Feb. 19 – Believe the Words
John 5
“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. I do not receive glory from people. But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?” (John 5:39-47)
It isn’t controversial to say that sometimes Scripture is unclear or hard to understand. Occasionally, to really glean an understanding of a difficult text, it requires work and study. Oftentimes, people are unwilling to do that kind of work – it’s easier to make a text mean what we want it to mean, rather than consider its context, author, audience, and so on.
The Pharisees stood there, looking the fulfillment of Scripture – Jesus – in the eye, and rejected Him. He didn’t fit what they had come to expect; and even worse, He threatened their authority.
The sad reality is that many people reject the authority of Scripture to reveal who Jesus is, and try to make Him into something He is not. A Democrat. A Republican. A cheerleader. A hippie. Your discomfort with what the Scriptures say about Jesus does not give you the authority to recreate Jesus in your own image. Your discomfort comes not from the Bible being old and out of date, but from your refusal to acknowledge your sin, and repent of it.
Jesus stands before you in His Word. Don’t let your personal opinions usurp what the text says. He wants to adorn you in Righteousness; to lavish you with mercy. It is yours to receive. Repent and believe the Gospel.
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, help me to receive and believe what your Word says,
even when it is confusing or makes me uncomfortable. Comfort and instruct me in all things. Amen.
