Thursday 9th February
Read John 5:36-40
““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. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. 39 You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” (NIVUK)
Jesus affirms that the religious leaders are blind and deaf because they cannot hear or see the very Word of God made flesh. It is a horrifying accusation. Many have thought that Jesus is referring back to Sinai. Moses warned the generation after Sinai, (as if they themselves were there), that they heard Yahweh’s voice but saw no form: “Then the Lord spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of words but saw no form; there was only a voice.” (Deuteronomy 4:12) (NIVUK). Yet it would be a strange reference if Jesus is accusing the religious leaders of having never heard His voice…when clearly their forbears heard something.
It may simply be a statement that unlike the revered leaders of the past they hear, see and understand nothing. Moses spoke with Yahweh and heard His voice (cf Exodus 3), Jacob saw Yahweh and wrestled with Him (cf Genesis 32:22-32) and Joshua had Yahweh’s word dwell in him richly (cf Joshua 1:7-9) – but these leaders are nothing like them. For they have seen the form of and heard the voice of the Word of God – dwelling with them in the flesh.
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth…18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.” (John 1:14, 18) (NIVUK).
Walk with Him, learn from Him and believe in Him today. He is all there is.
