They reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from” (John 9:28–29, esv).
When you start with a false assumption, it can never lead you to truth.
Everyone today who is toiling along without Christ is basing their life on a series of untrue beliefs. Whether they’re thinking “I’m good enough,” or “I can save myself,” or “I’m not as bad as some people,” or “Weak people might need a ‘savior,’ but I’m doing fine on my own”—every one of these falls squarely under the heading “FALSE.”
Not just unbelievers have a problem with this. Those of us who are following Christ can easily fall back into religious mindsets. We pat ourselves on the back for what we do, or work to measure up to artificial standards, or offer God certain sacrifices, in some kind of false deal to box Him in to reciprocate and answer our prayers the way we want.
No matter what you may be thinking about Jesus today, don’t be so sure of what you believe unless it corresponds with what the Bible clearly says about Christ.
The religious leaders of Jesus’ day elevated Moses to a place of unchallenged authority. Not only did they revere the Torah—the five books authored by Moses which comprise the first five books of our Old Testament—but they also revered the example of his life above all others. In the Jewish mindset, Moses represented light, as seen in the pillar of fire that guided the ancient Israelites through the darkness. He represented bread, as seen in the manna that appeared on the ground each morning to nourish the people’s needs. And Moses represented water, having struck a rock in the dry wilderness which God caused to erupt into a flowing stream.
Yet Jesus could say to these “disciples of Moses,” “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me” (John 5:39). Jesus Christ: the “light of the world” (John 8:12), the “bread of life” (John 6:35), the giver of “living water” (John 4:10). Jesus didn’t merely represent these things—light, bread, and water—He was these things. He is these things.
Jesus challenged the religious leaders’ false assumptions. He met their claims with truth. But naturally they weren’t interested in being challenged. They were sure of what they believed—so sure, in fact, that they refused to recognize all the ways He was fulfilling their precious promises and prophecies through His own life.
Don’t be so sure of what you believe or feel—whether pride in your own religious practices or lingering regret over sins that Christ has already died to forgive. Believe only that the Father “made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). In Him alone, not in Moses or in anyone else, is your hope and righteousness grounded. In Him alone, not in your good deeds or anything else, is your complete salvation accomplished.
That’s the truth. The truth you can build your whole life around.
Journal
Pray
Father, thank You for Your Word and Spirit which lead me into all truth. Thank You for sending Your Son to embody Your nature and reveal Your true heart to me. I worship You today for exchanging my futile attempts at righteousness for the freedom of having Christ’s complete righteousness laid atop all my sin. Help me look to You and see what is real, and use me to help lead others into Your truth as well. I pray and live my life today in the matchless name of Jesus, amen.