These words were spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ to Jews who wanted
to kill Him. We find the words in the Gospel
of John, chapter 5.
John 5:36-40
"(36) But I have a greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish--the very works that I do--bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.
(37) And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.
(38) But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.
(39) You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.
(40) But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life."
"(36) But I have a greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish--the very works that I do--bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.
(37) And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.
(38) But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.
(39) You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.
(40) But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life."
Let's take a closer look at the background to the
above verses.
Verse 36
"But I have a greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish--the very works that I do--bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.
Jesus is referring to John the Baptist in this verse. John the Baptist was sent by the true and living God to prepare the hearts of the Jewish people for their Messiah. Now Jesus quite clearly tells the Jewish people that God the Father had sent Him (Jesus) to do divine works on behalf of the Father. Such things as healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, making the lame to walk, casting out demons, preaching the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit. He further tells these Jews that these works testified to His divine mission from the Father.
"But I have a greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish--the very works that I do--bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.
Jesus is referring to John the Baptist in this verse. John the Baptist was sent by the true and living God to prepare the hearts of the Jewish people for their Messiah. Now Jesus quite clearly tells the Jewish people that God the Father had sent Him (Jesus) to do divine works on behalf of the Father. Such things as healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, making the lame to walk, casting out demons, preaching the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit. He further tells these Jews that these works testified to His divine mission from the Father.
Verse 37
" And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form."
In this verse Jesus is very particular in stating that God the Father Himself sent Jesus for this purpose.
1 John 4:14-15
"(14) And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Saviour of the world.
(15) Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God."
" And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form."
In this verse Jesus is very particular in stating that God the Father Himself sent Jesus for this purpose.
1 John 4:14-15
"(14) And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Saviour of the world.
(15) Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God."
In Matthew chapter 3 we get the Father's testimony to His Son.
Matthew 3:13-17
"(13) Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.
(14) And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?"
(15) But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness." Then he allowed Him.
(16) When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.
(17) And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
"(13) Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.
(14) And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?"
(15) But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness." Then he allowed Him.
(16) When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.
(17) And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
Verse 38
" But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe."
In this verse Jesus the Son of God clearly tells them that they do not have God's words living in them. There is a big difference between hearing and knowing God's words and allowing them to have an ongoing effect in your life. He then informs them that they do not believe that He Jesus had been sent from God.
" But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe."
In this verse Jesus the Son of God clearly tells them that they do not have God's words living in them. There is a big difference between hearing and knowing God's words and allowing them to have an ongoing effect in your life. He then informs them that they do not believe that He Jesus had been sent from God.
Verse 39
" You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me."
Now we come to the crux of this blog post. Jesus seems to be commending them for searching the Scriptures. This is always a good thing to do. The Jews realised that they contained the words of eternal life. Who would not like the idea of eternal life? I know I do and I have eternal life as a present possession.
" You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me."
Now we come to the crux of this blog post. Jesus seems to be commending them for searching the Scriptures. This is always a good thing to do. The Jews realised that they contained the words of eternal life. Who would not like the idea of eternal life? I know I do and I have eternal life as a present possession.
Jesus now points them to a vital link in their
search for eternal life. He is saying that the Scriptures bear witness to
Himself; that eternal life is linked to Him in the Scriptures.
Verse 40
" But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life."
In verse 39 Jesus is able to commend them for searching the Scriptures. However in this verse He reproves them for not recognising that He is the One who is able to give them eternal life. "But you are not willing to come to Me..." How sad! Religious pride, bigotry and disbelief were keeping them from eternal life.
" But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life."
In verse 39 Jesus is able to commend them for searching the Scriptures. However in this verse He reproves them for not recognising that He is the One who is able to give them eternal life. "But you are not willing to come to Me..." How sad! Religious pride, bigotry and disbelief were keeping them from eternal life.
How about You? Are pride, bigotry and disbelief
keeping you from the gift of eternal life? The eternal God has decreed that
eternal life is in His Son Jesus Christ. He has also declared that salvation can
only be found in Jesus Christ.
Acts 4:10-12
"(10) let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.
(11) This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.'
(12) Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
"(10) let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.
(11) This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.'
(12) Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
Romans 6:23
”For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
”For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Will you be like the disbelieving Jews in Jesus'
time on earth and refuse the gift of eternal life? Or will you become one of
the myriads of people who have accepted the gift of eternal life from Jesus of
Nazareth, the Son of God?
1 John 5:9-12
"(9) If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son.
(10) He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.
(11) And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
(12) He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life."
"(9) If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son.
(10) He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.
(11) And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
(12) He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life."
John 3:35-36
"(35) The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.
(36) He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
"(35) The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.
(36) He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
Jon Peasey
Words of Life blog www.jrpeasey.blogspot.com
Ebooks author
page https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JRPeasey
[All
Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version; unless otherwise noted.
Words enclosed in [ ] are inserted
for clarity. Words in bold type
emphasise a point. You may notice some verses are quoted with ... at the beginning, ending or
elsewhere in a verse. Only the relevant part or parts of the verse, that relate
directly to the current subject matter is quoted.]
[If you have
any questions or comments you are invited to contact me via the comments section
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