John 5:31-47

Exodus 32:7-14

Psalm 106:19-20, 21-22, 23

John 5:31-47

Jesus said to the Jews:

“If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is not true.

But there is another who testifies on my behalf,

and I know that the testimony he gives on my behalf is true.

You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth.

I do not accept human testimony,

but I say this so that you may be saved.

He was a burning and shining lamp,

and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light.

But I have testimony greater than John's.

The works that the Father gave me to accomplish,

these works that I perform testify on my behalf

that the Father has sent me.

Moreover, the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf.

But you have never heard his voice nor seen his form,

and you do not have his word remaining in you,

because you do not believe in the one whom he has sent.

You search the Scriptures,

because you think you have eternal life through them;

even they testify on my behalf.

But you do not want to come to me to have life.

“I do not accept human praise;

moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you.

I came in the name of my Father,

but you do not accept me;

yet if another comes in his own name,

you will accept him.

How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another

and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God?

Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father:

the one who will accuse you is Moses,

in whom you have placed your hope.

For if you had believed Moses,

you would have believed me,

because he wrote about me.

But if you do not believe his writings,

how will you believe my words?”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, I believe in you. Help my unbelief. I renew my faith in you as Father, that you are all-powerful and have created all things. I renew my faith in your Son and all that he accomplished as my redeemer. I renew my faith in your Spirit, who sanctifies me and leads me along the path of eternal life.

Encountering the Word of God

1. John’s Testimony: As we continue to read from the Gospel of John this Lent, we hear Jesus speak about testimony. The religious authorities in Jerusalem were doubtful about Jesus’ authority and claim to be equal to God the Father. And Jesus wants to respond to their doubts and accusations. In First-century Jewish thought, no one could testify on behalf of themselves to sustain a claim in court nor was just one witness sufficient. You needed two or three witnesses. As it is written in Deuteronomy 19:15: “One witness alone shall not stand against someone in regard to any crime or any offense that may have been committed; a charge shall stand only on the testimony of two or three witnesses.” And so, Jesus invokes the testimony of four witnesses: first, the testimony of John the Baptist; second, the works Jesus has accomplished; third, the witness of God the Father; and lastly, the testimony of Scripture, especially the Five Books of Moses. John testified that Jesus was the Light of God (John 1:8), was the Lamb of God (John 1:28), was anointed by the Spirit (John 1:33), was the Son of God (John 1:34), and was the Bridegroom Christ (John 3:28-29).

2. Belief in Moses: Jesus challenges the religious authorities who “search the Scriptures” and think that they have eternal life through them, especially through the Law of Moses. Jesus tells them that the Law is not the source of eternal life. Instead, the Law points to something, to someone else as the source of eternal life. The Law of Moses points to Jesus, who is the New Moses. How did Moses write about Jesus? The First Book of Moses, Genesis, describes the future Messiah as a Redeemer (Genesis 3:15) and a universal king (Genesis 49:10). The Fifth Book of Moses, Deuteronomy, promises that this figure will be a Prophet like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15-19) (see Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Old and New Testament, 1899). The religious authorities are failing to see how Jesus is acting as a kinsman redeemer, freeing his brothers and sisters from the debt and slavery of sin. They are failing to see how Jesus, the Son of David, is acting as a servant king. They are failing to grasp the prophetic dimension of Jesus’ work and teaching. In short, they are failing to believe all that Moses wrote about the Messiah.

3. The Intercession of the Old Moses and the New: In the First Reading, Moses reacts to the breaking of the Sinai Covenant by the people, who worshipped the golden calf (Exodus 32:1-6). God offered to consume the people and make of Moses a great nation. Instead of accepting this offer, Moses pleads with the Lord to remember the covenant oaths he made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Lord swore an oath to Abraham to make him a great nation with numerous descendants (Genesis 22:16-18). The oath was reiterated to Isaac, Abraham’s son (Genesis 26:3), and to Jacob, Abraham’s grandson (28:13-14; 35:9-12). The episode proclaims not that God changed his mind due to Moses’ prayer, but that God is merciful and faithful even when his people, his children, are stiff-necked and rebellious. Jesus will act as the New Moses on the Cross and intercede for his brothers and sisters: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). The Old Covenant that Moses mediated was broken and awaited its fulfillment in the New Covenant mediated by Jesus, the New Moses. The New Covenant accomplishes what the Old was unable to do – the effective forgiveness of sins.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I love you, and thank you for interceding for me as our eternal high priest before the Father. Be with me today as I strive to heed your life-giving word.

Living the Word of God: Our life of faith can ebb and flow. Our faith can be weakened or strengthened. Faith is not a human accomplishment, but rather a divine gift that is welcomed. Pray today for an increase in faith.