June 18, 2003
Reading: John 5:31-47

 

“But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life” (40)

 

Our text is taken from a discourse Jesus had with the Jews. His teachings and actions infuriated them—He broke the law and multitudes believed Him and followed Him wherever He went. On this particular occasion, Jesus healed a man who had been lame for thirty-eight years (5). This was bad enough, but the problem was that He did it on the Sabbath, and, in their opinion, broke the Law. This was totally unacceptable and was an affront to the foundation of their belief system, so they persecuted Him and sought to kill Him (16).

Jesus, in the words of our text, summarized the need, supply, opportunity, and rejection of, not only the unbelieving Jews of His day, but of unrepentant sinners from that day until the day of His return.

The sinners great need – life. Jesus was not trying to win over people with His teachings and miracles in order to establish a congregation of thousands, neither was He interested in recruiting a mighty army with which He could overthrow the Roman occupiers of His country (if He was, He would have fulfilled the expectation of those seeking to kill Him). Jesus came to offer “life” to His people. The was the clear message in His teaching from the beginning of His ministry (John 3:3-5,16). This was no ordinary life, it was eternal life. The great need of sinners has always been the life only Jesus can bestow. The message was true then, it is true today.

The sinners great supply – Jesus. Jesus did not try to convince the Jews to accept a new form of doctrine or code of ethics, His message was, “Come to Me” (Matt 11:28; 19:14; John 7:37). The problem then, as it is in many places today, was that sinners accepted and followed religion, rather than Jesus. Creeds, doctrines, and statements of faith cannot give eternal life. They can, and do, speak of eternal life and of Him who gives it, but unless the sinner comes to Jesus, repents of his sin and believes that Jesus is the only True Savior, he will not possess life everlasting.

The sinners great opportunity – come. The gospel message has rung throughout the ages, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink” John 7:37. The opportunity to repent and believe ends when we die--“It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” Heb 9:27. A popular doctrine that teaches there will be one final opportunity before the judgment to come to Christ (especially for the Jews), desecrates the teaching of scripture. When the Day of the Lord is ushered in, when Jesus returns and sinners stand before Him to be judged, the door of opportunity will be closed. “Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” 2 Cor 6:2.

The sinners great foolishness – rejection. The words of Jesus, “You are not willing,” condemns sinners to eternity without the everlasting life only He can provide. This assessment of the attitude and resolve of the Jews is nothing new – “For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy one of Israel: ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength. But you would not’” Isa 30:15. While there is breath in your lungs, the opportunity remains for you to obtain eternal life in Jesus Christ.

“He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” John 1:11-12. Herein lies the grace of God.