What does John 5:38 reveal about the nature of belief and faith in Jesus? Canonical Text John 5:38 : “nor do you have His word abiding in you, because you do not believe the One He sent.” Historical-Literary Setting Jesus has just healed the man at the Pool of Bethesda—an archaeological site uncovered in 1888 that matches John’s description, corroborating the eyewitness reliability of the Gospel record. Confronted by hostile Jerusalem leaders, Jesus presents a multi-layered courtroom defense (vv. 31-47). Verse 38 is the fourth indictment: their unbelief in the “One He sent” (πέμψας, pemsas) exposes that God’s word never truly took root in them. “His Word Abiding” — Covenant Language “Abiding” (μένειν, menein) is covenantal: Deuteronomy 6:6; Psalm 119:11. To abide is to internalize, cherish, and obey. Scripture is active seed (Isaiah 55:10-11) that germinates only in receptive soil (Luke 8:11-15). Lack of belief means the seed never penetrated. Genuine faith, therefore, is inseparable from Scripture’s inward residence. Belief as Relational Trust, Not Mere Cognition John consistently defines πιστεύειν (pisteuein, “to believe”) as personal trust in the Son (1:12; 3:16; 20:31). Intellectual assent to facts—or even to the text itself (5:39)—is insufficient. Saving faith involves entrusting oneself to the living Christ (5:24), a relational response enabled by the Spirit (6:63). Interdependence of Revelation and Response 1. The Father’s revelation is centered in the Son (Hebrews 1:1-3). 2. Acceptance of that revelation authenticates one’s relationship with the Father (John 5:23; 8:19). 3. Rejection of the Son nullifies any claim to possess God’s word (1 John 2:23-24). Thus verse 38 establishes a reciprocating spiral: the indwelling word fuels faith, and faith opens the heart for deeper word-abiding (cf. Colossians 3:16). Johannine “Sent One” Motif Thirty-six times John speaks of the Son as “sent.” The title evokes Isaiah’s Servant (Isaiah 42:6; 61:1) and the angel-of-Yahweh typology (Exodus 23:20-23). Belief in the Sent One is covenant obedience (John 6:29), the very “work” God requires. Unbelief: An Evidential and Moral Failure Jesus appeals to evidence (5:36—the works; 5:39—the Scriptures; 5:45—Moses). Their refusal is moral (3:19-20), not lack of data. Contemporary resurrection scholarship supports this principle: the minimal-facts argument shows historical credibility; rejection often stems from worldview commitments rather than evidence. Old Testament Echoes • Jeremiah 31:33: the new covenant law written on the heart. • Ezekiel 36:26-27: Spirit-enabled obedience. Both prophecies culminate in Christ (Hebrews 8:6-13), explaining why unbelief in Him proves the word is not “written” within. Practical Implications 1. Saturate life with Scripture (Joshua 1:8) so the word abides. 2. Submit to the Spirit, who alone enables belief (John 16:13-14). 3. Evaluate professed faith by fruit; doctrinal storage without relational trust mirrors the leaders’ condition. 4. In discipleship, emphasize Christocentric reading: every text drives to the Sent One (Luke 24:27). Summary John 5:38 teaches that authentic faith is inseparable from the indwelling word of God and centers on believing in Jesus, the Father’s Sent One. Absence of faith exposes that Scripture has never taken root; conversely, believing reception of Christ evidences and deepens the abiding of God’s word, fulfilling covenant promises and granting eternal life. |
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