Seeing Less Than The Blind

By Mary Vee
John 5

From John's Journal 

Photo by Mary Vee
Jerusalem

My name is John. I am a disciple of Jesus. I am here with other disciples, so they may add something to what I share today. 

We are still standing in the courts of the Temple. Jesus has been speaking to some Temple leaders who were angry that a man carried a mat. They had found out that Jesus told the man to do it.

They came to Jesus ready with accusations because today is the Sabbath. Last time we talked about what Jesus said to them. Jesus didn't cower earlier and he still isn't. He stands straight, not afraid of these men like most people, and I admit I am one. He is boldly looking at them and saying,

"I don't act on my own. and will not in the future either. I listen to the One who sent me, then do as He says. I am not here to please myself, but the One who has sent me. And because of this, my judgements are always fair and never to my benefit. 

"If I tell you about myself, than my words are not valid. But there is someone else who has spoken to you about me in my favor, and I know what he has said is true. You've even sent messengers to John. They heard him tell the truth to everyone who heard him.

"His message, though, did not begin with him. It began in the heavenly places. I'm telling you this so that you, too, can be rescued and have eternal life. John the Baptist's voice is like a light in darkness, and, for a time, you enjoyed seeing that light and wanted to hear more.

"There is another witness, one who is greater than John. My mission and the things I have been sent to do, alone, prove my instructions come from the Father. The Father, Himself has given testimony of me. You have never heard His voice, or seen Him, and His word does not live in your hearts. 

"Oh, sure, you've studied the Scriptures, searching for answers and think you have eternal life because of all these rituals and acts you follow. But what you have missed is that these very Scriptures point to me. I am here. Right before your eyes. The one sent by the Father. And there you stand, refusing to believe in me, missing an opportunity to truly have eternal life.  

"The praise I receive does not come from mere man. I see you don't have a true love of God. Even still, I pursued you. I have come in my Father's name, and still you have turned me away.

"If someone else came along and gave you his credentials, you'd welcome him and believe him. How can you say you believe in God? You are so consumed with wanting each other's praises. Oh, he has done this and he has done that. Wanting so desperately to get each other's approval when the approval you really need is God's and God's alone.

"I won't accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, even though you have put all your hope in him. If you truly believed what Moses wrote and said, you would believe me because he wrote about me. Since you have missed the deeper meanings in Moses' words, how will you ever believe what I say?"

When He finished those words, we left and headed out to the fields where the corn grew. We were hungry.


I'll tell you more about that next time.

Come back to read the next story.

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sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.