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Hearing and responding to the words of Jesus

Text: John 5:16-47

HEARING AND RESPONDING TO THE WORDS OF JESUS

Jesus presented the message of the Gospel in different ways to numerous people. John did not record much about what the first disciples were taught by Jesus, before they came to faith in Him. It is likely that the disciples did not have the kind of unbelief that was obvious in the hearts of The Jews.

Nicodemus may well be said to belong to the group called The Jews. Jesus also presented the Gospel to him, and told him that he needed to be born again if he were to see the kingdom of God. Yes, Nicodemus had some difficulty in understanding and accepting what Jesus said initially, but he did not need to have the Gospel explained in such details!

When Jesus spoke to the woman of Samaria, and offered to her salvation, describing it as a fountain of living water, He found her quite responsive. There was of course the usual initial hesitance, but before too long she opened her heart to the message of the Gospel! The whole Samaritan city of Sychar opened its gates to Jesus and many believed Him to be the Messiah!

It seems “strange” that The Jews should have such difficulty understanding Jesus. He had offered Himself as a faithful and true witness. He knew that He would not be believed easily and so He appealed to John the Baptizer as a witness. He went on to offer His works as a witness. As if that was not enough, He mentioned God as a witness! What does it take for a person to find faith and salvation in Jesus?

5. THE WITNESS OF THE SCRIPTURES

Jesus appealed to the Scriptures as His final witness! What a daring approach He took. He urged The Jews to examine all that He said in the light of the written Scriptures. If Jesus could be faulted, all The Jews needed would be to find just one portion of Scripture to contradict Him, and then they would have won a great victory against Him.

“You search the Scriptures,
for in them you think you have eternal life:
and these are they which testify of Me.”
John 5:39

Jesus, of course, was most confident about Himself. He was not afraid of anyone examining His faith and His life! He welcomed any investigation of His ministry in the light of the Scriptures.

Moses himself taught Israel how to examine all who claimed to be servants of God.

“If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams,
and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder
comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying,
‘Let us go after other gods’ – which you have not known-
‘and let us serve them,’
You shall not listen to that prophet or that dreamer of dreams,
For the Lord your God is testing you to know whether
You love the Lord your God with all your heart
And with all your soul.”
Deuteronomy 13:1-3

Jeremiah once preached a powerful message against false prophets. He said,

” ‘The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream;
And he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully.
What is the chaff to the wheat?’ says the Lord.
‘Is not My word like a fire?’ says the Lord,
‘and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?’ “
Jeremiah 23:28-29

THE BELIEF OF THE JEWS IN THE SCRIPTURES

The Jews declared that they had faith in the Scriptures. Belief in the Scriptures was a cardinal doctrine in the faith of Israel. They believed that the Scriptures contained the truth that led to salvation and eternal life. The following would be familiar passages among The Jews.

“Salvation belongs to the Lord.
Your blessing is upon Your people.”
Psalm 3:8

“The words of the Lord are pure words,
Like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.”
Psalm 12:6

“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul,
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
And in keeping them there is great reward.”
Psalm 19:7-11

There were many passages in the prophetic section of the Scriptures that described the life and ministry of the Messiah. Did they doubt that Jesus was truly sent from God? The Jews who were supposed to know the Scriptures well should have searched their sacred writ. And if they did search the Scriptures, they would have found that they testified of Jesus! Let us be diligent and skilled scholars of God’s Word.