References

Jesus said to the Jews:
“If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is not true.
But there is another who testifies on my behalf,
and I know that the testimony he gives on my behalf is true.
You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth.
I do not accept human testimony,
but I say this so that you may be saved.
He was a burning and shining lamp,
and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light.
But I have testimony greater than John’s.
The works that the Father gave me to accomplish,
these works that I perform testify on my behalf
that the Father has sent me.
Moreover, the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf.
But you have never heard his voice nor seen his form,
and you do not have his word remaining in you,
because you do not believe in the one whom he has sent.
You search the Scriptures,
because you think you have eternal life through them;
even they testify on my behalf.
But you do not want to come to me to have life.
“I do not accept human praise;
moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you.
I came in the name of my Father,
but you do not accept me;
yet if another comes in his own name,
you will accept him.
How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another
and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God?
Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father:
the one who will accuse you is Moses,
in whom you have placed your hope.
For if you had believed Moses,
you would have believed me,
because he wrote about me.
But if you do not believe his writings,
how will you believe my words?” - Jn. 5:31-47

Today's gospel is a continuation of yesterday's. Jesus continues to explain why is he the way he is. Yesterday it was all about what power does he have to perform miracles and teach. Today, Jesus turns his attention towards those who attack his supposed "lack" of credentials for being the Son of God.

Jesus refuses to toot his own horn. He instead calls upon John the Baptist and God as his references. He even tells them that the scriptures, their bread and butter, further prove he is who he says he is. Jesus calls them out, because even with the evidence stacked in his favor, the Pharisees and scribes refuse to accept him as the Son of God. He tells them it does not bode well for them if they can't even accept the very thing their lives are based upon, the holy scriptures. He ends by posing a question that drives most of his ministry. If you don't believe what you do see, how can you believe what you don't?

The Pharisees and scribes still exist in today's society. They are those who believe science can explain everything, or that suffering is the result of God's wrath. They exploit others and insult their intelligence. They don't recognize the presence of God in front of them and when the hour comes for the final judgement, it will be too late. That is the exact opposite of faith. Faith is believing in something even if you do not have current physical evidence to prove it. It is relying on the unknown or invisible to show their existence in due time. This is what Jesus expects from us, his followers 2,000 years after his death and resurrection.

We should also be like Jesus when it comes to his humility in this situation. He could have easily performed another miracle right there on the spot or have God come down again with blinding light, but Jesus relies only on the testimony of those on Earth, John the Baptist and the prophets of the scriptures. He refuses to brag or gloat. Instead he stands up for himself and proves himself without needing to make a big show of it. How often is our defense when our authority/identity is questioned to puff up our chests and list our achievements or even intimidate those who question us? We should be more like Jesus, by defending ourselves by the reputation we earn and deserve rather than the one we feel we are entitled to.