Scripture: “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. If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 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. And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. I do not receive glory from people. But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. 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. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? 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. 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?”
John 5:30-47 ESV
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Observation: Recapping yesterday’s Daily Focus, Jesus begins his defense before the religious leaders by clarifying that he does not act on his own accord but only does what he sees the Father doing. Moreover, their mutual love spurs their collaboration. At the heart of their work is the gift of life, but such a gift is not undiscerning. The Father has accorded Jesus the honor to judge rightly. As such, those who dishonor the Son will face judgment, but those who believe in him will pass from earthly death to eternal life. Jesus then changes the tone to create a sense of urgency. Utilizing prophetic language, he declares that judgment is imminent. And as a sign, all the dead will rise. Those who know the voice of the Son and have done good works will rise to eternal life. But those who rejected the Son and have done evil will face judgment.
Today’s devotion ends this first interrogation, but more is to come. Having established authority to judge and arbitrate sentencing in alignment with the Father’s will, Jesus presents evidence that his testimony is true (following the Levitical law that requires two or more witnesses, see Deuteronomy 19:15). Citing John the Baptist as a human witness, Jesus contends that the works his Father has given him speak louder to his sonship. Noting that these religious leaders have never heard or seen God, Jesus asserts the word does not abide in them because they do not believe Jesus came from God and speaks his divine words.
Ironically, these scholars of the Torah delude themselves into thinking they have obtained eternal life through their knowledge of Scripture. Yet the Torah attests to Jesus being his Son. Thus, their lack of faith will rob them of everlasting life. But the real issue is their absence of love for God as demonstrated by their fraternal priorities, where they honor one another and their proud ancestry line over God. Thus, while they are unconcerned about Jesus, they had better pay closer attention to the messianic writings of their patriarch, Moses, for his prophecies all point to Jesus. Nevertheless, as this confrontation ends, John tells us they still refuse to believe Jesus speaks God’s words.
Takeaway: Jesus does not minimize his cousin’s testimony. Instead, Jesus later tells his disciples that there is no one greater than John leading up to the epoch of the inauguration of the Kingdom of God (Matthew 11:11). Rather, Jesus emphasizes the importance of believing what these pillars of the faith proclaim as recorded in Scripture. The author of Hebrews emphasized their crucial role in handing down the faith to us. In Chapter 11, he writes that from Abel to Abraham to Moses to even Rahab, the prostitute, and many other heroes of the faith who followed, all these godly men and women longed for the day of Christ’s arrival. Yet, even though they did not witness the fulfillment of the promise in their lifetime, they testified to his coming through persecution and suffering to do their part for our generation. And the foundation of their faith was love.
In contrast, Jesus calls out these scribes and Pharisees for their lack of love toward God (v.42). And he will return to this relationship dynamic of love that flows from and returns to the Father through the Son in another conflict with the religious leaders after announcing he is the light of the world. Offended by his supposed heresy, the Pharisees show disdain toward Jesus, which culminates with Jesus saying, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me” (John 8:42 ESV). Indeed, the religious leaders’ lack of discernment and insight stems not from a deficiency of education or intelligence but from proud hearts hardened toward God.
Our takeaway? Love is the heartbeat of John’s Gospel and his epistles. John writes in his first letter that we love God because he first loved us (1 John 4:19). That’s an essential precept of our faith. Undoubtedly, outside of the Father showing his love for us through the Holy Spirit and Scripture, we would not have it in us to believe and feel love for God. But he did make the first move, as Scripture reveals and the Holy Spirit attests.
Our part? While all of us must open our hearts and minds to his love and appropriate his gift of faith, our comprehension of the Father and Son’s sacrificial love and grace for us will continue to mature as we deepen our love for them, for love brings understanding.
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for your Son, who faithfully loved you and fulfilled your will so that we might be reconciled to you and receive your love. And we thank you for your Holy Spirit, who deepens our awareness of you and your Son’s love for us, thereby bringing a greater understanding of Scripture and how it applies to us. So, please help us abide in your Word, your Holy Spirit, and the community of believers so we might continue to grow in our love for you and your Son and glorify and enjoy you forever. Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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