1/29/2013. John 5:31-47. TESTIMONIES ABOUT JESUS- my devotional

Key Verse: 5:36                                                                                                                                                              Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF

“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.”

Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for the refreshing two days where I can be rejuvenated. Thank you for the quiet times where I can nurture mind, body and soul. Grant me your strength to serve you and glorify you in this mission that you have given me here in DeKalb. Lord, illumine my heart today with your words from John’s gospel. I thank you and I pray in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen!

Part 1: How Can a Person Believe? (31-40).

Verses 31-40, “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. ³² There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true. ³³ “You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. ³⁴ Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. ³⁵ John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light. ³⁶ “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. ³⁷ And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, ³⁸ nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. ³⁹ You studythe Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, ⁴⁰ yet you refuse to come to me to have life.”

The Jewish leaders were no doubt offended and outraged by the claims of Jesus. However, Jesus wanted them to believe and be saved, so he presented witnesses to substantiate his claims.

1) Jesus fulfilled all the Messianic prophecies of Scripture, including those of Moses.

2) He was the one John pointed to when he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.”

3) The voice of the Father himself testified about the identity of his beloved Son, Jesus.

4) Furthermore, the work of Jesus proves that he was sent by the Father. This powerful work   continues on today in the lives of those who trust Him.

The claims of Jesus are remarkable and true. People want proof and God has granted enough proof. These proofs are timeless. They should satisfy every inquiring mind, in every culture in every generation. They are proofs that Satan can not touch and manipulate. That is why textual systematic Bible study of both the New and Old Testaments is so important. You need to know how Jesus is represented in the Scripture and how he is the fulfillment of the promises of God. A changed life is so important. Who can change my life but Jesus alone? I was a destructive hedonist whose life purpose was living for pleasure. I was on the road to mediocrity, lung cancer, failure and eventually eternal condemnation. But Jesus came to me and revealed himself to me in such a life changing way. I could become a Christian, husband, father, nurse and a leader in my church. One day I can be a missionary to NW Ontario. And after my race on earth is done, I can enter into the glorious kingdom of God. This is the work of Jesus in my life. Who else but Jesus could bring about the recent changes in my family and ministry? It is the power of the Gospel. My life testimony is proof that Jesus is alive and active. I pray that God may raise up people who can reveal his Christ through the testimony of their changed lives.

Jesus is real. The Gospel is true. God has provided all the proof that we need. We just need to open our eyes and see the many proofs and repent of our unreasonable unbelief. Actually that is what I first repented of. In 1986 I had studied the Bible for one month and refused to believe, even though there were so many reasons to believe. But after simple conversation with Msn Joshua Yoon in my dorm room at MSU in 1986, I said, “This is too deep to be ever contrived by man.” I saw that I had no reason to disbelieve and every reason to believe. I repented of my unbelief and the Holy Spirit came into my heart. Jesus was real. The Kingdom of God was real. The Bible was true. Later on the gospel took shape in my heart. God provided the proof and moved my heart to believe.

Part 2: What Hinders Belief? (41-47).

       There are various reasons why people do not accept Jesus. Jesus outlines them in verses 41-47, “⁴¹ I do not accept glory from human beings, ⁴² but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. ⁴³ 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. ⁴⁴ How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? ⁴⁵ “But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. ⁴⁶ If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. ⁴⁷ But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”

What kept the religious leaders from believing in Jesus? Jesus said the love of God was missing from their hearts. They lived for their own glory. They stood in contrast to men like Simeon. Simeon was a man who loved God and recognized the identity of Jesus while he was still an infant. If the religious leaders truly loved God, they would have accepted his Son. Instead, they lived for the recognition of others and were deaf to the claims of Scripture. These are barriers to belief today. May the love of God and the desire to live for the glory of God consume our hearts.

This passage is not just for the Jewish religious leaders in Jesus’ time. They can even be for Christians today. We can be Christians but not have the love of God in our hearts. We can be consumed with receiving glory from one another and not living for the glory of Jesus. I always thought the meaning of glorifying Jesus means to “reveal” Jesus to others. I was doing ministry, but I did not have the love of God in my heart. I was critical and judgmental to those closest to me. I could not live in the grace of God. I had my expectations and my own ministry goals and if others were not coming alongside I was very critical and judgmental. My home life was not filled with the love of God and the love for one another. Jesus bore with me. My own hard heart and fixed ideas kept me in my own self imposed prison. Jesus came to the rescue and helped me to focus on the grace of Jesus and the kingdom of God. I am coming to enjoy Jesus and my time with Jesus. I can be more kind and understanding and forgiving, loving and joyful. In this way I can glorify Jesus.

I was doing ministry. I was getting great joy out of preparing the word of God in Gospel messages. I enjoyed preaching and teaching. But there was also an element of doing what I was expected to do. I dared not venture outside the box. Could I have been seeking praise and acceptance from my peers? Could this be a reason why many people in ministry don’t want to venture outside the box? God wants to work in our hearts and families and ministries. But we hinder his work when we want to keep up a show in order to receive praise and recognition from our peers in ministry. We pray for God to work, but we limit how he works by our man made structures or by propping up structures that worked in the past. We need to get rid of all desires to seek glory and stop patting each other on the back for maintaining the “program”. We need to seek the praise of God and not be afraid to change when God wants us to change. Then we can have the love of God in our hearts and we can glorify Christ in this world. Amen!

Prayer: Lord, we pray that we may see Jesus ever more clearly and put our faith in him. Help us to glorify you and have the love of God in our hearts.

One Word: Jesus was sent by the Father