Single lesson
The Father, the Son and the Witnesses
John 5:16–47
Jesus answers people who are against him by explaining his relationship with the Father and by naming the witnesses that support what he says. This lesson helps children notice who Jesus says he is and why his words matter.
Before you teach
In this passage, Jesus is being persecuted because he did these things on the Sabbath. He replies by speaking about the Father’s work, the Son’s authority to give life and judge, and the witnesses that testify about him, including John, Jesus’ works, the Father, the Scriptures and Moses.
Students will be able to identify at least three witnesses in John 5:16–47 and explain that Jesus says the Father sent the Son, who gives life and judges rightly.
Welcome: What does a witness do?
4 minAsk the group what a witness does. Explain simply that a witness tells what is true. Tell students that in this passage Jesus speaks about who he is and names witnesses that testify about him. Introduce the lesson goal: to find the witnesses and listen to Jesus’ main teaching about the Father and the Son.
John 5:31, John 5:32, John 5:36
Read and explain: The Son works with the Father
8 minRead John 5:16–30 in small parts. Explain that Jesus says, “My Father is still working, so I am working, too.” He says the Son does what he sees the Father doing. The Father gives the Son authority to give life and to judge, and people are to honour the Son as they honour the Father.
John 5:16, John 5:17, John 5:19, John 5:21, John 5:22, John 5:23, John 5:24, John 5:30
Discuss: Who testifies about Jesus?
7 minRead John 5:31–40. Help children list the witnesses Jesus names. John testified to the truth. Jesus’ works testify that the Father sent him. The Father has testified about him. The Scriptures also testify about him. Point out that Jesus says searching the Scriptures is not enough by itself if people will not come to him for life.
John 5:33, John 5:34, John 5:36, John 5:37, John 5:39, John 5:40
Make and respond: Witness reminder card
7 minChildren choose one short line from the passage to place on a reminder card, such as “the Father has sent me” or “come to me, that you may have life”. On the other side, they draw or write three witnesses from the passage. As they work, ask how this passage teaches us to respond to Jesus’ words.
John 5:36, John 5:39, John 5:40, John 5:47
Closing: Believe the words of Jesus
4 minFinish with John 5:41–47. Explain that Jesus says some people wanted glory from one another instead of the glory that comes from the only God. He says Moses wrote about him, so refusing Jesus’ words matches refusing those writings. Review the witnesses together and ask students to say one thing they learned about Jesus.
John 5:44, John 5:45, John 5:46, John 5:47
Questions to explore
According to Jesus, what has the Father given the Son to do?
Look for the verses that mention giving life, judging, and doing the Father’s will.
John 5:21, John 5:22, John 5:30
Which witnesses does Jesus name in this passage?
Find each person or thing that “testifies” or “wrote about” Jesus.
John 5:33, John 5:36, John 5:37, John 5:39, John 5:46
What does Jesus say people must do if they want life?
Notice the lines about hearing his word, believing him who sent Jesus, and coming to Jesus.
John 5:24, John 5:40
Make, think or respond
Witness Reminder Card
What you’ll need
- card or paper
- pencils or markers
- Bible
Try it together
- Read John 5:31–40 together and list the witnesses Jesus names.
- Ask each child to choose one short phrase from the passage that shows Jesus’ message, and write it on one side of a card.
- On the other side, children draw or write at least three witnesses from the passage.
- Invite each child to show the card and explain how their chosen phrase connects to the witnesses.
This activity helps children remember that Jesus does not speak alone in this passage. He names witnesses that testify about him and calls people to hear and believe.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, pre-write two or three short phrase options from the passage for them to copy, and let them draw symbols for the witnesses.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to sort the witnesses into people, works and writings, then explain why each one matters in the passage.
An optional closing prayer
“Father, thank you for showing us who Jesus is. Please help us hear his word, believe what is true, and honour the Son. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
John 5
16 For this cause the Jews persecuted Jesus and sought to kill him, because he did these things on the Sabbath.
17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is still working, so I am working, too.”
18 For this cause therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
19 Jesus therefore answered them, “Most certainly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise.
20 For the Father has affection for the Son, and shows him all things that he himself does. He will show him greater works than these, that you may marvel.
21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he desires.
22 For the Father judges no one, but he has given all judgment to the Son,
23 that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who doesn’t honor the Son doesn’t honor the Father who sent him.
24 “Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
25 Most certainly I tell you, the hour comes, and now is, when the dead will hear the Son of God’s voice; and those who hear will live.
26 For as the Father has life in himself, even so he gave to the Son also to have life in himself.
27 He also gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man.
28 Don’t marvel at this, for the hour comes in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice
29 and will come out; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.
30 I can of myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and my judgment is righteous, because I don’t seek my own will, but the will of my Father who sent me.
31 “If I testify about myself, my witness is not valid.
32 It is another who testifies about me. I know that the testimony which he testifies about me is true.
33 You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth.
34 But the testimony which I receive is not from man. However, I say these things that you may be saved.
35 He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.
36 But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father gave me to accomplish, the very works that I do, testify about me, that the Father has sent me.
37 The Father himself, who sent me, has testified about me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his form.
38 You don’t have his word living in you, because you don’t believe him whom he sent.
39 “You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which testify about me.
40 Yet you will not come to me, that you may have life.
41 I don’t receive glory from men.
42 But I know you, that you don’t have God’s love in yourselves.
43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you don’t receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.
44 How can you believe, who receive glory from one another, and you don’t seek the glory that comes from the only God?
45 “Don’t think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you, even Moses, on whom you have set your hope.
46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote about me.
47 But if you don’t believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.