Today we are going to finish up John chapter 5. Have you liked the smaller posts? I think writing them is a bit easier to fit into my schedule. Anyway, Christ continues.
John 5:37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. (38) And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.
They were not seeking Christ. They were not excited for the Messiah. They were worried that Christ was going to upset their way of doing things. Let’s say they were really concerned that Christ was not sent from God. Did God give them anything to go on so that they could check his credentials? Yes He did.
Deuteronomy 18:20-22 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
Did Christ ever tell anyone to worship a golden calf or speak to other Gods? Of course not.
Deuteronomy 18:21 And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?
God does not leave us hanging. If you study his word he has the answer there.
Deuteronomy 18:22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.
Did the things that Christ said come to pass? Did he say rise up and walk and the man walked? Yes. So what on earth was the problem with these priests? It’s just as Christ said, “ye have not hs word abiding in you.” The people at this time were not like today. They knew the word. This is why so many of the people followed him. It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to get this guys. It takes God. If you have him with you then you will not be led into darkness.
Let’s now back up to the verses just prior to to these and see if the scriptures speak of Christ.
Deuteronomy 18:15-19 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; (16) According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. (17) And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. (18) I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. (19) And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
This verse chapter was written to the levities. They should have known this. Christ was born from their seed line. “But wait, I thought he was from the tribe of Judah,” yes he was, but he was also half levite on Mary’s side.
John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
We just did that, but that isn’t the only place where we are told of Christ coming. Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
John 5:40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
Again they don’t care about Christ or what he has to day. They just want to kill him for messing up their little priest show. The people knew they didn’t have anything to say except, “This pharisee said this, but this pharisee said that.” Christ was giving them meat and he wasn’t extorting them at the money tables to do it either.
John 5:41 I receive not honour from men.
Christ didn’t seek to receive honor among men. Do you? Who is it more important for you to receive honor from?
John 5:42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
This is where the rubber meets the road. Do you love God or not? Is the first commandment really your first commandment? Does it even have to be a command? It shouldn’t because even if loving someone is hard it shouldn’t take a command to do it.
John 5:43 I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
“You see this church I made? Isn’t it great? Just send me more of your cash because we borrowed to build it.”
John 5:44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
God’s honor is the only thing that matters friends.
Ecclesiastes 1:2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
Nothing you can receive from men will last. Only the love of our Father and his word lasts.
John 5:45-47 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. (46) For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
(47) But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
And we coved that Deuteronomy 18:19. If you don’t hear Christ’s words God is going to require your head. That is what Christ prayed would pass in the garden of Gethsemane. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to be crucified. He didn’t want to have to have to pour out the cup of wrath written of in the book of Revelation.
It all comes down to a simple choice. Do you love God? Do you believe his words and accept them as a child? Or do you just want to fight with them and spend your days trying to prove them wrong. God will accommodate you either way. The choice is up to you.
