Out of Focus (John 5:45-47)

45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?"

Having been somewhat gentle with the erronious Jewish leaders, now Jesus, like a prosecuting attorney, goes for the kill. The witness Jesus brings against them is none other than Moses himself, the prophet of God the leaders have been basing their arguments on all along. Some Jews thought Moses would intercede for them in heaven. Jesus declares he plays the opposite role as their accuser. Following the law Moses received from God, was their way to eternal life based upon the Sinai covenant. Now Jesus is here. There is only one way to the Father, and it is through him, not Moses. Grace has arrived in the form of the incarnate God on earth and a new covenant is about to be confirmed in his blood. Belief in him leads to eternal life, but because they will not believe in him, they will suffer eternal separation from God.

One of my favorite prayers for the church in the Book of Common Prayer follows. It is a good prayer for all of us to pray, especially when our understanding of Jesus and his church is out of focus:

Gracious Father, we pray for the holy catholic [universal] Church. Fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is error, direct it; where in any thing it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ thy Son our Savior. Amen.