevant is: if Jesus is truth, and He is, why don’t WE believe Him?

Jesus had four different testimonies about Him:

1) John the Baptist’s testimony,
2) His works and miracles,
3) God’s spoken, audible testimony about Jesus at His baptism and the Transfiguration, and
4) the scriptures and prophesy about Jesus.

With this kind of testimony, why did the Pharisees still not believe Him? Pharisees were the lawyers of Jesus’ time. They were the individuals who were responsible for keeping up with the law and making sure it was followed. They were more interested in keeping their place of power and prestige than acknowledging the arrival of the One who fulfilled the law and the prophecies.

Remember, the definition of testimony is evidence. If you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough testimony to convict you? Your lifestyle a testimony to the Lord in your life. The question is, who so you serve? Is it yourself or a life lived out of love for Jesus?

Do you believe the testimony of Jesus? Do you trust the promises in the Bible? Are you willing to submit to Jesus? Live a life that points to Him and reflects Him. Live a life where people know you are a Christian by the things you do and the way you act.

Investigational Resources: John the Baptist testified about Jesus in John 1:19-36. Jesus’ works and miracles can be found throughout the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). God speaking at Jesus’ baptism can be found in Matthew 3:16-17, Mark 1:9-11, and Luke 3:21-22. God speaking at the Transfiguration is found in Matthew 17:5, Mark 9:7, and Luke 9:35. The scriptures and prophesies about Jesus can be found from Genesis 1:1 through Revelation 22:21.

Officer Safety Principle: Believe Jesus’ testimony. He is truth.

from The Gospel of John Through the Eyes of a Cop
©by Charles Gilliland. Used by permission.
Click here to check out the entire Through the Eyes of a Cop series!