May 19 Personal Appearance

John 15:22-23 “If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin. 23 He who hates me hates my Father as well.”
 
WE may read these words and think, “If people never hear the gospel, they will not be guilty of sin. They will go to heaven.” But this is not Jesus’ meaning. This is never the Bible’s teaching.
   In contrast, the Bible declares there is no one who does not know of God. For example, Paul writes in Romans 1:18-20 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. (underline mine) All of us know sin. And in Romans 3:10-12 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
   Jesus, then, is referring specifically to the Pharisees’ sin.  “Their sin” is rejecting Jesus’ personal appearance to them. “They have no excuse for their sin,” Jesus says, because they have personally seen the Son of God! He is standing before them in the flesh. They have heard his testimonies of himself, of the Spirit and of the Father. These learned men have listened to his teachings. The Jewish authorities could touch the Lord, see his miracles, hear his voice and witness thousands of people go to him for teaching and healing. John the Baptist had testified of Jesus’ identity. The Father had declared, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22b) Daily these men read the prophets and the law – words pointing to Jesus.
   In those prophetic words, God had said he would come, how he would come and what he would do. Then Jesus came to fulfill the Word. Still, the Jews refused to say, “Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah. He is the Son of God.” Despite the evidence, they rejected the God who had so personally interjected himself into their lives.
   Do you personally see Jesus today? After all, you have the same evidence as the Jews. The Holy Bible is the law, the prophets and the gospel of God. We can even “touch” him through the testimonies of many whom he has dramatically transformed with his life-changing salvation. People saved from deadly illnesses, addictions or life-stifling sins, for example, will testify of the Lord’s personal touch to make them new. We see, too, God’s, “Yes.” answers to “impossible prayers”. And we watch faithful believers make a difference in the world just as Jesus promised they would.
   Our God is personal. He has promised he would come into the world. He has come in the flesh. Then Jesus promised he would send the Spirit. Now the Spirit very personally dwells within the lives of those who confess, “I have seen Jesus in my life.”
   Be alert, too. He promises to come again. He will one day. And there will be no excuse. Are you ready? Are you helping others be ready to personally receive the Lord?
 
Prayer: Lord, I confess I have made excuses to deny your call on my life. I pray for faith to touch you, to hear you and to know you as my personal Lord and Savior. Amen.