February 4, 2018
Morning Service

In the first part of chapter 5, we saw Jesus heal the lame man at the pool of Bethesda.  We focused in on the question; “Do you desire to be made whole?”  We serve a God who is able to make us whole both physically and spiritually.  It is the spiritual side that is most important because that is where we truly worship God, have a relationship with Him and it is there that lays our promise of eternal life.  We also saw the narrow vision of the Jewish leaders as they seemed to overlook that this man was miraculously healed and even dared to call him out for breaking Sabbath traditions by carrying his bed.  The spiritual side of the whole event was missed by them.  Let’s all try not to be so caught up in the physical world that we miss God working right in front of us in the spiritual world. Wouldn’t you think that this miracle would at least give them a reason to listen to what Jesus has to say with an open mind?  As we begin with verse 16, we quickly see what attitude the Jews are taking towards Jesus.

John 5:16-18 And therefore the Jews persecuted Jesus and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath day.  (17)  But Jesus answered them, “My Father works until now, and I work.”  (18)  Then, because of this, the Jews sought the more to kill Him, because He not only had broken the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.

·        There was no open-mindedness with these Jews; they had one of two choices to make.  Either Jesus was who He claimed and had come from God His Heavenly or He was crazy and spoke blasphemy.  They chose the latter and decided not seek to discern if He was from God, but chose rather to convict Him on the spot and even seek to kill Him.  In dealing with people that we may spiritually disagree with, we must choose not to be too quick about our judgments but follow John’s command he wrote to us in his first letter.

1 John 4:1-3 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but try the spirits to see if they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.  (2)  By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God; (3) and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the antichrist you heard is coming, and even now is already in the world.

·        We need to know our scriptures and use them as a filter for anything that we feel questionable about.  In Paul’s ministry he said of the people of Berea that they “searched the scriptures daily to see if it were so.”  Ask yourself this question; “Does this line up with what the Bible says or is it contrary to it?”  Rely on the Holy Spirit that God gave you to guide you to the truth.   These Jews should have known the scriptures well enough to at least research if it would be possible for Jesus to be the Messiah.  They had their mind made up even before He spoke to them.

·        The rest of the chapter is a very open one way discussion in which Jesus speaks quite plainly about who He really is.

John 5:19-21  Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, The Son can do nothing of Himself but what He sees the Father do. For whatever things He does these also the Son does likewise.  (20)  For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all the things that He Himself does. And He will show Him greater works than these, so that you may marvel.  (21)  For as the Father raises the dead and makes alive, even so the Son of Man makes alive whomever He wills.”

·        Jesus here explains the unity He and His Father share; they are equally One.  He also shows His submission towards His Father.  The Son follows the Father’s lead imitating Him in perfect unity.  It is love that binds the relationship.  He prophesies that the miracles will only get greater as His ministry continues; even to the point of raising the dead to the marvel of many.  This is all very ground-breaking teaching at the time, we take these things for granted but back then this was all new and fresh.  It is a bit of a revelation into who God is that has never been told before.  Jesus continues with the revelation.

John 5:22-24 “For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment to the Son, (23) so that all should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.  (24) Truly, truly, I say to you, He who hears My Word and believes on Him who sent Me has everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation, but has passed from death to life.”

·        All judgment has been given to the Son; so He is due equal honor as the Father.  It is not possible to worship and serve the Father without the Son and vice versa. 

·        As Jesus explains to us who He is, at the same time He spells out how to establish a relationship with Him and what is needed to attain eternal life.  This is why He came; this is His purpose for becoming a man and walking among us.  One must hear His Words and believe upon Him as the Son of God.  In so doing we are freed from all condemnation (sins forgiven) and surpass death’s hold on us (wages of sin) gaining eternal life.  This again speaks of the spiritual realm.  We all will experience physical death if the Lord tarries, but it is His Spirit within us that will one day resurrect us to live with Him for eternity.  Paul explained how to establish this relationship with Jesus this way in his letter to the Romans.

  Romans 10:9-10 Because if you confess the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.  (10)  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses unto salvation.

·        This speaks of two things happening for salvation to be attained.  On the physical realm, we must confess (speak) the words that we do believe.  On the spiritual side, we must believe with our heart.  This leads to our water baptism which is a physical act of obedience that is based upon a spiritual decision.

·        Why is it so important that we make this decision?  Jesus continues to teach.

John 5:25-30  “Truly, truly, I say to you, The hour is coming and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they who hear shall live.  (26)  For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has given to the Son to have life within Himself,  (27)  and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.  (28)  Do not marvel at this, for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves shall hear His voice,  (29)  and shall come forth, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have practiced evil to the resurrection of condemnation.  (30)  I can do nothing of My own self. As I hear, I judge, and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of the Father who has sent Me.”

·        Jesus explains to us that there is an hour coming when all will be resurrected and stand before Him to receive judgment.  This is how God has willed it to happen.   There are only two scenarios that will occur.  Those who have chosen to hear and believe will be given life and to those who did not will receive condemnation.  Condemnation is being pronounced guilty and facing punishment of their sins.  To find life means you have accepted Jesus’ offer of salvation and your sins have been washed away by His blood.  Your relationship with Jesus Christ is the only thing that allows you to be rewarded with eternal life and escape the penalty of your sins.  That is God’s perfect plan of salvation.

 

What do we learn about Jesus?

·        The Father and the Son are One, with the Jesus submitting to the will of His Father.

·        Jesus will be the Judge of all mankind; we all will stand before Him. (2 Cor. 5:10)

·        He has come to offer us eternal life and to escape any condemnation.

 

What can we apply to our lives?

·        To gain eternal life we must hear, receive, believe and repent.

·        Knowing we will be judged by Jesus, we should study our Bibles to find out what He desires from us.

·        We should truly worship God for including us in His perfect plan of salvation.

 

Father, thank You for loving us and offering Your Son as an offering for our sin that we may have the hope of eternal life.