Scripture: John 5: 30-47
By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
“If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true.
“You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.
“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. And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form,nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. 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.
“I do not accept glory from human beings, but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts.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. How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
“But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”
Consider:
In John 5:30–47, Jesus speaks plainly about authority and witness. The religious leaders of the time seem to take the testimony of the prophets only occasionally… Jesus notes that word has come from God’s own voice (through Moses), John the Baptist, and Jesus’ works, and the Scriptures themselves, and all point to who Jesus is.
There is no lack of evidence here to be sure…there is, however, a lack of openness to receiving this evidence as truth. Jesus tells the religious leaders that they study the Scriptures diligently, but for what? They miss the very One to whom the Scriptures point. Knowledge, or feeling the authority of being knowledgeable, has replaced relationship. Their need to “know” has dulled their ability to recognize God standing in front of them.
Jesus exposes a deeper issue: they seek approval from one another rather than the glory that comes from God. Their hearts are oriented toward human validation, not divine truth. Are ours? Sadly, I can answer yes to that question more than I care to mention…
This passage invites us to examine where we look for authority and affirmation. Do we read scripture to be transformed again and again? Or are we reading merely to say we did, or worse, for a weapon with which to bite back on those things that make us uncomfortable? Do we listen for God’s voice, or only for voices that confirm what we already believe?
Respond:
Today, choose one decision or situation where you normally seek human approval, certainty, or control—and instead pause to seek God’s voice first. For example:
Practice letting go of the need to be right, praised, or affirmed—and choosing faithfulness instead… this will look different for each person, and only you can know what shifts for you to move from validation to faithful response!
Pray:
Faithful God, quiet the voices that compete for our attention. May our knowledge of you lead us to love, and our belief in you lead us to faithful action. Amen.
