John 5:38-40 “Nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.”

To be honest, it pains me to write on this passage, because it is a strong word against devout Jews who reject Jesus as the Messiah. I have written many times about my admiration and respect for Dennis Prager, who is as fine a Jew as you could hope to find. His commentary on the Pentateuch, The Rational Bible, has actually won numbers of people to faith in Jesus! He is totally convinced of the reality of God and the validity of the Bible, specifically the Old Testament and especially the Pentateuch, but he has real trouble grasping that God loves him and that he should love God. Jesus said in verse 42, “I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts.” He concludes this section with, “But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?” (John 5:45-47) Jesus’ love for His hearers did not make Him, did not allow Him to, shut up. He spoke the truth to them not to condemn them, but to shock them into looking at themselves and at the Bible honestly. I’ve completely lost track of how many times I’ve heard of Jews whose eyes were opened by Isaiah 53, which is as clear an explanation of the atoning work of the Messiah as you could ask for, and is very clearly descriptive of the life and ministry of Jesus. This is all illustrative of the ironic saying, “My mind is made up. Don’t confuse me with the facts.” Human beings have an amazing capacity for self-deception! That’s why James wrote so pointedly, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22) That applies to the Old Testament as well as the New! There are indeed dietary restrictions and the like from which we have been set free, but even there we are not to take it casually. We need to let Holy Spirit be the filter on our eyes and ears at all times, including when we’re reading the Bible, so that we will perceive things as God knows them to be, and not be stuck in our preconceptions.

I have plenty of background on which to be convinced of this, because I was well-versed in the Bible and at the same time largely blind to it, because I was looking at the world through the filter of pride. Also, I deal constantly with Japanese, who view the world through a distinctly non-Christian filter, since Shinto has no moral content and Buddhism is originally atheist philosophy. I can only pray for eyes to be opened, and keep speaking the truth in love. I have the opportunity this week to impact many people who have never stepped foot in a church because of my photo show in the City Gallery. I’ll be interviewed about it at 11 this morning by the local cable TV station. My theme, “Living Things,” is intended to make people think of their own mortality and so open them up to the Gospel. I’m not to be deliberately offensive, but neither am I to be politically correct. My concern is not to be whether people like me, but whether they know and respond to their Creator, who loves them enough that He sent His Son to die for their sins. I can’t force anyone to believe, but they have no chance to believe if no one gives them the facts and the opportunity to believe.

Father, thank You for this opportunity You’ve given me. It’s been an annual event for quite a few years now, and there have indeed been people who have been drawn to You through it. Thank You that this year I’ve been better prepared than most years in the past! I do pray that my every word and action would be directed by Your Spirit to accomplish Your purposes, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!