Last time we learned that believers are to be alert to the spiritual harvest and that Jesus is not limited by time and space. We learned of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. She told others about Jesus and many Samaritans believed and called Him, “the Savior of the world”. We also learned of Jesus’ second miracle when He healed the official’s son.
John 5:1-15 – Sabbath Healing at the Pool
Later after healing of the royal official’s son, Jesus went to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish feasts. He may have been by Himself since the disciples aren’t mentioned. He went to the pool called Bethesda. This is where crowds of sick people gathered, because they believed when the pool moved it would heal them. There Jesus saw a man who had been an invalid for 38 years trying to get into the water before the movement stopped. The man was alone and helpless. Jesus had compassion on him and knew he was not only physically sick, but spiritually sick. Jesus asked the man, “Do you want to get well?” – John 5:6. The man answered that he did, but had no one to help him get into the pool. Jesus told the man, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” – John 5:8 Through faith the man picked up his mat and walked. (John 4:1-9)
What do you need healing from?
We’re not told if Jesus cured any others that day at the pool. He cured the invalid man, because He knew his heart and that he had faith. Jesus asked him if he wanted to get well perhaps to get the man’s attention. He challenged the man to be obedient. He wanted the man to look at Him. This was necessary for his faith to come alive so he could be cured. We need to look at the cross with our hearts and spirits.
The invalid man may have been comfortable in his condition just a sinners are comfortable in their sin. They are not willing to be cured of their sins. Many people don’t want to receive divine help in their problems. They love their weakness and are always craving the attention of others through their helplessness. Whatever the reason Jesus asked him the question, Jesus healed the man immediately showing that nothing is impossible for God.
Jesus told him to get up, pick up his mat, and to walk. There are times we tend to feel helpless and sorry for ourselves. We need to choose not to be helpless. We need to accept our circumstances, stop feeling sorry for ourselves, and stop being bitter and rise above our circumstance. He’s not asking us to do this alone. It is impossible without Jesus. “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” – Luke 18:27. We need to walk or move from where we are into a new life. We need to choose a new life to become whole.
Principle: What is impossible with men is possible with God.
It was the Sabbath when Jesus healed the man and people were watching. Jews were not allowed to do any work on the Sabbath and carrying a mat was considered work. Needless to say the Jewish leaders were not pleased. Jesus had no regard for their man-made rules, but always obeyed the Law of God. The leaders questioned the man as to why he was carrying his mat. He answered that a man told him to. He had no idea it was Jesus who healed him. (John 5:10-13)
Later Jesus found the man at the temple and told him to stop sinning or something worse would happen to him. Then the man told the Jews that is was Jesus who made him well. (John 5:14-15) He wanted them to know that it was Jesus, the Messiah who performed the miracle. He thought they would be excited that the Messiah had come, but instead it made the leaders angry.
Has Jesus made you whole?
John 5:16-30 – Jesus Is God
Because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews were extremely angry. They continued to persecute Him for it and tried harder to kill Him. Jesus told them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.” – John 5:17. Jesus was making Himself equal with God and they didn’t like that at all. (John 5:16-18) Many say that Jesus never claimed to be God, but this is one of the Scriptures that says otherwise. Another Scripture is John 8:24 - “Unless you believe that I AM, you shall die in your sins.”
Jesus said He is working just as the Father is working. God continues to work on Sundays. It still rains on Sunday. Plants and trees still grow on Sunday. He still saves the lost on Sunday. He still performs miracles on Sunday. He never stops working.
Jesus went on to say that God, the Father shows Him all He does and He will show Him even greater things in the future. “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.” – John 5:21-23.
Jesus’ divine authority is described in verses 17-23:
Our response to Jesus’ deity and divine authority should be recognizing who He is and be in awe of Him. We should honor and worship Him and Him alone. We should have respect, faith, gratitude, acceptance, belief, worship, and obedience. He should be in the center of our lives, meaning He should be in control.
“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” – John 5:24 He went on to say a time is coming when even the dead will hear His voice and to not be amazed. A time is coming when all those in the graves will hear His voice and will come out of their graves. Those who have done good will live and those who have done evil will be condemned. (John 5:24-30)
Friends, the time is getting much closer to the Rapture and the Tribulation than ever before. Just look around of all the wickedness in our world that is filled with deception and turmoil. Deception is taking hold of our culture. We are accepting all sorts of immoral behaviors. Christianity is under attack. Many churches have stopped teaching sound doctrine. Jesus said there would be ‘wars and rumors of wars’. There is growing instability all around the world with wars that are springing up everywhere. There are famines and natural disasters like never before. So what do we do? If you are a believer, hold on to your confidence in God , stand firm, and live by faith. If you are not a believer, surrender to Jesus now before it’s too late.
After hearing these things about Jesus’ deity and divine authority, our response should be that of awe, belief, reverence, and worship.
Principle: Those who believe in Jesus will have eternal life.
What do you believe about Jesus?
John 5:31-47 –Testimonies About Jesus
Jesus spoke of His authority because He knew the minds of His audience. The Jews wanted to know what gave Him the authority to make the claims He was making. After all He was just a man who was trying to make Himself equal with God.
Jesus said to testify about Himself is not valid, but the testimony of John the Baptist is valid. But Jesus’ testimony is weightier than that of John. The main witness is the Father. He uses various witnesses to testify to the truth of who Jesus is – the testimony of men, John the Baptist, Jesus’ works that was given Him to do, the scriptures, Moses, and most important was God Himself. The case of Jesus is solid. He is the Christ , the Son of God. He is God!
He said they hadn’t heard God’s voice and His Word didn’t dwell in them. They thought all their knowledge would give them eternal life. They studied the Scriptures which testifies about Jesus, but they refused to come to Him. (John 5:31-40)
It is important to believe that Jesus is God’s Son and equal to God in power and authority because our lives depend on it. Jesus was sent to save us from eternal death and punishment. He was sent to give use salvation and eternal life with Him. Only He can give us this salvation because of His death and resurrection.
Jesus gave reasons for the people’s refusal to believe. He said He didn’t accept the praises of men, but He knew them and they didn’t have the love of God in their hearts. He said He comes in the Father’s name, but they don’t accept Him. They were more concerned with man’s honor than the honor that comes from God. He asked them how can they believe if they accept praises of others and make no effort to obtain praise from God. (John 5:41-44) They were just using excuses, when the real reason was pride and honor from one another. They didn’t seek the honor that comes from God.
Jesus said they didn’t think He would accuse them before the Father, but that their accuser was Moses. He said if they believed Moses they would believe Him, because Moses wrote about Him. Since they didn’t believe what Moses wrote, how could they believe what Jesus said. (John 5:45-47) Jesus didn’t call these religious leaders with a new or different faith. He called them to believe what Moses, the Scriptures, and John the Baptist testified about: that He is the Messiah, the Son of God and God the Son.
Principle: Biblical faith is not blind; it is grounded on evidence.
With all these witnesses, what is your response to Jesus?
What keeps people today from believing in Christ? Why would anyone not want to have eternal life? There are many reasons. Some like the Muslims reject Him because they don’t really know who He is and it would bring shame on their family. They could even be targeted for death. Some have been wounded by so called Christians or by the church. Maybe their priest or their parents have abused them. Maybe they see those who profess to be Christian setting bad examples. They may have been influenced by atheistic professors. They may be full of pride and just don’t want to give up control of their lives. There are many reasons people don’t believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord.
It is impossible to truly love God and reject Jesus at the same time. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. No one can truly connect with God except through Him. “He who hates me hates my father as well.” – John 15:24
Principle: It is impossible to love God and reject Jesus, because Jesus is God.
Next week we will study John 6. Have a blessed day and thanks for visiting my site. – I encourage you to trust in Jesus.
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