Flashback Episode — Identifying the Real Jesus: John 5:16-47

As we continue our journey through Jesus’ life, we come to a long passage that contains a verse that transformed my view of Jesus when I first read it. This view is incredibly counter-cultural and it actually helps us frame several things Jesus does in His ministry that might not make any sense without this perspective.

In our culture today, we like to place people on pedestals and on platforms, and look to them for ideas, inspiration, entertainment, or escape. Our culture today loves to give glory to people who overcome unbelievable odds, it loves to talk about people who have royally messed up, and it loves to vilify the people it stereotypes.

We all in some way, shape, or form do this. When we pay attention to a singer, actor, politician, celebrity, athlete, or someone significant in our life, the focus and attention we give to them is subtly also giving them glory. This idea of giving glory also extends to us giving glory to Jesus, and this draws our attention onto a verse contained in our passage.

However, before we focus in on that verse, I want to point out that giving glory to other people is not a universally bad thing. Giving some glory to others is unavoidable in our world and in today’s culture. Where we tend to fail in this area is by not prioritizing the time, and consequently, the glory that we are giving away. The easy trap we fall into is forgetting to give glory to God personally and directly, by intentionally spending time with Him.

This then brings our attention to the passage we are focusing in on for this episode. However, because this passage is quite long, I am going to pull out a section of it to read, while encouraging you to read the broad passage on your own when you get the chance. Like many of you, I have probably read this broad passage many times, but during one of the times reading it, a verse within it hit me and completely shifted my perception of Jesus.

Our passage is found in John’s gospel, chapter 5, and we will read it from the New International Version. While I would like to begin in verse 16, for our time together to stay within somewhere close to our normal length, l’ll jump down several verses. With that said, starting instead in verse 31, we read Jesus responding to the religious leaders, saying:

³¹ “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. ³² There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true.

³³ “You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. ³⁴ Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. ³⁵ John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.

³⁶ “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. 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 study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, ⁴⁰ yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

⁴¹ “I do not accept glory from human beings, ⁴² but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. ⁴³ I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. ⁴⁴ How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

Let’s stop reading here. One verse near the end of this challenge Jesus gives to the religious leaders is amazing when we stop to draw attention to it. This verse is verse 41, where Jesus tells the religious leaders, “I do not accept glory from human beings.”

I know I had read this broader passage numerous times before really seeing this verse, but one morning while studying, this verse jumped off the page at me and shifted my perception of Jesus. It’s interesting, because once I saw Jesus through this verse, I find it hard to read any passage about Jesus without using this new perspective.

By including this phrase, Jesus is either being an example of the most sinless human ever to live, or He is being an example of one of the most deluded sociopaths. I’m inclined to think He was the most sinless human, because God gave Him the power to perform miracles, healing thousands of sick people, feeding thousands more, and a little event we call the resurrection helps this thought as well.

Also, sociopaths don’t live selflessly, so Jesus doesn’t really fit that stereotype if we look at this comparison from the other angle.

Since this phrase Jesus said reveals part of His character, I don’t ever see this idea changing. I don’t see Jesus having rejected glory from people while here on earth, but then later changing His mind about this. Instead, I suspect Jesus does the same thing with the glory He is given today that He did while He walked the earth during the first century. Whenever anyone tried to give Jesus glory, He directs the glory to the Father.

If we take this idea one step further, what about Satan? If anyone was more opposite to Jesus, it would be him. Satan wanted more glory pointed towards himself. If God and the angels were not going to do this, humans are the only other candidate he has, which means that Satan will accept glory from humans. It is even possible that Satan desires glory from humanity.

So with this knowledge as one guide, a simple litmus test we can use to determine a genuine Christ-following disciple-leader is simply whether they point the glory to God, or if they accept glory themselves (or perhaps if they seek out more glory that they can accept).

I have not done much research into historical cult movements, but most if not all probably would have failed this simple litmus test. Someone looking in from the outside (and maybe even a rational person looking from within) could rationally say that the leader was interested in drawing people, focus, and glory onto himself or herself and not on forwarding that glory on to God.

This simple litmus test could also be one way of identifying Satan when he comes claiming to be Christ. By His own declaration, Jesus never accepted glory from humans, whereas Satan will likely be the opposite. I very much suspect that a Satan impersonating Jesus, or anyone impersonating Jesus, will fail the test of whether they are in it for their own glory or for God’s.

So where does that leave you and I today? How can we take this information and change our lives?

I cannot speak for you, but when originally reading this phrase and when the flood of ideas poured into my mind, I could not escape the clear revelation of Jesus’ character. Jesus was 100+% focused on helping others and forwarding the glory onto God the Father.

As disciples of Jesus, which is another way of saying that we model or imitate our lives after His, I see pointing all glory and praise upwards to God as a character attribute we all need to incorporate into our own lives, myself included. I must not seek glory for myself, but forward any glory onward and upward to Jesus and the Father. There is the constant pressure from culture to accept glory and praise, therefore, in my mind, since Jesus did not accept it and culture wants us to seek it, rejecting praise and pointing our focus upwards towards God must be something worth striving for in living a Jesus-like life.

As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:

As I always challenge you to do, choose to intentionally place God first in your life and choose to model Jesus and give God the glory.

Also, continue to pray and study the Bible for yourself to learn more about who Jesus really was and what Jesus ultimately did for you when He died on the cross. Accept the gift Jesus offers and don’t let anyone trick you out of holding onto the promise of salvation!

And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or fall away from where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!