“I can do nothing on My own. As I hear, I judge, and My judgment is just because I seek not My own will but the will of Him who sent Me … I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me.” John 5:30 & 43 ESV¹

Read John 5:17-47

It has been a sad week for me. I found out that two well-known, influential, Christian leaders are not getting along. This disharmony pains me because I greatly respect both of them, and I have learned much from each of them. Their books sit side by side on my bookshelf. Apparently, that is the only place where they can be in such proximity to one another. The one has publicly, pridefully, and unlovingly condemned the other. Is the berated one off-base? Possibly. Has she been fraternizing with others who, in some areas, are even more mistaken than she? Probably. But is she any more in error than one rebuking her? I don’t think so. His faults are just in different areas than hers.

It appears that neither of them realizes that they both hold different pieces of the same puzzle—the puzzle of the Christian life. God is Absolute Truth, and His Word is the primary revelation of Who He is. The Bible needs to be the basis for all our beliefs; to determine truth, every thought and action must be filtered through the Scriptures. But God is love, and, thankfully for us, He consistently lands on the side of mercy. And God’s Word makes it clear that He is not finished speaking (see Acts 2:17-21). God seems delighted to reveal Himself through anyone, male or female, young or old, rich or poor, who is humble enough to listen and willing enough to share. Who are we to decide through whom God working?

Many of the Pharisees of Jesus’ time were so stuck in their own interpretation of the Law and the Prophets that they were filled with prejudgments. Though they knew all the Messianic prophesies, they could not recognize Jesus as the One for Whom they were waiting. Since He was so different than what they expected, they were offended by Jesus. From their perspective, Jesus had to be wrong, because He kept violating their understanding of the Sabbath requirements. They felt Jesus must be impure because He kept hanging out with tax collectors and sinners.

In their minds, there was no way Jesus could be the Christ. But their understanding of the truth kept them from the Truth. Their hatred of Him caused them to sin more significantly than those they condemned. John Chapter 5 records a healing that Jesus performed on a Sabbath and includes the confrontation and discussion which followed. When the Pharisees chastised Jesus for working on the Sabbath, He said, “‘My Father is working until now, and I am working’” (John 5:17). This comment made His criticizers livid. “This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because not only was He breaking the Sabbath, but He was even calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God” (John 5:18).

If the Pharisees hadn’t been so filled with hatred, perhaps they could have learned something they did not know about the God Whom they claimed to religiously follow. John recorded what Jesus attempted to teach them about His relationship and interaction with His Father. If we were to meditate upon that teaching, perhaps we could learn a little bit about working together with those who are different than us for the glory of God. For some reason, we confuse equal and identical. It is that confusion that causes many of us to take sides and draw lines that divide the Church. Where do we get the idea that others have to be exactly like us to be right? In the One we all worship, we have been given a beautiful picture of differences unified.

The Father and the Son are equal, but Jesus and the Father are not identical. They operate in unity as One (see John 10:30 & 17:20-21), but they are still separate individuals. Together, the Father and Jesus are perfect examples of how two different persons, in two different places, with two different responsibilities can work in one accord, building up one another, and working for the same goal.

“Jesus said to [the Jews who confronted Him], ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of His own accord, but only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise … For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He will. For the Father judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment but has passed from death to life. Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son also to have life in Himself. And He has given Him authority to execute judgment because He is the Son of Man … I can do nothing on My own. As I hear, I judge, and My judgment is just because I seek not My own will but the will of Him who sent Me’” (John 5:19, 21-27 & 30).

The Father and Son each have different responsibilities that complement one another. Jesus works because the Father works. Jesus’ job is similar to His Father’s in that they both give life. The Son judges, because the Father has given Him the responsibility. Jesus was given the task of judging humanity because He knows what it is like to be a human. Jesus doesn’t make decisions based on His feelings; He decides according to Father’s standards. When the Son is honored, the Father also receives the honor; when the Son is dishonored, so is the Father.

“‘The Father loves the Son and shows Him all that He Himself is doing’” (John 5:20). Because Jesus loves His Father, He does what He is shown. If Jesus worked of His own accord, His work would be unprompted, unrequested, and unwanted. This unwelcome work would have been useless. Fortunately for all of humanity, Jesus didn’t waste time or get distracted from the Father’s plan. He always did what His Father wanted. Because of that obedience, we can have forgiveness for our sins.

Given all the selfish segmentation in the Church today, I wonder how much of our work is of our own accord. If Jesus didn’t do anything on His own, why do we think we can? For us to accomplish that which the Father left us on Earth to do, we are going to need the help of the Holy Spirit and every one of our Brothers and Sisters in Christ. The purpose of the Father and the Son working in unity is to bring people to salvation. For that same reason, we should strive to eliminate anything which causes division in the Body of Christ.

Now, you might think, “Of course, the Father and Jesus can work together; they are perfect.” Have you forgotten what we have in Christ? “For own sake, [The Father] made [The Son] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). As Believers, we have the Holy Spirit bearing His fruit in us (see Galatians 5:22-25). We have been given “the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16b). We have everything we need to work together in unity.

I know it is natural that we each think we are right. We believe what we believe because we are convinced it is correct. Otherwise, we would have no reason for our faith. We have so many denominations. I understand why a “toe” would want to align with the other parts of the “foot;” a “big toe” would be of no use at the end of an “elbow.” But the “toe” should not take its stance at the expense of the “thumb.”

“For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as He chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you,’ nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ … But God has so composed the body … that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together” (1 Corinthians 12:14-21 & 24b-26).

Jesus continued to instruct, as well as caution, the Pharisees who were condemning Him. As we study these words, which John set in writing, we too can benefit from His warnings. When we are tempted to judge others in the Family of God, may we first consider these truths.

Jesus went on to say, “‘If I alone bear witness about Myself, My testimony is not true. There is another who bears witness about Me, and I know that the testimony that He bears about Me is true … And the Father who sent Me has Himself borne witness about Me. His voice you have never heard, His form you have never seen, and you do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe the One whom He has sent’” (John 5:31-32 & 37-38). The Pharisees thought they were honoring the LORD, yet they were rejecting the One Whom He sent. They were so busy talking, “‘[The LORD’s] voice [they had] never heard’” (John 5:31a).

As Christians, we believe Jesus was sent by the Father. We know that the Father’s testimony trumps all. Yet, just because they differ from us, we doubt and judge others who believe the Father has given them a particular assignment. Perhaps, concerning others, His voice we have not heard. Who are we to judge if someone else has heard His voice?

Now, that doesn’t mean we should blindly accept the whole teaching of anyone who claims to be sent from God. The Scriptures warn, “‘false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray’” (Matthew 24:24). “The time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

Jesus gives us the test to determine if one is truly sent from God—consider his/her works. “‘For the works that the Father has given Me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about Me that the Father has sent Me’” (John 5:36b). “‘Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves … Every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit … Thus, you will recognize them by their fruits’” (Matthew 7:15, 17, 20). Test the fruit before you condone or condemn the tree.

No, the Jews criticizing Jesus hadn’t heard from the LORD concerning Jesus, but they had been exposed to others who confirmed the Father’s testimony about Him. Jesus continued, “‘You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the Truth … He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John … You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, and it is they that bear witness about Me, yet you refuse to come to Me that you may have life … 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. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote of Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?’” (John 5:33, 35-36, 39-40, 45-47).

John the Baptist, the Scriptures, and Moses all pointed to Jesus as Messiah. Their statements were in agreement and were of value because they heard from the Father and repeated His words. The Father’s words and His testimony are the final authority. The servants of God and the Scriptures themselves merely exist to point to God and His plan for the salvation of humanity.

Jesus said, “‘I do not receive glory from people. But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. 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. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?’” (John 5:41-44). Following the teachings of man has led to much division in the Church. The Pope may be a great guy, but he is not God. Martin Luther and John Calvin may have been right about many things, but they were still fallible men. Only the LORD is God, and only what He says is always right.

Though the Bible contains the words of God, The Bible is not God. Jesus warned the Pharisees, “‘You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, and it is they that bear witness about Me’” (John 5:39). Just because you are reading the Bible, it doesn’t mean you are going to discover what God intended. You can read the Scriptures with the wrong attitude. If you look into the Bible and fall more in love with yourself and become more convinced of your prejudices, you are misreading the Word. When you look into the Scriptures, you should fall more in love with Jesus and be more convicted to emulate His love for others.

What do the Scriptures say that the Father expects from us? “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). What did Moses and Jesus both say? “‘“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments’” (Matthew 22:37-40). How are you doing in the kind, humble, loving department? Will Moses be accusing you (see John 5:45)?

Now, love and tolerance are two totally different things. Tolerance can ignore attitudes and actions which are harmful to many. To protect others, love, on the other hand, sometimes says, “No.” If after consulting God, you are convinced a Brother or Sister is missing the mark, you should lovingly, prayerfully, and first of all, privately confront him/her (see Matthew 18:15-17). Pridefully and publicly condemning another is neither tolerant nor loving; it is hateful bigotry. Sadly, some of those who claim to be part of the Body of Christ, don’t resemble Him at all. Jesus rebuked the judgmental Pharisees with, “‘I know that you do not have the love of God within you’” (John 5:42). Would He say that you have the love of the Father in you?

It was the works that Jesus accomplished, some of the very works for which He was condemned, which proved the Father had sent Him. When differences arise and we automatically condemn our Brothers and Sisters, how do we know we are not speaking against the very works God is doing to bring the Lost into a relationship with Him? Just because we don’t understand or fully agree, it doesn’t mean those who differ from us are wrong or outside of the will of God. When such confusion exists, we should pray for enlightenment and conviction. There is never a call to berate another, but there is always a call to pray for others.

On that last night before Jesus gave His everything for all of us, He spent much time in prayer. Jesus prayed for unity among Believers. ‘“I do not ask for [unity for My disciples] only, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. The glory that You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one even as We are one, I in them and You in Me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that You sent Me and loved them even as You loved Me’” (John 17:20-23).

When the members of the Church are not working in harmony, the only one who is winning is Satan. While God’s Children are fighting, the Lost remain held tightly in Satan’s snare (see 2 Timothy 2:23-26). Where we stand with arms folded and teeth clenched, the Unchurched see nothing different than the hatred they observe every day in the World. Whatever happened to, “They will know that we are Christians by our love” (see John 13:35)? We must learn to work together. We need to appreciate the differences. We can’t keep letting our pride and prejudices keep us from unity. The eternal fate of so many depends upon it.

 

¹ Scripture quotations marked with ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All Scriptures are taken from the ESV unless otherwise noted. To aid in understanding, I have capitalized references to God.