Meaning of John 5:46

Jesus' statement in John 5:46 directly confronts the disbelief of those who claim adherence to Moses while simultaneously rejecting Jesus' own claims and miraculous works. The context is Jesus' healing of a man at the pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath, an act that drew the ire of the Jewish authorities. They questioned Jesus not only for healing on the Sabbath but also for claiming God as His Father, thus making Himself equal with God. Jesus' argument here is that the very foundation of their faith, the Torah given through Moses, actually testifies to His identity. He asserts that if they truly understood and believed Moses' writings, they would recognize the prophecies and allusions pointing directly to Him. This implies that their rejection of Jesus is not a misunderstanding of Moses but a willful disregard for the evidence Moses provided.

Context and Background

This declaration occurs within a larger discourse in John chapter 5 where Jesus defends His authority and divine Sonship. The Jewish leaders are challenging Jesus' actions, particularly His healing on the Sabbath, and His assertion of a unique relationship with God the Father. Jesus responds by presenting multiple testimonies to His identity: the Father's witness, the works He performs, the testimony of John the Baptist, and, crucially here, the writings of Moses. Their opposition stems from a rigid adherence to the Law that blinds them to its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus. They are focused on the letter of the law, not its spirit or intended purpose, which, according to Jesus, is to point to Him.

Key Themes and Messages

The central theme is testimony and fulfillment. Jesus argues that Moses, as the intermediary of God's covenant and law, wrote extensively about the Messiah. Therefore, belief in Moses should logically lead to belief in Jesus. This highlights the messianic expectation prevalent among Jewish people at the time. Another key theme is the nature of true belief. Jesus distinguishes between a superficial or nominal belief in Moses and a genuine, discerning faith that grasps the deeper meaning of scripture. Their rejection of Him reveals the superficiality of their claimed faith in Moses. The verse also underscores the divine unity between the Father and the Son, as Jesus implies that believing Moses is akin to believing Him, because Moses wrote under divine inspiration about the Son.

Spiritual Significance and Application

Spiritually, this verse calls believers to examine the foundation of their faith. Are we adhering to the "letter" of religious practice or the "spirit" of God's revelation? It challenges us to see how the entire biblical narrative, from the Old Testament onward, points to Jesus Christ as the culmination and fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. For those seeking truth, it emphasizes the importance of looking for Christ in all of scripture. It also serves as a warning against intellectual or religious arrogance that can lead to rejecting divine truth when it appears in unexpected forms or challenges established norms. True faith is characterized by an openness to recognize God's work, even when it transcends human expectations.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

This verse is a pivotal point in John's Gospel, connecting the Old Testament Law with the New Testament fulfillment in Christ. The Old Testament, particularly the Pentateuch attributed to Moses, is replete with prophecies, types, and foreshadowings of the Messiah. From the promise in Genesis 3:15 to the prophecies of Isaiah, the coming of a Redeemer is a consistent thread. Jesus is presenting Himself as the ultimate fulfillment of these ancient promises. His argument is that the Mosaic Law, while divine, was intended to prepare the way for Him, not to stand as an end in itself. The entire Old Testament narrative can be seen as a prologue to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Analogies

Consider a composer who writes a symphony. While the individual movements and themes are brilliant on their own, they all build towards a grand finale. If someone admires the early movements but refuses to acknowledge the final, climactic movement as the intended conclusion, their appreciation is incomplete. Similarly, the Jewish leaders admired Moses' writings, but by rejecting Jesus, they were refusing to acknowledge the symphony's ultimate resolution. Another analogy: Imagine a treasure map that meticulously details landmarks and clues, all leading to a buried treasure. If the seekers diligently follow every clue but then refuse to dig at the final X, their journey has been in vain. Moses' writings are the map, and Jesus is the treasure.

Relation to Other Verses

This sentiment is echoed in several other New Testament passages. Jesus Himself stated in John 5:39, "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me." Similarly, Luke 24:27 recounts Jesus explaining to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, "And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself." The Apostle Peter, in Acts 3:22, declares, "Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet from your brothers as he raised me. You shall listen to whatever he tells you.'" These verses collectively reinforce Jesus' argument that the Old Testament scriptures, particularly those attributed to Moses, serve as a vital testimony to His identity and mission.