Daily Devotions
John
An assessment of the Jews
Text: John 5:16-47
AN ASSESSMENT OF THE JEWS
Did The Jews appreciate all that Jesus had said to them? They were the ones who demanded signs and explanations from Jesus, as proof that He was sent from God. Now that Jesus had given them witnesses, were they anywhere nearer to the truth? Apparently not!
Jesus spoke directly to the hearts of The Jews. What He said would probably antagonize them further. However, things couldn’t get any worse, could it? They had already made up their mind concerning Jesus. Let us study the assessment of Jesus concerning The Jews.
1. The Jews had no wish to come to Jesus in the first place
Why did The Jews come to Jesus at all? What was their reason for seeing Jesus and speaking to Him? Whatever their reasons may be they did not include a desire to seek salvation from Him.
“But you are not willing to come to Me
that you may have life.”
John 5:40
This text could also be translated thus.
“But you do not wish to come to Me
that you may have life.”
John 5:40
The Jews when they came to speak to Jesus came with an antagonistic spirit to confront Him. They had no desire to come to Him to enquire about eternal matters. This was an astonishing revelation that must have stunned The Jews. How could Jesus see through them?
2. The Jews were not impressed by Jesus.
Jesus knew how The Jews operated. If a person did not have the right background, the proper credentials, etc. they would not receive him. Obviously, they had done a check on Jesus, and they knew all about His family tree. They knew about His parents, and His siblings. His background did not impress them! Jesus countered:
“I do not receive honour from men.”
If another comes in his own name,
him you will receive.How can you believe, who receive honour from
one another, and do not seek the honour
that comes from the only God?”
John 5: 41, 43, 44
He knew their system only too well. Their system was so secular and earth-bound that they could not recognize the worth of Jesus at all. Jesus had come in the Name of God the Father! That should have been the highest of credentials, but no, the Jews did not know how to appreciate such deep truths.
3. The Jews had no love for God, let alone Jesus.
Jesus went on further to speak about their innermost thoughts and feelings. What He said next must have stung them.
“But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you”
John 5:42
What a blunt statement! The Jews would prefer that no one would know this deep and dark truth! It was a fact that their religion was more about self than about God! Could they really speak about a love for God? Jesus did not think so! There were too many signs that indicated they did not have any love for God at all!
4. The Jews did not seek the glory of the Lord.
Jesus knew that The Jews would have difficulty believing in Him for another reason. They did not seek “the glory of God”. Let us read once again what Jesus said to The Jews.
“How can you believe, who receive honour from one another,
and do not seek the honour that comes from the only God?”
John 5:44
This verse can also be translated more literally in the following way.
“How can you believe, who receive glory from one another,
and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?”
John 5:44
The word “honour” (NKJV) is the usual word in the Greek word “doxa” which is consistently translated “glory”. For example, we read in the following text:
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
and we beheld His glory (doxa), the glory (doxa) as of
the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:14
“Glory” not just “honour” is associated with God. The Living Word, Jesus, was also full of the same “glory”. If The Jews really sought the glory of God, because they understood what that meant, they would have been able, like the disciples, to make the same observation.
“This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee,
and manifested His glory (doxa);
and His disciples believed in Him.”
John 2:11