Come To Me To Have Life

Jesus invites us to come to him to have life. We can go back to see how Old Testament Scriptures point to his coming. We can see his incredible works and see that Father God sent him. Yet we must also answer the call to come to him for the life he offers…

36 For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. 39 You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
John 5:36-40 NIV

Jesus spent a fair bit of time clarifying with his followers and the religious leaders of the day about his relationship with the Father. Although they had never seen or met Jesus before, he challenged them to go back into the Scriptures, including the writings of Moses, to see that they testify about him.

This would have been difficult for them to hear. But even today, people want to discount Jesus and claim allegiance to God while relegating Jesus to ‘just a man’ status. Again in today’s reading, he is clear: “You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent.”

What will we do with Jesus? How we respond to his incarnation, life, death, and resurrection is everything. Are we like religious leaders of his day who refuse to come to him to have life? Or will we recognize that the Father has sent him and acknowledge that he finished the works he was sent to do?

We have the benefit of the resurrection. We have the benefit of the body of Scripture which includes the gospel accounts of his life. We have seen him on the cross crying out, “It is finished!”

We are in the best position and vantage point to acknowledge Jesus and follow him, yet in post-modern spirituality, even more than ever Jesus seems to be a historic religious figure. Only through encountering him and his love, only through understanding that our eternity is in faith in him, will be come to have the life that he offers.

The freedom from sin and guilt and shame, along with the promise of heaven and glory is all before us. Come to Jesus. Believe God who sent him.

Amen.

Marc Kinna