John 5:37–44
“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?” Amen.
The True Light and the Witness of the Cross
The Bible clearly states that John the Baptist came with a single mission: to testify to the world that Jesus is the Christ, and Jesus Himself confirms this fact. The reason Jesus set forth John the Baptist as a witness was not to exalt John himself, but to awaken us to the reality of the testimony he proclaimed. As we observed in previous messages, he was merely a lamp reflecting the way; he could not be the light itself. Ultimately, the most solemn evidence lies in the fact that Jesus Christ, the True Light, came in person and completed the work of God.
What, then, is the work of God that the Lord performed? It was the mission entrusted to Him by God the Father: the work of salvation to lead His people back to God without losing a single soul. For this mission, Jesus prayed in John 17 that He was now leaving the world to go to the Father. This was a prayer offered in anticipation of the atonement—His bearing of the cross and His eventual resurrection to stand before God the Father. Thus, we realize that the pinnacle of the Father's entrusted work and the mission accomplished by Jesus is the "Event of the Cross." The entire life of the Lord was a preparation for the cross, and His very existence was a process of testifying to it. Through this, we not only learn how the Lord witnesses to Himself but also witness how God's salvation becomes a reality in our lives.
The Voice of God Testified by Scripture
Verse 37 records: “And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen.” Encountering these words, we easily think of the fact that God the Father testifies about Jesus, but when it comes to the question, "Exactly when did He testify?", we feel the need for deep reflection. During the roughly one year that passed from the start of the Lord's public ministry until John chapter 5, when did God testify about Him? The only instance we clearly remember is the voice heard from heaven at His baptism, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."
However, apart from John the Baptist, who heard it on-site, and Jesus, who knew it, virtually no one else experienced that voice of God directly. When, then, would God have testified of Him? The words the Lord is speaking now do not refer only to visible evidence after the Incarnation, but to the fact that God has consistently testified through the Old Testament Scriptures. It is an indictment: though I have testified of Myself through the Old Testament without ceasing, you did not perceive that voice nor discover that form. Here, a crucial argument unfolds that pierces the essence of faith.
We generally understand these words to mean that it is natural not to have seen His form because no one has ever seen God. However, when the statement “you have never heard His voice” is added, the issue changes. Looking at the history of the Bible, Moses and various prophets heard the voice of God. What, then, was the Lord's true intent in specifically rebuking them, saying they had not heard the voice?
Unbelief that Rejects the Spoken Word
The key to understanding this passage lies in the first half of verse 38: “And you do not have his word abiding in you.” The sharp meaning of this verse is revealed only when connected to the preceding context. Having already declared, "You have not heard His voice," adding that His word does not abide in them might seem redundant. A word that has not been physically heard can hardly dwell in the heart.
Therefore, the Lord's words do not mean they did not hear a single sound. Rather, He is pointing out a state of spiritual disconnection where, although the Word of God was continuously proclaimed, they failed to accept that Word into their souls. The text clearly states the reason: “for you do not believe the one whom he has sent.” The Lord powerfully argues that because they lacked faith, they could not perceive the voice of God even when it sounded. The reason they could not hear was clearly because they did not believe. We often say, "Let us believe in Jesus Christ fervently so that we may hear God's voice." This is a correct direction, but at the same time, it requests of us a fundamental contemplation of what it truly means to "believe in Jesus."
We stand now before a very solemn testimony. We must remember that at the time the Lord spoke these words, the Jews were the people who read and heard the Scriptures more than anyone else. Even if we were to listen to sermons for a lifetime today, we would likely not reach the vast knowledge they possessed, having grown up encountering the Word daily. They were truly a people living in a flood of the Word.
The Error of the Jews Who Made Scripture an End in Itself
Did the Jews find satisfaction simply in hearing the Word? No. They were more zealous than anyone in practicing the Word. Nevertheless, the Lord sternly rebukes them, saying, “You have heard the Word countless times, yet you have never truly heard His voice, and the Word does not abide in you.” If there were a saint who meditated on the Word and struggled to practice it every day, we would praise them as a godly person of faith. Yet, it is precisely at this point that a crisis of faith arrives. The Jews rebuked by the Lord were also those who loved the Scriptures dearly and fought tirelessly to live according to them. Yet, the Lord flatly declared, “The Word is not in you.”
Such was the life of the scribes and Pharisees of that time. Not only were they proficient in Scripture, but they also strove to apply the Word to the minutest areas of life. They were not just bloated with knowledge; they were the image of exemplary religious people who tried to translate that knowledge into life. The Pharisees, in particular, were "geniuses of application," interpreting the Law in such detail that they wove it into the fabric of their daily existence. The Talmud, containing the wisdom of the Jews, is a product of their fierce efforts to interpret and apply the Bible.
Despite such thorough study and application, the Lord gave a negative evaluation for one reason: they did not believe in Jesus Christ. The conclusion they should have naturally reached, had they searched the Scriptures correctly, was to receive Christ. But they did not. Ultimately, the problem was the absence of faith in Jesus, and this becomes the most important criterion determining our attitude toward the Bible. The Jews did not read the Bible casually; they searched it deeply and dedicated their daily lives to it. Although they poured in double the effort beyond the average level, their zeal ultimately missed the essence.
The Reality of Life Pointed to by Scripture
The Jews did not stop at merely immersing themselves in the Bible. As the Lord pointed out, they searched the Scriptures with the conviction that eternal life was found within them. They believed that by exploring the Scriptures, they could reach the gates of eternal life by their own merit. Yet, quite paradoxically, even though they kept the Scriptures so close, they failed to realize who the Christ was to whom those words pointed. Though they memorized the Scriptures, believed every jot and tittle of the Law, and practiced its teachings in their lives, they failed to recognize Jesus, the very Lord of Life.
If we approach the Bible in the same way they did, it will remain an eternally unsolvable and difficult record. While the New Testament is rich with life lessons such as loving one's enemies and self-sacrifice, a significant portion of the Old Testament is filled with war, slaughter, and human betrayal and conspiracy. Records that are morally difficult to accept—such as the relationship between a father-in-law and daughter-in-law, the cowardice of pretending one's wife is a sister, or the sight of a man leaving his family behind in a crisis—fill the pages of the Old Testament. Facing such strange records, what would the people of Israel have sought?
Hillel, a great scholar of the Pharisaic school, once commented on Deuteronomy 32:2, explaining that God's word is like the gentle rain that makes vegetables grow. He taught that those who hold fast to this Law would gain life, but those who let it go would face death. This seems very similar to our own confession of faith today. However, the Lord sternly declared to those who held so passionately to the Word, “You do not have the Word in you.” They accumulated more knowledge and memorized the Law more precisely to gain life, but they lost Christ, the reality to whom the Bible points. To them, the Bible had become an idol—an end destination—rather than a passage leading to Christ.
The Path Beyond Scriptural Knowledge Toward Life
This tragedy is repeated in the field of modern theology today. There are not a few who, while studying the Bible with outstanding intellect and passion, fail to discover Jesus Christ within it. They are absorbed in precisely analyzing and deconstructing the Bible to achieve academic results, but they are indifferent to the original purpose for which the Scripture was recorded. What matters to them is not the intent of the Bible, but "how brilliantly they can interpret the Bible."
This is like a person who buys a car but never drives it, instead spending all their time digging into the structure of the engine. They spend their time doubting how a heavy lump of iron can move and criticizing the design of the parts, yet they never experience the car's essential function: "driving." Even if one knows the car's specifications perfectly, if one does not get in and head toward a destination, what benefit is that knowledge? To forget the essence—that the Bible aims to give us life through Jesus Christ—and to cling only to the textual integrity or historical factuality is as empty as struggling with a car one cannot even ride.
Even if one possesses knowledge that masters the world and a brilliant brain that moves the heavens, if one does not obtain eternal life, what use is that wisdom? It is a far more blessed path to appear a little foolish but to listen directly to God's voice and walk with Him. We must strictly discern the Lord's words: that there is no meaning if one gains the whole world yet loses his own soul.
The Trap of Idolizing the Bible, Which is Merely a Tool
In addition to what we have looked at so far, there is another aspect that must be addressed. It is the case where the Bible is treated simply as a "holy book" and kept carefully on a shelf. To such people, the Bible is merely a kind of amulet that protects the house. Have you heard the term "Hutak Christian" (Dust-and-Slap Christian)? It is a name given to those who only take out their Bibles on Sunday mornings, blowing the dust off the cover with a "Hu" and slapping it with a "Tak" before heading out. Nevertheless, they make sure to have a Bible. They believe that because the Bible is a holy book, having one at home will ward off evil spirits and solve problems when they face difficulties. We must understand the Bible correctly. Sometimes we fall into the error of absolutizing the Bible itself, mistakenly thinking that the book itself can give us direct power. However, the Bible is a record printed with black ink on paper. The book itself does not save you or grant you great power. Without the Jesus Christ whom the Bible testifies to, this book is merely a dry record and cannot provide practical help in our lives. Without Him, the Bible becomes a book with no particular interest or reward in reading.
Let us go a step further. Many misunderstand the Bible, or its contents, as a "book that guarantees omnipotent blessings." They believe that if they simply claim the promises recorded in this Bible, they can obtain everything. The "Prayer of Jabez," which has been misused recently, is a representative example. They think that if they hold onto the promise that He will surely enlarge their borders and make them prosper, and if they pray with faith, God will surely answer. Their logic is: "Why wouldn't He give it when I go believing in God's promise?" However, the Old Testament is the book that shows what happens when one believes and follows God's promises. If you look at Deuteronomy 28, the first half lists the immense blessings promised to those who obey God's word. It says they will be blessed in the city and blessed in the field, even down to their kneading bowl. However, the verses immediately following carry a warning of equal weight. He declares what will happen if you do not listen to My words—that you will be cursed in the city and outside, even down to your kneading bowl. To pick and choose only the parts favorable to oneself and claim them as God's promises is nothing more than fitting the Bible and God into one's own circumstances. God's word is by no means a tool we can take and use at will whenever we need it. If you do not realize the essential intent for which the Bible was recorded, that Word can never become your power. That is no different from treating the Bible like a "magic wand" and seeking blessings in a "Gold, come out, poof!" fashion.
Originally, a promise is a very solemn thing. If you want to claim the fulfillment of a promise from God, should we not also keep our promises before God? However, because we lack the ability to keep those promises, Jesus Christ came. Nevertheless, we often apply good verses from the Bible in a self-serving way, as if they were our natural rights. We must remember that the Bible is by no means a means for material blessings, and that when we live against God's will, God is the one who disciplines us—even through suffering or illness—to mold us into true children. We may be treating God far too lightly. The sole purpose and intent of the Bible is to testify to Jesus Christ. Therefore, seeking only the basis to satisfy one's convenience and desire while ignoring its original purpose when reading the Bible cannot be called true holy reading. By this point, everyone will nod and agree. But why are such absurd things repeated in our lives? Despite God's clear intent in giving the Bible, why do so many people, including the Jews and us, fall into the wrong path while reading the Word?
The Root of Unbelief: Seeking Glory from One Another
Jesus pierces through this problem very concisely and accurately. Why, while reading the Scriptures, do you not recognize the Son sent by the Father? Why do some try to confirm through the Bible how great they can become? Why do others treat this book like a famous work of literature or become buried only in keeping the moral truths contained within it? He is asking why you see it that way when the Bible clearly states it was not written for those things. The Lord speaks sternly of the reason in John 5:44: “How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?” What use is it to read the Bible hundreds of times and become a world-class scholar? If our hearts are full of the desire to take glory from one another, all that study is meaningless.
In the case of the Jews, the meaning of "taking glory" becomes even clearer. They read the Bible and learned the Law, believing that "if I just keep it a little better, I can draw closer to God and finally meet Him." If the people of the Old Testament failed because of disobedience in the wilderness, they resolved to find the answer through even more thorough obedience. So the Pharisees created rules more stringent than God's Law. To keep the commandment not to work on the Sabbath, they created their own laws restricting even the distance one could walk. They tried to reach God by keeping such stronger laws. But could this truly be the answer? The Bible warns that with the Law given by God, humans instead judge themselves and others, driving them toward death. Some among us may have lived more morally and loftily than others. But what is the result? It is only a meager righteousness that cannot be presented before God, and one only realizes that they are not a perfect being even when looking back at themselves. Mother Teresa, Gandhi, and even the Buddha essentially faced the same limitations. None among them dared to proclaim toward themselves, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Only Jesus is the unique and great One who has no hesitation before that declaration.
The Human Nature of Trying to Become God
The Bible testifies that even though God gave the Law, humans use it to kill each other and drive themselves to death. This is because humans seek a basis to boast by achieving salvation through their own strength, rather than receiving it from God. It is human nature to feel anxious and unhappy unless I achieve it myself, rather than simply accepting the grace offered by another. To explain this from a biblical perspective, it ultimately means a state of being satisfied only when I become God. It is only when I become the best, control everything, and ascend to the seat of God that I finally feel joy. Thus, to become God themselves, humans create idols they want. Sometimes it is money or business; sometimes it is children or oneself. After making such a god, they take refuge in that god. The term "taking refuge" is quite paradoxical here. This is because after deciding to believe in that god, from then on, they demand of that god, "Do what I want."
Let's take the case of making a child an idol as an example. What is the inner state of a parent whose child has become their god? On the outside, they say, "I only want my child to do well," but in reality, that is often not the case. When a child becomes a god, the parent inevitably demands a reward after the child succeeds. They might pour out anger toward a daughter-in-law, saying, "How could I have raised my son like this, only for him to betray me like this just because he met a woman?" This is an outburst of anger because the child became a god, yet there is no return of benefit to the parent. It is a completely contradictory image to the initial confession of "I only wanted you to do well." But we actually live that way. If I make a god, whatever the object may be, I always take refuge in it and try to live off what that child provides. This is the way we make gods.
If this attitude is applied directly to God, then God ultimately becomes our subordinate. It falls into the logic that God must act as we want, He must answer our prayers unconditionally, and God must simply follow our commands. How can the God who is Truth and Eternal become our servant? That can never happen. But because of this wrong approach, there are few who are satisfied and joyful with God, the Bible, eternal life, or even Jesus Himself. Rather, they try to possess eternal life, Jesus, and biblical knowledge to use them as ornaments for playing God themselves. We must realize how dangerous this is. There is no salvation here. No matter how much one boasts of believing in Jesus, the reality is not believing in God but using God as a servant. One merely uses God, Jesus, and biblical knowledge to decorate oneself grandiosely in order to become God. Could that be the true faith the Bible speaks of? The Lord calls this precisely "seeking one's own glory."
The Boundaries of Self-Glory Seeping into the Church
How serious this phenomenon is can be seen in the fact that it has already penetrated deeply into the church. There are truly many in the church who seek their own glory. So, if someone doesn't recognize them, they get angry and upset. They come to church and serve hard, but if no one pays attention and leaves them alone, by the time six months have passed, they are seized by the thought, "This is strange; why does no one recognize me?" This is because it is the human nature we possess. Let me say one thing clearly here. I'm adding this in case you ask what it means later: there must be encouragement, praise, and comfort in the church. Our church is actually a bit stingy in that area. I think it's probably because of your pure faith, worrying that you might accidentally hide God's glory while praising and encouraging one another.
However, brothers and sisters, we must not withhold praise from the saints—our brothers and sisters—who walk the path together; we must encourage and comfort them. When there are those in difficult and hard circumstances, we must surely look after them, and we must look for the many people working in hidden, unseen places. There are so many such people. Everyone, when was the last time you patted the middle or high school pastors, evangelists, or ministers on the back and said they were doing a good job? Do you not just look at the results of whether they handle the children well or poorly? Why can't you say a single word of thanks? It is true that we are far too stingy in encouraging and praising. You might think to yourself, "I'll praise them when they do something worth praising," but does praise necessarily have to meet certain conditions? It is about seeing the good side and constantly encouraging.
You might not know, but our church accompanist has been here since the first service this morning. Have you ever warmly asked if her fingers are okay? We all take this for granted and are receiving so much devotion for free. Do you offer a warm and sincere word of thanks to those who struggle behind the scenes preparing meals, saying, "Thank you, I ate so well"? Anyone can make an assessment like, "Why did someone put salt in today? Why did you pour so much soy sauce?" Who in the world can't complain? If there are 100 people here, how many complaints do you think would come out? It's not 100. As many as 1,000 could come out. If you come to church looking for flaws, there are more things to complain about; where would there be only things to praise? Our church is not becoming a perfect church. Complaining is something anyone does, so leave such people alone. But you, do the things others cannot do. Offer praise in the areas where others cannot.
Only, feel free to praise and encourage, but keep this one thing in mind. We do not praise based on the results or achievements of those works, or how well they were done. We praise, encourage, and love one another because the Lord Himself is doing that work and we are being used by and participating in that glorious ministry.
Collaboration for the Glory of the Lord
We do not praise because of a certain result or achievement, but we must encourage and love a person because of the fact that they are participating in the work that Jesus Christ is doing. Is this not a 모습 much closer to the essence? The same goes for yourselves. If you do not have the consciousness that God—that is, Jesus Christ—has entrusted you with the work you are doing now, we will eventually end up fighting over the results of this work. We will argue, "Why did you do it this way or that way?" But the church is not such a place. Fighting over such things is what the Bible calls "receiving glory from one another."
I once attended the dedication ceremony of a certain church, and it was quite noisy. I can understand the difficulty when thinking about how hard it must have been to purchase and decorate the chapel. But the attitude the congregants showed for the completion of that building gave the impression of having fought a war for independence. They called people out one by one to award plaques, and the one who received the plaque gave a plaque to another in turn. Holding the plaques together, someone would boast, "This work would not have been possible without our Elder," and the Elder would respond, "No, it was achieved because the Pastor sacrificed himself." It was a sight of them showing immense humility among themselves. But everyone, why do you show humility among yourselves? Isn't that a truly ridiculous sight? If you want to show humility, you should show it before God. Who would dare boast of humility before God? Do you really believe that work was achieved only by human strength as we think? The first word of the dedication ceremony that day was clearly, "We give all this glory to God." But except for that one phrase, it was entirely a party of their own, with only themselves rejoicing. Isn't this something strange? What exactly does it mean to give glory to God?
In such times, it is better to think this way. If you have something worth praising, and if there is a decent result among the things you have done, always remember this verse. It is Luke 6:26: “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.” Take this word as a warning. When something worth praising happens and you feel like "I did quite well," think to yourself, "If everyone praises me, there might be woe. Let's be careful so this doesn't become a woe," and let it pass. Every praise we give and receive must be through Jesus Christ, and it must be encouragement shared because we are doing that work together with the Lord.
The Purpose of Scripture: To Testify Only to Christ
Even if the work we have done seems insignificant and meager, if we see Jesus Christ revealed through that work and are coming to know the gloriousness of the Lord, that work is clearly the glory of God. It can never be our glory. Do your days feel insignificant? You might not have gone to Africa as a missionary, nor surrendered all your property for the church, nor grandiosely given your life. However, our church does not only demand such external things; we want you to know the purpose, attitude, and method of that devotion exactly. Whatever work you do, even if you are washing dishes, you must do it for the glory of God.
When you go to work, perform your duties, and meet each customer, do that work for the glory of God. No matter how trivial the work may seem, Jesus Christ is with me in that field, and His desired method and pleasing will are contained within it. Now, let us not give glory to each other for the wrong things. Because we are taking glory from one another, we cannot see the glory of God. Therefore, we cannot believe in Jesus fully. To say this decisively, we are merely using God. That is why we cannot see the truth even when we look at it. I want to clear this up because some might misunderstand. When coming to believe in Jesus, there are times when it feels like I am using God. It's when things are too hard, or everything I do is blocked, so I have no other way but to come before God with my hands up.
Is that coming to use God because I have become weak? No. That is different from "using." The heart at that time is not just coming because one is weak, but confessing, "God, I have now come to entrust everything to You. I tried to do it by my own strength, but I simply cannot. Please have mercy on me." This is a completely different attitude from trying to boss the Lord around as I please. We do not use God as a means to obtain salvation or eternal life. I hope you clarify this part well. If you used even eternal life as a tool to use God for your own benefit, it will eventually be revealed as a life where you continue to pour all your interest only into taking care of your own profits while living a life of faith.
The True Purpose of Scripture and Holy Anxiety
If you worry about how you can have better things in this world or how you can enrich your heart and life with more things, it is because you are believing in Jesus by using God. That is not believing in Jesus, but is no different from worshiping an idol. The Word of God must rightfully be the word of Jesus Christ. It must testify to Jesus, proclaim the work He has done, and give glory only to God. When we rebelled against and betrayed God, when we took glory from each other and thought we were great, and even when we were acting like God though we were not, Jesus silently came and performed His work. Now, through the Holy Spirit and through Jesus Christ who died for us, we have come to know and realize this fact correctly. But everyone, will you still seek your own glory?
Will you seek again the achievements you have made and your personal desires? That is why you keep thinking of things not going well as "failure." However, if there is one word that absolutely cannot exist for a Christian, it is "failure." Why is there no failure? It doesn't mean you don't fail in a worldly sense, but it means that God Himself is directly holding your life—how could the word "failure" dare to enter there? Yet, if you are still seeking your own glory, and if every time you read the Bible you read it to make your own will more certain, let us truly change now. Now, let us change the question to what God wants, what He is pleased with, and what kind of life He is demanding of us, and let us worry about that. You have worried enough about your business doing well. You have lived hard with an anxious heart for your children to do well.
I am not saying to throw away that anxious heart, but please also be anxious about how God's heart might be. "How can I please God's heart? What am I doing for the work God wants? Is my current way of life truly the way God wants?" Without such worry, there is no growth for us. We must know why God called us and what He wants to give us. Because we turn away from this, we keep trying to replace faith with something else. We try to replace it with an emotional fever of "rah-rah," or try to replace it with stress relief by crying and laughing at things like revival meetings. After your mood is lightened, you'll work hard for the church again. But everyone, if you believe in Jesus, you must surely carry this stress that comes from "holy anxiety." You must constantly search throughout your life for how to please God and what work the Lord wants. Because the work He wants is what I truly want, and the work that becomes a joy to Him becomes the greatest joy to me. Do not replace faith with just having a good cry, but I hope you live out a life where God is truly the Master.
Closing Prayer
Loving Lord, we look back at ourselves with fear and trembling as we meditate on Your Word. May we reflect on whether we have been taking our own glory rather than God's glory, and whether we have failed to look fully at Jesus Christ because we were seeking glory from one another. Have mercy on our weakness, having sought only our own benefit while bound by old habits and human desires even after accepting the Lord.
Lord, let us now discover true hope and joy, not the vain glory of the world. May we become true people of God who look only at the glory of God that You allow and pursue that holy will with all our hearts.
We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.