Today’s reading: John 5
John chapter 5 has been an interesting, and convicting study for me this week. In this chapter, Jesus makes a very direct claim of who he is and the authority he has been given by his father.
Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him” (John 5:19-23 New International Version).
Jesus’ words in verses 19-23 (above) are in response to the Jewish leaders who were challenging his authority. But they are also life changing to us today. I don’t think we can passively read these verses. Jesus isn’t saying he a rabbi, a teacher, or just a good man. His claims are way more significant than that. He calls God his own Father AND he asserts equality with him. How do you react to this? What are you personally doing with these verses? Do you believe Jesus is who he says he is? Do you believe he is the way? Read the second half of verse 23 again –
“Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him” (John 5:19-23 New International Version).
How long have you been reading our Bible Journal blog? May I probe a little more and ask why? Why are you are reading the Bible Journal? What are doing with messages that our team faithfully posts every day? It is my prayer that you are following the Bible Journal in order to better know Jesus Christ and faithfully him; that you are using it as a tool to help change your heart to look like his.
Learning more about the Bible and what it says is important. Ephesians 4:14 tells us knowing God’s word helps us guard against false teaching. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming (Ephesians 4:14). But, if we simply use our knowledge of the Bible to puff ourselves up, we are just like the Jewish leaders in John 5. You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life (John 5:39-40).
Knowing the Bible doesn’t glorify God. Knowing the scriptures isn’t the same as loving Jesus. The more we study God’s word, the more acutely aware of our sins we should become. Thus, our gratitude and love for Jesus should be growing everyday. It is only through him that we have a way to God.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
Today, would you evaluate your motives? If you need to, would you ask God to change your heart?