Last time we met, we discussed Jesus shows us God, today we discuss John 5: 30-47.
30 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.31 If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. 33 You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35 He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36 But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, 38 and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. 39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. 41 I do not receive glory from people. 42 But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”
V 30 reminds us that Jesus does what God wills of him. He does nothing on his own accord but seeks God’s will alone.
Can you imagine if we truly sought to follow after Jesus what such a mindset would do for us? That we would only seek to do the will of God? Alas, it is so easy for us to get distracted. To seek our own will rather than God’s. There are days I so wish it weren’t so. That I could see the needs of others, or I could see what God would have me do and not have to wonder if I am making the right decision. To be able to, as naturally as breathing, do only what the good Lord would will of me. Be nice eh?
v. 31 this verse make so much sense to me eh? Testifying about yourself is like saying YEAH ME when you have nothing to prove your own veracity. BUT if someone else says something good about… it’s a different story eh?
And Jesus does have someone who will tell the truth about him, someone who will testify to who he is. It’s John the Baptist! Jesus is clear though, he doesn’t seek testimony from people, but that testimony that he does receive from man is helpful to them. He goal is the salvation of people.
Consider who John is… a testimony true and sure, a bright light they gathered around BUT the testimony Jesus has, the testimony that he seeks is greater than John. It’s the work that God the Father has for him. God himself has borne testimony of Jesus.
People have not seen him, or heard him, nor do they have God’s word hiding in them. Why? Because they choose not to believe in the one God sent.
Even though these Jewish folk search the scriptures because they think that is where they will find eternal life.. they are wrong. Eternal life is found through believing in the one God sent. Eternal life is found in Jesus.
Jesus asks them hard questions:
- How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
- For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”
I have to admit, I was supposed to read this passage yesterday and talk about it, but I didn’t. I delayed until today to talk and I don’t entirely understand this passage.
To me in a nutshell Jesus is talking to the Jews who want to understand under whose name he comes. Jesus has told them GOD. He only does what God wills of him.
But they don’t believe him. They want some physical person to say “I’ve sent him to do this” or they want Jesus to proclaim himself. Jesus doesn’t do that. He’s told them that God sent him. They don’t believe him, so they’ve turned to the scriptures for answers, but don’t really believe what they find there either. They just can’t or won’t accept what is true. This is why Jesus asked them those hard questions. If you can’t believe the writer, how can you believe the words? If they seek upbuilding from one another without turning to the one who can build them up, encourage them and say well, how can they truly say they believe God? It’s hard.
It’s hard for me to fully understand everything in this passage.
It’s hard for me to really put into words what I THINK I’m understanding.
I am seeing though that it’s hard for the Jewish folk to wrap their heads around the fact that this man who claims to be the Son of God actually IS the Son of God.
They want proof, but how can Jesus give it to them? He can point them to scripture. He can point them back to when he was baptized and God gave his voice of approval to him, but if they don’t believe what they read, and if they don’t believe John the Baptist, what can Jesus do? What proof then can he offer? He can’t.
If they don’t believe the evidence he has given them, what use are any words that he would speak to them? What use is it?
The frustration eh? That’s what I see you know? Frustration on the part of the Jews because they just cannot understand it. Frustration perhaps on the side of Jesus because, these people have the evidence, but they just aren’t able to connect all the dots. Faith is such a required element. [clickToTweet tweet=”Faith is such a required element. ” quote=” Faith is such a required element. “]
Knowing this, what is my response to this passage?
I don’t know. Part of my shakes my head at the whole situation. Wondering why the Jews couldn’t see it, marvelling at Jesus’ patience with them. Wondering what take home I can bring to all of this? Do I trust the Lord? Does my faith reside in Jesus and his work on the cross and after? OR am I like the Jewish folk.. seeking for answers but since faith isn’t part of the equation being unable to do so?
Oh…that I might be the former and not the latter. May it be that my faith, faltering and weak though it so often be, be enough to let me see the Lord as he truly is. Master, Saviour, Helper, Guide, Judge, Just, Right, Full-filler of Scripture, and more.
Do you see the Lord reader?
Are you like the Jewish folk and lack the faith and ergo the ability to see the Lord Jesus’ fulfillment of them?
Or do you trust him, do you believe he truly is the Son of God? Write me if you want to know more, perhaps together we can see Jesus more clearly eh?
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