Good morning one and all! (or just the one writing this!) I often find myself reading or listening to Scripture with a particular mindset rather than being open to what God is saying. Maybe that’s a me thing, or maybe that’s a human thing. Either way, how much do I miss when I only open one of the eyes of my mind?
I hope you will join me in my study and journey to beautiful living. It requires study of God’s Living Word. We are just going to pick up where I am in John, Chapter 5. Take a minute to read……
Let’s jump in:
These verses today talk about the authority of Jesus and witnesses to Him. Initially my mindset was about how to make this apply to me. Pretty selfish – huh? Yeah, I thought so too. So I went back in all my geeky-ness and read each sentence, diagramming it in my head. (Mrs. Buck would be so proud). I wanted to read it for what it literally says. Here goes:
This is written in first person; Jesus is speaking. It almost seems as though it is a monologue. Who is His audience? Well you have to back up to the beginning of the chapter. So, we know the characters: The healed man, the Jews (People who were supposed to know God, the Father), and Jesus. But, there was probably an audience if this occurs in the Temple. Oh, and His disciples. It is probably a good guess that they are there too based on the following chapter.
We don’t really know much about the setting to this story. It starts at the Sheep Gate called Bethesda. We know it was the Sabbath day. We know that time passes and Jesus finds the man He healed in the Temple. We know that He says His piece. We know after this that Jesus crosses to the Sea of Tiberias. (oh no! geography! I am geographically challenged.)
The main ideas?
- Jesus’ dependence on Father God – as His role model, in Their relationship, in Jesus’ relationship to others, others’ relationship to Father God – past and present, others’ relationship to Jesus, and as Jesus’ benchmark or standard of measure.
- Witnesses to who Jesus is – John (a cousin and fellow teacher), Moses (founding father figure for the Jews), Jesus’ own actions and work, the Scriptures, and God the Father, Himself.
- The Truth and His discernment about who the Jews (both those listening and Jews in general) really are.
Let me know by adding a comment if you see any other main ideas! I would love to see what you see too! Let’s pray before we dig in any further:
Father God, open the eyes of our hearts, our minds, and our bodies to hear Your Word, Your Son, to hide it in our hearts, to see it reflected in our lives, shared with those You put before us today, and give us Wisdom, Your Spirit, to accept Your Beautiful Living as our own. Amen.
So let’s move to the Beautiful Living principle found in this passage the Spirit brought to my attention.
Check out the first part of verse 45:
Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father.
Jesus is not going to tattle on the Jews He is speaking to. Think John 3:16-17 (For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that through Him the world might be saved.)
Beautiful Living Principles:
1. God, Father-Son-Spirit, does not condemn me / you. Therefore, I should not condemn myself.
2. God, Father-Son-Spirit, wants me / you to be saved. Therefore, I am important to, loved by, and saved through Jesus Christ, and thus also by The Almighty God.
Can you share what beautiful living principles you see in this passage?