Grace and peace, another week of the daily grind. It seems so easy to play church or Christian and do things because you feel you have too or it would make you fill guilty not too. There is so much more to the feeling when God stirs you to do something and you read and work for His glory. I pray that we don't just pass over His words and the novelty doesn't begin to ware off. I hope our souls are filled with the Spirit that we may continue to rejoice in His light.
Jhn 5:33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.
Jhn 5:34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
Jhn 5:35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
Jhn 5:36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
Jhn 5:37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
Jhn 5:38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.
- Can you give scripture reference for verse 37?
- Why did they not believe?
- Had any man ever seen God in shape (vs 38) if so how?
The miracles Christ performed were not the only, nor was it the most direct evidence that proved His deity and that He was Lord. The Father Himself bore witness. The majority of the commentaries on these verses today refer to verse 37 as a reference to the baptism of Christ. But in the context of the verses that surround it, there is justifiable reason to waiver. Instead of the baptism by John he may be referring to the many witnesses which the Father has sent before Him and the prophets of the Old Testament. This helps us better understand verses 33-35, were He is not appealing to the witness of John for a confirmation of His words and works, But rather appeals to John for their sake that they might know Him and be saved. John, as well as the many that proceeded him, were sent by the Father to stir men’s souls and bare witness of their deep need and the things to come. Their messages were inspired by God and breathed life through the Spirit. But unless Jesus was their intersession and God open their heart to receive this message, at most these words would tickle the ears but never find root in the soul. Sadly ever time they only stayed with them a while, and in time finely searched for their own message and abandoned the words of God. This also seems to give us more insight to the verse that follows. Christ is laced in the words of those that testify of Him. Christ is reveled in promise, prophecy, pictures, and type in all that has been written but like these Jews many refuse His word and do not believe.
