________________________________________YOU DO NOT HAVE THE LOVE OF GOD IN YOU
39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; 40 and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. 41 I do not receive glory from men; 42 but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. 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 you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”
– John 5:39-47
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In this account of John, we hear Jesus reveals the heart of the Jews. He exposes the condition of their hearts. In verse 39 he narrates how they have searched to gain eternal life in Scriptures but don’t believe Him who is the actual subject of the whole Scriptures. In verse 40, Jesus identifies the reason why they continue to live in darkness. In verse 41, Jesus separates himself from the nature of humans, he is not concerned about what they say about Him and in verse 42, He gets to the reason why they haven’t accepted Him; they do not have the love of God in them. This explains the reason why their hearts are hardened and they cannot see revelations that He had been speaking to them. In verse 43-44, Jesus further expounds on the reason why they keep on rejecting Him even though He claims that He is sent by the Father; they are only after getting credit for what they do instead of bringing glory from the One true God. Jesus gives a true sketch of their character; they are only concerned with power and accolades for themselves so they can be looked up to by others. They do things for showing off humbling themselves and loving God and others. They idolize themselves too much for them to believe God. This was a warning to all those who have unbelief. One of the reasons why we may not be able to get revelations is because we are so busy prioritizing our own selfish nature. We are so concerned with our own achievements and reputation that we fail to bring glory to the only One who deserves it all, God himself. 2 Corinthians 4:4 reiterates the same thing Jesus was talking about where the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers who fail to see the true image of God.
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REFLECTION
• Who are those people who do not have the love of God in themselves?
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