As we continue our study of the Gospel of John, we pick up at verse 45 of Chapter 5. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle wrote down the words he heard Jesus say as He was speaking to the Religious Leaders in Jerusalem at the time. Jesus said,
” 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)
The Religious Leaders looked to the Law of Moses as the Word of God. And so it was – for some but not all parts . Some of it was crafted by them for their benefit, and from their own interpretation. Nevertheless, as it was handed down, it was taught as the only way to conduct yourself, and the only way to believe. Unfortunately they were not understanding the parts Moses had penned about Jesus. We must always let the Lord show us truth in His Word.
Through the dictation of and from the Holy Spirit, Moses had written down the words of God the Father. Moses penned the words spoken by the Prophet Balaam who said, “A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.” (Numbers 24:17), Moses wrote down the prophecy God had given to him personally which were: “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to Him. ” (Deuteronomy 18:15)
The Teachers of the Law knew a great Prophet like Moses would be raised up from among their own. They knew the Scripture but they were not open to how it would be fulfilled. They knew a Messiah, a Savior would come, but they did not recognize Him. John the Baptist recognized Him. When John saw Jesus, he said, “Look , the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29). God had shown the Savior to John because John was that Prophet. Moses had written down what Father had said – He said, “You must Listen to him.”
He was telling the Leaders here that all the things Moses wrote about a coming Messiah, and Savior, and that they could quote, were about Him. Jesus said to them, “I did not come to accuse you. The words of Moses will accuse you if you do not believe they are of Me.”
Jesus came to fulfill the Law of Moses to perfection – then to take us to a New Covenant of unmerited Grace. A Covenant of love, and mercy that He keeps for us as we believe in Him.
May you prosper in all good things, and walk in His perfect health, God’s Beloveds. We are greatly loved, and treasured by our Lord, my Brothers and Sisters in Christ. May we let His great Love and grace flow through us into our world doing unto others as we would have them do unto us.