Why They Refused Him

John 5:41-47

41 I do not receive glory from people. 42 But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. 43 I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”.

Notes

The writer of the Gospel According to John, established in the prologue that the Light came to His own people. Still, His own people did not receive Him (John 1:11). The Jews refused to believe in Him even after the Lord explained the witnesses behind Him, John the Baptist, the Father, His works, and the Scriptures. The Lord Jesus would state the reason why they rejected Him. One, God’s love was not in them. Two, they receive glory from one another. Three, they do not genuinely believe the Scriptures.

1. God’s love, not in you

   Honor that comes from men is comparably insignificant to the honor that comes from the Father. Christ came in His Father’s name, but the Jews did not receive Him. One reason, they did not have the love of God within them.

   
   41 I do not receive glory from people. 42 But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. 43 I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him (John 5:41-43).

   
   
   

2. Glory from men

   Another characteristic of the Jews who rejected Christ was they received glory from each other. They prefer honor that comes from humans instead of the approval that comes from God. Vain glory closed their eyes to the truth.
   
   44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? (John 5:44).
   

3. Fake faith in the Scriptures

   If the Jews genuinely believed in Moses, they would have believed in the Son of God. The Jews thought they believed in Moses, but they believed more in the added rules from men. An example here is the strict rules of the Sabbath.

   
   45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?” (John 5:45-47).

Application

1. Remain faithful to the text

   Let us understand the Scriptures according to the context and remain faithful to the text. We must sift between the personal convictions of teachers that became dogma in the church and teaching that reflects biblical text in its context.
   

2. Seek God’s approval

   We must avoid the need to receive honor and compliments from humans. Let us value to the utmost the favor and approval that comes from God. How may we apply this? Seek His revealed will in the Scriptures, then believe and obey.
   

3. Represent and receive in His name

   As the Son of God came in His Father’s name, we should go and proclaim the gospel in Jesus’ name. Moreover, let us receive all who come in His name, meaning those who cautiously represent the biblical text.

Reflection & Discussion

1. Who will accuse the Jews who did not receive the Son of God?

2. Based on the text, name one reason the Jews refused. Explain.

3. Why did the Lord say that God’s love was not in them? Explain