Daily Devotions
John
John 16 : 1 - 15 "THE LACK OF TRUE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD"
Day 233 – John 16
THE LACK OF TRUE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD
How staggering were the words Jesus spoke to His Disciples, as He described the wicked persecutors!
“And these things they will do to you because
they have not known the Father nor Me.”
John 16:3
How could this state of affairs have arisen? Let us trace this problem very carefully. (The danger of a lack of true knowledge of God is as real for us today)! Perhaps the most telling passage we could cite that would help us understand why Jesus said what He did would be found in Matthew’s Gospel.
An incident arose where the Jews from Jerusalem confronted Jesus and complained against His Disciples. Indirectly, they were hitting out at Jesus for the way His Disciples were turning out. They seemed to have ignored and transgressed “the tradition of the elders”. The reply Jesus gave to the Jews helped us to understand what He meant when He described them as people who had “not known the Father and Himself”.
THE TRUE SPIRITUAL STATE OF THE JEWS
What were the Jews really like? In reply to the query that Jesus had failed to teach His Disciples to obey the tradition of the Elders, this statement was made.
“Why do you also transgress the commandment of God
because of your tradition?Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect
by your tradition! Hypocrites!
Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
and honour Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me,
and in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'”
Matthew 15:3, 6-9
Jesus highlighted a number of truths about the Jews.
1. They kept transgressing God’s commandments!
2. They had virtually replaced the commandment of God in favour of their man-made tradition.
3. They might be rightly called “hypocrites”.
4. They made pretence of their worship of God. Their hearts were far from God even though their lips seemed to honour Him!
They had not changed one iota since Jesus ministered to them the Word of God. Instead of listening to the word of truth that was taught, they sought to find fault with His teachings! They wanted Jesus to comply with their traditions! Of course, Jesus had to oppose all their attempts!
THE ALARM OF THE DISCIPLES
The Disciples must have been quite alarmed at the stern words Jesus uttered against the Jews! They sought the earliest opportunity to speak to Him and said,
“Do you know that the Pharisees were offended
when they heard this saying?”
Matthew 15:12
The Disciples must have been quite afraid of the Jews. They had known how powerful and influential they were! Would it not be wiser not to offend them?
FURTHER INSIGHTS CONCERNING THE JEWS
Instead of being intimidated, Jesus sought to teach His Disciples how they need not fear the Jews. They may seem impressive in the eyes of men. However, the more important question was where they stood before God?
“Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted
will be uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders
of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will
fall into a ditch.”
Matthew 15:13-14
Jesus sought to highlight two more truths about the Jews.
1. They may have assumed positions of leadership in Israel. However, God did not plant them there! Their appointment came from men rather than from God!
2. They may be regarded as spiritual luminaries! However, as far as Jesus was concerned they were in fact spiritually blind. Only the blind would follow their leadership! The blind would not be able to know that their leaders were also blind! Both were in danger of falling into great danger!
SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS IS THE WORK OF SATAN
The Apostle Paul encountered the unbelieving again and again in his ministry. Let us take note of what he said about people who opposed the Gospel.
“But even if our Gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those
who are perishing, whose minds the god of this world
has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the Gospel
of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God,
should shine on them.”
2 Corinthians 4:3-4
Spiritual blindness may be traced to the work of the devil himself!