Come to Jesus

GETTING STARTED

Some years ago, the mayor of Toronto, Canada, got caught using drugs and alcohol in excess while he served in office. Afterwards, he said he had a “come to Jesus” moment and wanted to set his life straight. The Urban Dictionary defines a “come to Jesus meeting” as one where you are confronted about behavior that’s negatively affecting you. Today’s passage is literally a come to Jesus moment as Jesus confronts the Pharisees.

  • Have you ever experienced a “come to Jesus” moment—one where you were challenged by an ugly reality in your life and then decided to make a change?

READ THE WORD: JOHN 5:39-47 (ESV) 

39 “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. 41 I do not receive glory from people. 42 But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. 43 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. 44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

DIGGING DEEPER

  1. What was the subtle, yet important, distinction Jesus made about where to find eternal life(vss. 39-40)?
  2. What were some of the confrontational talking points Jesus had with these religious leaders?
  3. In what did the Pharisees put their trust? How did this accuse them?
  4. Are there areas in your life where you put your trust, maybe even good places, instead of Jesus? What shift do you need to make in order to not stand accused?

RESPOND TO GOD

The Pharisees studied the Law, eager to gain eternal life. They looked to its pages almost as an end in itself, instead of as an avenue to know God. They were searching for the truth but missing it right before their narrowed eyes. There were so many witnesses testifying that Jesus was Messiah—John the Baptist, Jesus’ own works and miracles, and God the Father. The text says that if they truly understood Moses, they would realize he pointed to Jesus as well. The Pharisees discounted these and, instead, stood accused by the very thing on which they set their hope—the writings of Moses. Friends, are there things in which we put our trust that also could accuse us? Let us search our hearts, put aside lesser pursuits, and come to Jesus alone for life.

  • Pray that the eyes of your heart would be opened to any blind spots in your life.
  • Pray for a desire to soak and saturate yourself in the grace and truth of Jesus.