When Truth Stares Us In The Face

Hey Guys,

Have you ever missed something right in front of you?
We’ve all had those moments—searching for your glasses when they’re on your head, or retracing your steps only to find your keys in your hand. But in John 5:31–47, the stakes are much higher. Jesus presents overwhelming evidence for who He is—the Son of God, the promised Messiah—and yet the religious leaders still refuse to believe.

This past Sunday at New Hope Baptist Church, we studied Jesus’ powerful testimony before the religious elite in a sermon titled “The Evidence They Ignored.”

And we learned: the problem wasn’t the evidence—it was their unwillingness.
❝ The Witnesses Were Clear… But the Hearts Were Closed ❞

Jesus brought forward four undeniable witnesses:

• John the Baptist, who boldly proclaimed Jesus as the Lamb of God
• His own miraculous works, done by the power of the Father
• The voice of the Father, affirming Jesus at His baptism
• The Scriptures, which consistently point to the coming Messiah

Each of these confirmed His identity—but the Pharisees refused to see. Their minds were convinced, but their hearts were cold. Why? Because they loved the praise of men more than the glory of God (John 5:44).
And the danger is… we can do the same.
❝ What Keeps Us From Believing? ❞

Jesus said, “You are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life” (John 5:40). That statement still resonates today. Many people reject Christ—not because they don’t know enough, but because they don’t want to surrender.

That’s why this message is so important—not just for skeptics or seekers, but for every one of us in the church. We must ask:

• Am I trusting in my religious knowledge—or in Jesus Himself?
• Do I crave the approval of people more than the approval of God?
• Am I merely reading the Bible—or letting it lead me to Christ?

These are hard questions. But they are life-giving ones. Because Jesus is still extending the same invitation:
“Come to Me… that you may have life.”

❝ The Call to Respond ❞
If you were with us Sunday, you know this wasn’t a message to simply absorb—it was one to act on. We were challenged to:

• Examine our hearts for areas of pride, apathy, or resistance
• Re-center our faith not in religious tradition, but in the living Christ
• Repent where needed, and respond in trust and obedience

And for those who have not yet believed, the gospel was made clear:
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to save sinners. He bore the wrath we deserved. He rose in victory. And He invites us—not to religion, but to relationship.
If you missed Sunday’s message—or if you want to revisit it—you can watch the replay here.

What’s Next?
We continue our Believe series next week in John 6, where Jesus not only performs a miracle, but teaches what it means to truly be satisfied in Him.

Until then, don’t let the truth stand before you unreceived.
Don’t ignore the evidence.

Come to Jesus. He is everything He claimed to be—and more.
? “These are the very Scriptures that testify about Me, yet you refuse to come to Me to have life.” — John 5:39–40

If you made a decision Sunday, or want to talk more about what it means to follow Christ, we’d love to walk with you. Message us here or visit [insert church contact link].

#TheEvidenceTheyIgnored #BelieveSeries #ComeToJesus #John5 #SundayRecap #FaithInAction

Serving Him,

Pastor Joey