Believe

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

BELIEVE

John 5:31-47

31 "If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid. 32 There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is valid. 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 very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies 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 diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life. 41 "I do not accept praise from men, 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 if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise 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?" 

NIV

Although we thought we would have to take this in little bits at a time, we almost covered it all in regard to testimony. Yet there is this other point Jesus was making to these Jews that did not see him as their Messiah, or rather they refused to accept his and the Fathers testimony or of John the Baptists or His as to who he is. This idea of accepting someone who comes in his own name has us a bit concerned. What did Jesus mean? It seems the Jews would have known very well what Jesus was talking about as they were very accustomed to following great teachers who never confessed a divine commission, but rather testified of their great knowledge of the Law. This may well also be the case to when we give so much credence to those who profess great knowledge but may, or may not be sent from God to expound that knowledge for the benefit of the kingdom of God. Some false teachers have arrived on the Christian scene for the expressed reason to gain personal recognition or fame as well as fortune. How often do we hear someone say, “I come in the name of the Lord” or “I have been sent by God”? There are many who have been called by God to serve in His kingdom in various ways. These are people of God, who testify about God. These are what we have to be confident of in that we have been called, we have been commissioned by God, not by men to serve in His kingdom. The problem which exists whenever we are involved in denominationalism is that men have to approve our testimony and it almost seems as they are commissioning our service. However, it is more as if they are simply recognizing what God has done and is doing in our life. But, it still requires their approval if we are to receive their credentials. It is strange, to say the least, but the fact remains we all have to be careful of the false teachers who testify concerning themselves, who go by titles conferred by men, in some cases by themselves, rather than by God. The Jews believed in those teachers, who even today our historians have records of their names, famous teachers such as Hillel and Shammai, but they would not believe the teaching of Jesus, one sent from God. Today, we too have many teachers who have famous names, but we have to make sure they testify about God, and not about themselves. We have to be sure those who we listen to are sent by God, not by men. We also must make sure we are sent by God and not by men. Do we have a divine mission? Are we doing what we do because of our own sense of rightness, or do we do what we do because we have been commissioned by God? Jesus taught as one with authority because he was from God, yet men refused to listen and they believed in Moses, the Law of Moses and they will die and be judged by that Law. We believe Jesus and we will be judged by Him, by our faith in Him. Let us always believe in Him, and always be willing to testify about Him, and not about ourselves, not about our good deeds, or even our faith, for even our faith is a gift of God. It seems it does come down to he must become greater, we must become less. This may be the truth in denying self to follow Jesus. Who do we believe?