37 I know you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word. 38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father's presence, and you do what you have heard from your father."
In response to the arrogant and boastful claim of the Jews, Jesus states He was fully aware of their physical lineage to Abraham. On the other hand, their desire to kill Him demonstrated their willful ignorance and lack of understanding in regards to His coming. Jesus was the very fulfillment of the promise given to Abraham – all the way back in Genesis - by the God of promise:
3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Gen 12:3 (NIV)
Paul writes in Galatians regarding this:
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. Gal 3:12-14 (NIV)
Jesus’ Words in our verses for today following the Pharisees gross inconsistency are very interesting indeed - “you have no room for my word .” This begs the question for us as well – do we have room in our hearts for His flawless Word? Does His Word deeply penetrate us like rain on a dry and parched land – soaking it up and producing the fruit in our lives which God desires for it to bring forth? The Psalmist proclaims:
9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. 10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalms 119:9-11 (NIV)
Paul’s description of God’s Word in 2 Timothy gives us even greater insight into this Treasure:
15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Tim 3:15-17 (NIV)
Hmmm, let’s see: making us wise for salvation, equipping us for every good work, useful for teaching and rebuking and correcting and training us in righteousness – again, do we have room in our hearts for His Word? Or are we like these Jews who profess a right standing with God thinking we are favored because of some blind conceit i.e. lineage, legalistically maintaining the sacraments, basing our religion on a few notions yet missing the essentials of faith and grace, repentance and holiness which the Scriptures plainly teach us. It is Jesus Who is “mighty to save” and promises to cast out none that come to Him – the Word of God always pointing us to our Savior - judging the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts. Indeed, Christ tells His hearers earlier in John:
37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. 39 You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life. John 5:37-40 (NIV)
Jesus clearly tells us in Scripture that He speaks His Father’s Words and that He has come from God’s presence to speak what He has seen and heard. Indeed, He states that He and the Father are One:
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. John 7:16-17 (NIV)
He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. 24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. John 5:23-24 (NIV)
27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one." John 10:27-30 (NIV)
Sheep follow the Shepherd.