Scripture: John 5:43 (ESV) – “I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.”
Jesus exposes a deep inconsistency in the hearts of those confronting Him. Though He comes in the authority and mission of the Father, they refuse to receive Him. Yet, He warns, they would readily embrace someone else—a false teacher or self-appointed leader—who comes in his own name.
This is not just a critique of hypocrisy; it is a reflection of the human heart apart from grace. Man naturally resists divine authority, especially when it humbles pride and challenges cherished assumptions. But when someone arrives with a message that flatters, entertains, or exalts man, he is welcomed without resistance.
William Gouge observed that the flesh more readily receives man-centered religion than God-centered truth. “What comes in man’s name feeds man’s pride,” he wrote. “But what comes in God’s name demands man’s surrender.” The rejection of Jesus was not due to a lack of evidence—it was due to the pride and self-will of hearts that would rather follow a lie than bow to the truth.
This verse warns us that it is entirely possible to prefer voices that affirm us over the voice of the One who saves us. When we ignore Christ and follow others, even religious ones, who do not speak in the Father’s name, we do not merely choose another path—we reject the One path God has appointed.
Reflection Questions:
- Why do people often reject truth when it comes from God, but embrace error when it comes from man?
- Are there voices in your life that you receive more eagerly than the voice of Christ? Why?
- How can you grow in discernment and a deeper desire to receive only what comes from the Father through the Son?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You have come in the name of the Father, and You alone speak the words of life. Forgive us for the times we’ve been more drawn to man’s voice than Yours. Help us to recognize and reject empty voices that seek to replace You. Give us hearts that are eager to receive truth, even when it convicts, because it comes from You. Amen.
This devotional is based on John 5:43, informed by the theological reflections of William Gouge and the pastoral teaching of Pastor Chris Cousine.
Covenant Presbyterian Church 