John 5:38

“In fact, my Father, who is responsible for my presence here, testified about me already.  Of course you never heard his voice nor did you see his face, so how could you know his testimony at all?”  John 5:38 EFP

This text is quite an indictment of the religious leaders of the time.  Jesus’ reference was more than likely to his baptism, when the Father said, “This is my beloved son….” On occasion of his baptism in the River Jordan.  But his words must have cut deep when he points out what must have been obvious to both the leaders and the ones they had been called to lead.  “You never heard his voice, did you?” 

“Never heard God’s voice….never saw His face.”  What does Jesus mean when he makes this broad statement?  They were the ones who spoke for God, but they never met him or heard from him?  They wouldn’t recognize his voice or his face if they heard or saw it is the implication!  Jesus’ point is that they had in fact never heard the voice or seen the face of God! That is one strong indictment.

What would Jesus say of me today?  Do I hear God’s voice?  Would I recognize him if I saw him?  It would be sad indeed if after all is said and done I would be found to have never heard the voice of God while being surrounded by all the trappings of religiosity.  Where do I go to hear the voice of God?  Where do I go to meet him?  I need to go more often to that place where I can hear His voice speaking to me—where I can look into his face.  No distractions.  No interruptions.  No outside noise. Just me and His Word speaking to me. I do not want to ever be accused of not hearing or recognizing my heavenly Father’s voice.