DAY #151: John 5:31-47

The Jews to whom Jesus was speaking had never heard God’s voice or seen him face to face. (The teachings and miracles testified that the Father had sent Jesus.) Yet, here they had the greatest of all God’s manifestations standing right before their eyes—Jesus, the Word, the visible expression of God to people. But they did not have his message in their hearts because they were refusing to believe in Jesus. If that Word had been abiding in their hearts, they would have recognized the one to whom the Scriptures give testimony.

The Jewish teachers devoted their lives to studying the Scriptures—not so much to search for the truth but to analyze the minutia of the law. And the “scholars” studied, Jesus said, because they thought that by doing so they would possess eternal life. But by studying the Scriptures they should have seen the source of life: “The Scriptures point to me!” If we fail to see this testimony, we miss the very purpose for which the Scriptures exist. If there were no such person as Jesus Christ, the Scriptures would have little value. The Bible’s chief value lies in its testimony to him.

To refuse to come to Jesus is to reject life because Christ is the giver of eternal life. Religious zeal—even involvement with the Scriptures—does not bring a person eternal life. The religious leaders knew what the Bible said but failed to apply its words to their lives. They knew the teachings of the Scriptures but failed to see the Messiah to whom the Scriptures pointed. They knew the rules but missed the Savior. Entrenched in their own religious system, they refused to let the Son of God change their lives.

Jesus knew the condition of the people; they did not really have God’s love within them—they loved their religion. Therefore, they could not receive the Son of God. Jesus came as the Father’s personal representative, but many of the Jews could not accept his claims of being the one sent by the Father. The others that were accepted may have been other persons who claimed to be the Messiah. Because they fit the mistaken image of what the Messiah was supposed to accomplish (political liberation), people eagerly received them.

Instead of seeking what would honor God and bring glory to him—which, in this case, would be to believe in his Son—the people and religious continued to seek acceptance from their peers.
The Pharisees prided themselves on being the true followers of their ancestor Moses. They followed every one of his laws to the letter and even added some of their own. Jesus’ warning that Moses was accusing them stung them to fury.

Moses had written about Christ (Genesis 3:15; Numbers 21:9; 24:17; Deuteronomy 18:15-18;), but since they did not believe in Christ when He came, they did not really believe in the writings of Moses. This was Jesus’ final condemnation in this section.

SO WHAT? (what will i do with what I have read today?)

As I read this passage this morning, I am filled with frustration for the religious leaders of Jesus' day. They read the word, they studied the word, they memorized the word. BUT, they did not understand the word or obey the word. They failed to put God's words into action. They failed to implement God's truth into their life.

Lord, help me to obey James 1:22 (NIV) - "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."

Route out any Pharisaical fiber in my body. Lord, rid this spirit of "religion" of the people of COV. Build a church and build a people who are pure hearted. Build into me and our people pure motives. Drive the pride and self-righteousness from each one of us and give us humble hearts to be taught and follow.

Lord, draw people to COV this morning. Draw people to You. Change lives this morning.