November 20, 2022
Gospel – March 26, 2020 – John 5:31-47
Jesus said to the Jews:
“If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is not true.
But there is another who testifies on my behalf,
and I know that the testimony he gives on my behalf is true.
You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth.
I do not accept human testimony,
but I say this so that you may be saved.
He was a burning and shining lamp,
and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light.
But I have testimony greater than John’s.
The works that the Father gave me to accomplish,
these works that I perform testify on my behalf
that the Father has sent me.
Moreover, the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf.
But you have never heard his voice nor seen his form,
and you do not have his word remaining in you,
because you do not believe in the one whom he has sent.
You search the Scriptures,
because you think you have eternal life through them;
even they testify on my behalf.
But you do not want to come to me to have life.
“I do not accept human praise;
moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you.
I came in the name of my Father,
but you do not accept me;
yet if another comes in his own name,
you will accept him.
How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another
and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God?
Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father:
the one who will accuse you is Moses,
in whom you have placed your hope.
For if you had believed Moses,
you would have believed me,
because he wrote about me.
But if you do not believe his writings,
how will you believe my words?”
What does God look like? Have you seen Him? What does He sound like? Have you heard His voice?
Jesus, today, continues to tell the people who He is. He is trying to “open” their eyes by telling that John the Baptist and Moses have spoken of Him. But the people are too interested in finding the secret map to eternal life in scripture they are missing it spoken to them.
Jesus doesn’t seek praise for Himself. His works should prove His claim. But no one wants to see it or hear it.
We very likely will not see God the Father standing in any form or hear His voice as He speaks because we have seen Him and heard Him many times. We cannot expect to know Him only in scripture – or see His works if we are blinded by our own lack of sight.
“Open the eyes of my heart, Lord.”
At least that’s what I heard Him say…
What I Heard Him Say 