John 5: 31-47

Where are you in the pecking order? It seems every group or association of people have pecking orders. There is within our broken human nature a competitive desire to excel, to set ourselves apart from the others in the group. This is as true within families as it is in community associations or churches. Within these groups there are those who take this competitive nature to an extreme. The knowledge and experience they have gained is used to distinguish themselves from others rather than for the greater good or purpose of the group. They are quick to point out the deficiencies in others rather than helping others help the group to achieve its purpose.

The Apostle Paul admits to this sin in his own life when he writes about the times he distinguished himself as the most zealous of Pharisees. But, eventually he got the point that Jesus is talking about in today’s passage. Paul wrote in his letter to the Philippians that he came to realize that all this human striving was worthless compared to knowing Jesus. The people listening to Jesus in John 5 were like Saul the Pharisee before God renamed him Paul. They knew the scriptures inside and out, but they did not, or would not, see that those scriptures were pointing to Jesus. Accordingly, even with the testimony of John the Baptist and the many signs or miracles Jesus performed they would not receive Jesus as the Messiah.

God has a very specific purpose for his Word: “I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.” (Isaiah 55:11) The religious people received the scriptures as information but missed the ‘fruit’ part of Isaiah’s proclamation for God. If we open our hearts to be inspired by God’s Word, the Word will then be transformed through our words, actions and good deeds to produce fruit in God’s Kingdom.

So, where are you in the pecking order? When you arrive at your family gathering, civic group or church, do your words, deeds and actions produce fruit in God’s Kingdom?

What word or phrase in these verses

attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

What insights come to you?

How does this passage touch your life today?

12-Mar-12     John 6:1-21