16 Jesus answered, "My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me. 17 If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. 18 He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.
Jealous and offended over His teaching as He had not been taught by one they had held in high esteem, Jesus divulges the mystery of His learning to His Jewish audience - His doctrine was not His own rather divine. What they did not comprehend was that Jesus had no need to be taught by mere man as His teaching was not learned instead it was by divine revelation. Jesus was commanded by the Father what to say and how to say it. We find these words of our Lord later in John dittoing the same sentiment:
47 "As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. 49 For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say." John 12:47-50 (NIV)
Many people complain regarding their ability to discover Truth in religion – unfortunately they reach the point where it becomes their excuse to simply have none at all. In our verses for today, Jesus tells us one secret key to knowledge – obedience to the light which we have been given. As we are obedient in the simple things we will be taught the deeper ones. Anyone who chooses to do God’s will - having a proper response to the Word and the Spirit - Jesus tells us, will succeed in their search for the Truth. Simply put, those who progressively submit to divine law will progressively be given divine light. As the Spirit leads us through conviction and we are obedient to change, we grow in Christlikeness – conforming to His image. This process is called sanctification and is commanded in Scripture. Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians:
7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. 1 Thess 4:7-8 (NIV)
“The plain things in religion are undeniably very many. Let a man honestly attend to them, and he shall be taught the deep things of God. Whatever some may say about their inability to find out truth, you will rarely find one of them who does not know better than he practices.” J. C. Ryle
Jesus lived a perfect life – indeed, Jesus lived the life God calls mankind to. We are certainly incapable of following His steps albeit apart from the indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus came to flesh out God to man. Those who follow our Lord through the Holy Spirit’s leading and power are to flesh out God to man as well. Jesus brought God honor through His willing obedience likewise we are to bring God honor through our willing obedience. Believers have been made a kingdom and priests to serve God through the blood of Christ. Revelation gives us the following Truth:
"You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." Rev 5:9-10 (NIV)
In Malachi we are told that God rebuked the Levite priests for their failure to listen and for their failure to honor His great Name. We find the following admonition:
1 "And now this admonition is for you, O priests. 2 If you do not listen, and if you do not set your heart to honor my name," says the LORD Almighty, "I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not set your heart to honor me. Mal 2:1-2 (NIV)
The priests knew they were to honor God in reverence with their words and their actions – their teaching and instruction to be true, nothing false found on their lips. Walking in peace and uprightness they would turn many from sin. The following verses in Malachi confirm this:
5 "My covenant was with him, a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him; this called for reverence and he revered me and stood in awe of my name. 6 True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin. Mal 2:5-6 (NIV)
In similar fashion, believers in Jesus are a royal priesthood – termed by Peter - called to declare His praises, not stumbling through disobedience to the message rather living in such a way that our lives reflect His glory turning others to Him:
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)
14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matt 5:14-16 (NIV)