Don't Miss the Mark
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“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. 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 is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. I do not receive glory from people. But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”
Look to God for purpose/satisfaction
Apart from God we seek purpose/satisfaction
-Ecclesiastes as an example- Everything is meaningless (Wisdom, Self-indulgence, living wisely, Work, Wealth, honor
Psalm
The years of our life are seventy,
or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span is but toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.
God provides purpose/satisfaction
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
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The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
- references another who bears witness about me. This reference refers to God the Father
-John’s testimony did not validate Jesus as the Messiah, God did. John simply obeyed.
-If we provide testimony, glory, or purpose only to and for ourselves, it is empty. Only when we bear witness to God do we see our true purpose
2. Pursue God through His Word
2 Timothy
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
a. Not simply to know the Word
-”If you believed Moses, you would believe me.”
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
-The Old Testament was pointing and preparing the way for Jesus.
ex. Abraham/Issac, Sacrifices at the temple
b. The Word should abide in us and change us
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!
I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
Psalm 119-9-
-Scripture points to the heart and character of God
-The Jews knew the Scripture, but still missed what God was doing
3. Don’t Settle
a. Pursue the Gospel, not works
b. Pursue wisdom from God
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
and whatever you get, get insight.
-The Jews accepted no less than 64 false messiahs, but yet rejected Jesus
c. Pursue obedience despite the cost
-The Jews were happy to listen to John, until he started talking about repentance
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.