What Jesus Did : John 5:45-47 - Believe Moses!
by Phil Ware
Believe Moses! - John 5:45-47
"Don't think that I will stand before the Father and say that you are wrong. Moses is the person that says that you are wrong. And Moses is the one that you hoped would save you. If you really believed Moses, you would believe me. Why? Because Moses wrote about me. But you don't believe what Moses wrote. So you cannot believe the things I say." (ERV) Full TextKey Thought
Jesus is that great prophet like Moses that God had promised would come. Except he is greater than Moses and the covenant he brings is greater than Moses' covenant. At the same time, Jesus fulfills the Law of Moses. Jesus teaches the heart of God that lies underneath the Law of Moses. So we look to the Law as the way to bring us to a deeper appreciation of God's grace given us in Jesus (Galatians 3:26-29; Galations4:1-4). Our appreciation and admiration goes to Moses, but we set our hopes on Jesus, God's Son!
Today's Prayer
Father, thank you for the Old Testament, especially the Torah,* which reveals your holiness, power, mercy, deliverance, and care. Thank you that your old Covenant looked toward the coming of a New Covenant when your will and words would be written on people's hearts. May I live that holy character that your Law reveals, yet may I live out of appreciation for your overwhelming grace in Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.
*The Torah consists of the first five books of the Old Testament (Genesis — Deuteronomy). The Torah is sometimes also referred to as The Law or The Pentateuch.
Today's Verses in Context
"If I tell people about myself, then people cannot accept those things I say about myself. But there is another person that tells people about me. And I know that the things he says about me are true. "You have sent men to John. And he has told you about the truth. I don't need a man to tell people about me. But I tell you these things so that you can be saved. John was like a lamp that burned and gave light. And you were happy to enjoy his light for a while. "But I have a proof about myself that is greater than John. The things I do are my proof. These are the things my Father gave me to do. These things show that the Father sent me. And the Father that sent me has given proof about me himself. But you have never heard his voice. You have never seen what he looks like. The Father's teaching does not live in you. Why? Because you don't believe in the One the Father sent. You carefully study the Scriptures. You think that those Scriptures give you life forever. Those same Scriptures tell about me! But you refuse to come to me to have that life {you want}. "I don't want praise from you or any other human. But I know you—I know that you don't have God's love in you. I have come from my Father—I speak for him. But you don't accept me. But when another person comes speaking only for himself, you will accept him. You like to have praise from each other. But you never try to get the praise that comes from the only God. So how can you believe? Don't think that I will stand before the Father and say that you are wrong. Moses is the person that says that you are wrong. And Moses is the one that you hoped would save you. If you really believed Moses, you would believe me. Why? Because Moses wrote about me. But you don't believe what Moses wrote. So you cannot believe the things I say."-- John 5:31-47 (ERV)
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