Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent -- April 7, 2011
John 5:31 – 47
“If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true.
“You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.
“I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you possess eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
“I do not accept glory from human beings, but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
“But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”
We’ve spent a few days in John 5. A couple of days ago, we began the chapter (vv. 1 – 6) with Jesus and the man who had waited for healing by the pool of mercy (Bethesda). He lay there day after day for 38 years, awaiting the moment of wholeness.
For the religious leaders, the healing was not as important as the fact that it happened on the Sabbath. Mat-carrying was prohibited by Jewish law on the Sabbath.
So Jesus faced accusations as a Sabbath-breaker. This passage represented part of Jesus’ lengthy, intricate defense.
Jesus declared that the religious leaders of his time accepted glory from one another, but did not seek the glory of God (v. 44). He depicted them as persons who were vigilant about what others thought of them, but who would not be mindful of who they were with God.
It is a common malady, that very often we are watching out for the opinions and thoughts of others. In fact, many of us organize and order life around the expectations of others, whether at work, home, church, or in the neighborhood. We give our lives so totally to the perception of others that there comes a time when we no longer have our own life.
“Accepting glory” from others seems to be an especially tenuous place to be. It keeps one busy comparing oneself to others, and keeps one in competition with others.
Many of us can only know how we are doing when we measure our lives up against others. And when we make a lifetime of that kind of stance, it becomes an exhausting exercise in futility. Our identity cannot come from the evaluations of others.
Jesus knew, on the other hand, that our identity is in God. God is the source of who we are. Glory can only be given to God.
After all, we can never be enough to others. We are already enough for God.
“If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true.
“You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.
“I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you possess eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
“I do not accept glory from human beings, but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
“But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”
We’ve spent a few days in John 5. A couple of days ago, we began the chapter (vv. 1 – 6) with Jesus and the man who had waited for healing by the pool of mercy (Bethesda). He lay there day after day for 38 years, awaiting the moment of wholeness.
For the religious leaders, the healing was not as important as the fact that it happened on the Sabbath. Mat-carrying was prohibited by Jewish law on the Sabbath.
So Jesus faced accusations as a Sabbath-breaker. This passage represented part of Jesus’ lengthy, intricate defense.
Jesus declared that the religious leaders of his time accepted glory from one another, but did not seek the glory of God (v. 44). He depicted them as persons who were vigilant about what others thought of them, but who would not be mindful of who they were with God.
It is a common malady, that very often we are watching out for the opinions and thoughts of others. In fact, many of us organize and order life around the expectations of others, whether at work, home, church, or in the neighborhood. We give our lives so totally to the perception of others that there comes a time when we no longer have our own life.
“Accepting glory” from others seems to be an especially tenuous place to be. It keeps one busy comparing oneself to others, and keeps one in competition with others.
Many of us can only know how we are doing when we measure our lives up against others. And when we make a lifetime of that kind of stance, it becomes an exhausting exercise in futility. Our identity cannot come from the evaluations of others.
Jesus knew, on the other hand, that our identity is in God. God is the source of who we are. Glory can only be given to God.
After all, we can never be enough to others. We are already enough for God.
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