Friday 11 July 2014

Background

Grenada is a place where everyone is close tothe places of power. The education minister lives next door, thefinance minister sits in a pew nearby, the prime minster drivesdown the road on his way to work. A small nation is much moreclosely connected to those persons who hold the highest publicoffice. That means, for good or for bad, a lot of things get donethrough the relationships and connections that people have witheach other. It's often a case of not what you know, but who youknow, to get things done.

Our passage today continues the explanation of the Son and theFather and our connection to the Father through the Son (John5:1-29). The words in this passage are again addressed by Jesusto the religious leaders of the Jews of that time, particularlythose seeking to kill him (verse18). The God-like activity of Jesus (verses1-18) and the authority Jesus claims from a relationship withthe Father (verses 19-29) are all backed up from a varietyof sources. These sources 'testify' to Jesus, much like witnesseswould if he were on trial (which of course he is soon to be in thenarrative of John's Gospel). John the Baptist was a lamp pointingto Jesus (verses 33-35). The miracles point to Jesus (verses 36).The Father points to Jesus (verse 37). The Scriptures (verse 39)and even Moses (verse 46) point to Jesus. Jesus realises, sadly,that the religious leaders missed all of the pointers. They misswho Jesus is and they miss out on God's love (verses 42-43). It isa reminder that religious orthodoxy does not determine ourrelationship with God the Father, but that we are connected to theFather through a relationship with the Son, Jesus. In the kingdomof God it's not what you know, but who you know, in the bestpossible meaning of that phrase.

To Ponder

• "In the Kingdom of God it's not what you know, but who youknow" - Do you agree? How does that make you feel?

• How close do you feel to the places of power? Howhelpful/unhelpful do you find this?

• How are you as a witness to who Jesus is? What might you do tobe better?