March 24, 2023
Learning to Abide
“But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works that I do—testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me. Witness of the Father and the Father who sent Me, He has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His form. You do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent.” John 5:36-38 (NASB)
Many times, people go to a book signing opportunity by their favorite author. They will stand in line for hours to get an autographed book. After the book signing, they don’t know the author any better. This is because they couldn’t spend time with them and ask questions. The same experience is true for the Jews. They didn’t recognize the voice of God in Jesus Christ.
“…You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His form. You do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent.” The current generation of God’s people knew God only through the tradition and teaching of their ancestors, not their own experience.[1] What a tragedy for a nation which prided itself to having the One True God. The One who won their battles by His abiding power. The Jews very existence in the world was defined as the God of Israel’s nation. Other countries feared and yet respected the God of Israel. Yet the Jews missed experiencing their God. They didn’t have the abiding of God in their lives. Now, the God they missed in the Old Testament was personally standing in front of the Jews in person of Jesus Christ. They were about to experience His voice and still not believe. They would reject the testimony of God Himself by rejecting Jesus.
“You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His form.” What was the voice though they missed? To understand what Jesus was saying we need to take a look at the literal translation of “voice.” The word is phōnē; meaning a voice, or sound.[2] It comes from the root word which means “a declaration or saying.” When Jesus referred to the word “voice” He meant the Jews didn’t hear the voice of God through His declarations or sayings. These voices are His Word. When they refused to acknowledge Jesus as God, they exposed themselves to their genuine heartfelt condition. They refused God’s Word and thereby refused Jesus as God. For if they had read God’s Word, they would have understood He was speaking to them.
This leads us to a profound truth today. Sinners don’t have the presence of God abiding in them, they can’t hear God’s voice. They are separated from God by our sin. When they trust Christ as Savior, they have God’s Spirit living within. Then they have the ability to hear His voice. Most young Christians ask, “How do I hear God’s voice today?” Do I listen in a quiet room? Do I cross our legs in a certain way? God simplifies the answer, and it is simple. Abide in His Word, the Bible. When you and I abide in God’s Word, we hear the voice of God. Any other method won’t do. As an added benefit, when we abide more and more in God’s Word, we can hear His voice more clearly. This abiding helps us hear Him and understand who He is and who He is not. It’s called spiritual discernment. Don’t miss His voice today, abide in Him.
[1] John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Jn 5:37.
[2] Robert L. Thomas, New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries : Updated Edition (Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc., 1998).