For I Am God, And There Is None Else, I Am God And There Is None Like Me - Part 1355

Jesus asked, "How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek no the honour that cometh from God only? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is [one] that accuses you -- Moses -- in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed Me: for he wrote of Me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe My words?" (John 5:44-47)

At the time, the Jews were seeking to kill Jesus, because He had not only broken the sabbath by healing one with an infirmity, but for all making Himself equal with God. Note Jesus response to these Jews. First, Jesus clarifies who He is.

"Verily, verily, I say unto you. the Son can do nothing of Himself but what He sees the Father do: for what things soever He does, these also does the Son likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all things that Himself doth, and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. For as the Father raises up the dead, and quickens, even so the Son quicken whom He will. For the Father judges no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son. That all [men] should honour the Father. He that honours not the Son honours not the Father which hath sent Him." (John 5:19-23)

The reader can assume that the Jews had not changed their stance, because Jesus not only tries a second time to explain who He is, but begins to tell them of God's plan of salvation -- the mystery that was hid in the bosom of the Father from the very beginning.

Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you. He that hears My Word and believes on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24)

And then again, a third "verily, verily" so that the attending Jews might know to take note.

Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you. The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in Himself, so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself. And hath given Him authority to execute judgment also because He is the Son of man." (John 5:25-27)

This reminds me of Matthew 28:18 when Jesus said, "ALL POWER is given unto Me in heaven and in earth."

The Lord of glory -- God Himself manifest in the flesh -- is herein telling the Jews that He is the promised Messiah -- the Christ of which the prophets of old declared. And, as such, He has the authority to execute judgment because He -- Jesus is also the Son of man. All judgment being given to the Son so that all should honour the Father.

But Jesus did not stop there. He tells them not to marvel at this for the hour is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth -- they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation [condemnation]. I can of Mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just [righteous]; because I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me. If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. There is another that bears witness of Me, and I know the witness which He witnesses of Me is true. Ye sent unto John and he bare witness unto the truth, but I receive not testimony from man; but these things I say that ye might be saved.

[That is], he was a burning and a shining light and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light, but I have greater witness that that of John; for the works which the Father hath given Me to finish, the same works that I do bear witness of Me, that the Father hath sent Me. And the Father Himself which hath sent Me, hath borne witness of Me." (John 5:28-37)

Note what is happening here. For a time the Jews were willing to rejoice in John the baptist, even though John the baptist did not point to himself but to the One who came after -- of which he was not worthy to tie his shoes. John the baptist pointed repeatedly to Jesus, saying, "Behold, the Lamb of God."

But the Jews did not want to behold Jesus. They did not want to admit that Jesus wasn't just equal to God but was God Himself clothed in a sin-prone flesh, and yet without sin.

"And she shalt bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus for He shall save His people from their sin. Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and they shall call His name Emmanuel" which being interpreted is, God with us." (Matthew 1:21-23; Luke 1:31; Luke 2:21; John 1:29; Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6)

Instead, they sought to kill Jesus in their hearts. So what did Jesus then say?

"Ye have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His shape. And ye have not His Word abiding in you: for whom He hath sent, Him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of Me. And ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life. I receive not honour from men. But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. I am come in My Father's name, and ye receive Me not. If another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that comes from God only. Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one that accuses you -- Moses -- in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed Me; for he wrote of Me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe My words?" (John 5:37-47)

Sadly, we see the same thing happening within the modern day religious culture today, except that today, the man-made churches desire to be like the harlot church, spoken of in the book of Revelation. Like the Jews in this example, these did not want to accept Jesus as God manifest in the flesh, or God with us, or that Jesus is the only name in this current dispensation of grace whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12; Acts2:37-39)

Why? Because Jesus (who is the Word -- the Word of God dwelling among us and after the cross, living within us) was /is not in them. Instead, these desire in their hearts to seek praise and honour from men, and not from God only. These want us to remain under the law of the old covenant -- Moses -- mixing the old wine with the new, rather than believing on Jesus who was a far greater witness than John the baptist (or Moses) could ever be -- because in Jesus was life, and the life was the light of men, and the light shines in the darkness but the darkness comprehended it not.

This is why the prophets of old told of the coming Messiah -- the Lord God Almighty coming forth as a mighty man. (Isaiah 42:13)

Ironically, the Jews were willing for a season to rejoice in the message of John the baptist even though (as Jesus points out) he was not the Light that brings life to those who believe.

"There was a man sent from God whose name was John. The same came for a witness to bear witness of the Light that all [men] through Him might believe. He was not that Light but was sent to bear witness of that Light." (John 1:6-7)

Who was the Light of the world? Jesus!

He is "the true Light which lights every man that comes into the world. He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not ... but as many as received Him, gave He power to become the sons of God -- to them that believe on His name." (John 1:8-12)

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father;) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

But like the Jews herein,  many in the religious community today willingly receive those who come in their own name over Jesus who came in His Father's name, so that we might have eternal life. The precious name of Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.

"Therefore, the Lord Himself shall give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call His name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14)

"And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see together, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken." (Isaiah 40:3)

"I am the Lord and there is none else. There is no God beside Me. I have girded thee, though thou hast not know Me: that they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside Me. I am the Lord, and there is none else." (Isaiah 45:5-6)

Let him with ears to hear, hear. Stand in the offering plate.