August 5, 2020 -- John 5:37-40 -- Stuttering or Fluent Faith

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. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

John 5:37-40 English Standard Version

One of the common questions around here, in New Brunswick where I live, is this Do you speak French? When I was in High School in Ontario, I took French classes. For some reason I thought my French would be ready to spring into action the moment I needed it. Yeah, no. When I mention to people around here that I am being tutored in French, they speak the one or two sentences they know in French. It is the upper limit of their ability to express themselves. When confronted with a man who speaks French, my inadequacy in the language is immediately apparent. Embarrassingly, when I respond to someone who claims to speak French and their ability to speak French is even less than mine, there is an immediate awkwardness. The proof, or lack thereof, is in the speaking.

Jesus is making this point with regards to our knowledge of Him. The people in front of Him claim to be spiritual. They claim to search the Bible. They claim they know God. Yet, when Jesus, Who is God and was sent by the Father, stood before them they had no clue as to His identity. They were unable to understand the message, the Word from heaven! Jesus was with the Father from eternity (John 1:18). Jesus was sent by the Father (John 3:16). Jesus was the long-promised One, Whom the Old Testament writers, inspired by the Spirit of God spoke of, promised, prophesied concerning and longed for. If the people in front of Jesus were really as proficient in the Bible as they claimed, they would be receiving Jesus, delighting in Him and blessing their Father in heaven.

It is the same today. There are lots of people who claim to know the language of heaven. They claim they know the Bible. But their inadequacies are expressed and obvious the moment they are questioned in any way about Who Jesus Is. He is the Word of God. He is the One Who has eternal life. He is the One Who makes the Father known. He is the One in Whom we find our soul’s greatest joy.

Our prayer today is from Jeremiah

Learn not the way of the nations,

nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens

because the nations are dismayed at them,

for the customs of the peoples are vanity.

A tree from the forest is cut down

and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman.

They decorate it with silver and gold;

they fasten it with hammer and nails

so that it cannot move.

Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field,

and they cannot speak;

they have to be carried,

for they cannot walk.

Do not be afraid of them,

for they cannot do evil,

neither can they do good.

There is none like you, O LORD;

You are great and Your Name is great in might.

Who would not fear You, O King of the nations?

For this is Your due;

for among all the wise of the nations

and in all their kingdoms

there is none like You. Amen.

Jeremiah 10:1b-7 English Standard Version