John 5:35 kjv
He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
John 5:35 nkjv
He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.
John 5:35 niv
John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.
John 5:35 esv
He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.
John 5:35 nlt
John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were excited for a while about his message.
John 5 35 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 1:7 | He came as a witness to testify about the light... | John 1:7 (Direct connection) |
| John 1:9 | The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. | John 1:9 (Fulfills theme) |
| John 3:28 | You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ... | John 3:28 (Echoes John’s purpose) |
| John 3:29 | The one who has the bride is the bridegroom... | John 3:29 (Context of John’s role) |
| John 3:30 | He must become greater; I must become less. | John 3:30 (John’s self-abasement) |
| Isaiah 60:1 | Arise, shine, for your light has come... | Isaiah 60:1 (Prophetic fulfillment) |
| Malachi 4:5 | "See, I will send the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day..." | Mal 4:5 (Elijah/John comparison) |
| Matthew 11:10 | For this is the one about whom it is written: “‘I will send my messenger ahead of you... | Matt 11:10 (Fulfillment of prophecy) |
| Luke 1:17 | And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah... | Luke 1:17 (John’s ministry) |
| John 8:12 | Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world..." | John 8:12 (Jesus as Light) |
| 1 John 5:9 | We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater... | 1 John 5:9 (Testimony’s validity) |
| Acts 1:8 | But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you... | Acts 1:8 (Power for witness) |
| Romans 10:14 | How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in?... | Rom 10:14 (Need for testimony) |
| 1 Corinthians 2:5 | so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. | 1 Cor 2:5 (Faith not in man) |
| 1 John 4:14 | And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. | 1 John 4:14 (Bearing witness to Son) |
| Revelation 1:16 | ...and his face was like the sun shining with all its strength. | Rev 1:16 (Divine radiance) |
| Psalm 132:17 | There I will make a horn grow for David and set a lamp for my anointed one. | Ps 132:17 (Messianic reference) |
| Jeremiah 20:11 | But the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior... | Jer 20:11 (God’s support for witness) |
| Proverbs 13:9 | The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till full daylight. | Prov 13:9 (Righteous radiance) |
| John 5:31 | If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. | John 5:31 (Context of testimony) |
| John 5:32 | There is another who testifies about me, and I know that his testimony about me is true. | John 5:32 (The other testimony) |
John 5 verses
John 5 35 Meaning
Jesus testifies about John the Baptist’s character and purpose. John was a shining, radiant lamp. His testimony about Jesus was not self-serving, but truthful and intended to lead others to believe in Jesus. He bore witness to the true light, which is Jesus Christ Himself.
John 5 35 Context
This verse appears in John chapter 5, during Jesus’ ministry. Jesus had just healed a man at the Pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath, leading to a confrontation with the Jewish leaders. They were questioning his authority and disputing his actions. In response, Jesus presents a series of testimonies about himself, demonstrating his divine authority and his unique relationship with God the Father. He mentions the testimony of John the Baptist (verse 33), his own miraculous works (verse 36), the Father's testimony (verses 37-38), and the testimony of the Scriptures (verses 39-47). This verse specifically addresses the quality and purpose of John the Baptist's witness. The historical and cultural context involves Jewish leaders, particularly the Pharisees and Sadducees, who were the religious authorities. They were often resistant to Jesus and sought to undermine his claims. Polemics against contemporary beliefs are evident in Jesus refuting the self-sufficiency of their law-based righteousness and highlighting the need for a different kind of authority and spiritual understanding.
John 5 35 Word Analysis
- And: (Greek: kai) A conjunction used to connect clauses or phrases. Here, it links the preceding discussion about testimony to the specific mention of John.
- you: (Greek: hēmeis) Refers to the listeners, likely including the Jewish leaders.
- have sent: (Greek: apesteilate) Perfect tense, indicating an action completed in the past with ongoing results, possibly referring to the act of sending John or acknowledging the validity of his mission.
- to: (Greek: pros) A preposition indicating direction or purpose.
- John: (Greek: Iōannēn) John the Baptist.
- and: (kai) Conjunction.
- you: (hēmeis) Pronoun.
- bore: (Greek: martyrein) To bear witness, testify.
- witness: (Greek: martyrian) Testimony, evidence.
- of: (Greek: eis) Preposition indicating purpose or aim.
- his: (Greek: autos) Possessive pronoun referring to John.
- light: (Greek: phōs) Light, radiance. A symbol of truth, divine revelation, spiritual understanding.
- You: (hēmeis) Pronoun.
- sent: (apesteilate) See above.
- and: (kai) Conjunction.
- you: (hēmeis) Pronoun.
- willingly rejoiced: (Greek: ēthelēsate agalliasēte) "Willingly" (etheleō - to wish, desire) and "rejoiced" (agalliao - to exult, be exceedingly joyful). This combination suggests they not only desired but actively delighted in his ministry and message, at least initially.
- in: (Greek: en) Preposition indicating sphere or manner.
- his: (autos) Possessive.
- light: (phōs) Light.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "You sent to John": This phrase highlights the actions of those addressed, perhaps referencing the people’s recognition of John as a prophet or their interaction with his ministry.
- "bore witness of his light": This encapsulates John’s primary role as a witness. The "light" symbolizes Christ, and John's witness was to Christ's divine nature and salvific work.
- "You willingly rejoiced in his light": This phrase acknowledges the initial positive reception John's ministry received from the people. They found joy and encouragement in his message of repentance and the coming Messiah.
John 5 35 Bonus Section
John the Baptist's ministry was often described with light imagery, aligning him with prophetic descriptions of God’s light and truth-bearers. His temporary radiant illumination served to direct attention to the eternal, all-encompassing light of Christ. The use of "willingly rejoiced" implies a past enthusiastic acceptance, serving as an appeal to their prior spiritual awareness and potentially a gentle rebuke for their current spiritual blindness or hardness of heart toward Jesus. This verse establishes a crucial evidentiary point for Jesus' claims.
John 5 35 Commentary
Jesus confirms the valid testimony of John the Baptist. John was sent by God, fulfilling his God-ordained purpose. He was like a burning and shining lamp, illustrating his powerful, radiant, and illuminating ministry in the spiritual darkness of his day. The people readily accepted and rejoiced in John's witness because his message pointed them to the true Light, Jesus Christ. Jesus emphasizes that John’s testimony was truthful and significant, intended to prepare hearts for Christ’s arrival and to lead them to salvation. The original audience's initial rejoicing underscores their receptivity to God’s message through John, contrasting with their later rejection of Jesus Himself.