John 5:1-30
Key verse 24- 25. "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. I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.
In the last week’s message[Matt 13:24-52], we learned that Jesus came and planted the seed of the kingdom of God. This seed grows with power to multiply and power to spread like yeast. Eventually Jesus will come and destroy all the ungodly. We will all be in His kingdom. In this plan of the world, we also came to know that Jesus began and Jesus will conclude the kingdom.
Then there are few questions: 1. How can Jesus do that? 2. What about God? 3. Why is Jesus qualified to do so?
These three questions are answered in today’s passage.
Today’s passages will be divided into two parts. First is a story and the second part is Jesus’ teaching. In the first story, Jesus healed a man paralyzed for 38 years on the Sabbath day. He healed this man by his word. But his healing was not well accepted by the Jews. They accused Jesus of violating the Sabbath law and hated Jesus claim that he is the Son of God. In the second part Jesus defended his healing on the Sabbath. Jesus reasoned that it was God who did this and this healing proves that God and Jesus is one. So they should not be surprised by Jesus claim, he is the Son of God.
I. Get up and pick up your matt and walk.[1-15]
Read John 5:1-5.
It was during the time of a feast. Many people came from all over the world to participate the feast. Not far away from the temple there was a pool, named Bethesda. There were quite number of people sitting or lying there to wait for the water to be stirred. They were the blind, the lame, and the paralyzed. But these people gathered around the pool waiting for the water to be stirred up. These disabled people had no hope to be cured. Unless God intervenes, no man can cure them.
While many were hustling and bustling to enjoy the feast, Jesus visited this place. As usual many disabled people were there. There was a man paralyzed his lower part of the body. He has been like this for 38 years. Jesus asked him, do you want to get well? It is a simple question if he has a hope for his life. But this man answered; 7 "Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me."
This whole community of people are dropouts of society. Among them, this man paralyzed for 38 years is the worst. His hear is filled with helpless. No one help me out! No one! Even such rare chances he could not make it. He became the dropout among the dropouts. His life is stuck and he has no way out. He has no hope, no meaning and no purpose. He subjected himself to frustration, fatalism and hopelessness. Jesus asked him if he wants to get well. Then he said this: 7 "Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me." He let out all that was building in his heart. Through this we can discern few things about this man. He was so much sorrowful and lonely for the fact that he did not have anyone to help. I am living in misery but I have no one that can help me. It is sad things. But in this life, we come to know that men’s help is limited. Even if we want to help, simply we cannot give help.
Second, this man is so much engrossed in his pain and sorrow, he did not have room for other stories and rumors. He could not pay any attention to the current affairs! Jesus, the miracle worker, powerful God’s servant is here in Jerusalem. But he had no idea at all. He did not hear of Jesus and he did not know who Jesus was. If he knew who Jesus was, so he made this then he could have asked for mercy or help. Jesus is one of the many who came and went by before. He may be asking for a dollar or few dollars.
But Jesus did something unusual.
8 Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk."
It was powerful word of command. Though this man had no idea who Jesus was, Jesus by the word of command, this man got up from paralysis. He was even able to carry the matt. He gained strength in his two feet by the power of Jesus word. He walked away, carrying the heavy matt. It was a remarkable event. When one does not use legs, the legs are withered—less blood flow, not much muscles; disused atrophy. It’s like bone and skin. But as soon as Jesus commanded this man to get up. This man got up. Also he was strong enough to pick up the matt and walked away! It was remarkable display of power. But there are something more remarkable things about what Jesus did. a. this man sinned and his sin caused this paralysis according to v14. b. this man did not know who Jesus was and did not show any signs of repentance or belief. Simply this man had nothing to be worthy of such care and attention from Jesus, the Son of God. Yet c. Jesus healed this man. This means that Jesus is willing to accept this man as he is. It is expression his will to forgive his sins and it is his will to love and care for this helpless man. Lastly d. Jesus healed this man by the power of Jesus word! Jesus did not touch and manipulate any part of his body. He simply commanded, “Get up, take your matt walk!” Truly in this man Jesus demonstrated the power of Jesus’ word.
But one problem is exposed. Jesus pointed out this when Jesus met him again.
14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you."
This is the risk of healing a man, who has no understanding of who Jesus is. But Jesus took even thit risk showing his compassion and love. Some of us do know Jesus well. But nevertheless, when one obeys Jesus’ command, he can get out of this impossible situation. Don’t feel sorry for yourself! Listen Jesus command and obey and you can get out of this impossible predicament. Whatever it may be, it may be my dumb head, it might be because of my bad habit of the past, it might be fear that I cannot overcome, it might be uncontrollable desire for money, human love, or sexual immorality! Don’t remain in any paralysis for another 38 years!
When we listen, his word is powerful and works the miracle! The word of Jesus lets us get out of any paralysis.
II. He can do only what he sees his father is doing[16-30]
The Jews came to know that Jesus healed this man on a Sabbath. At their supervision and commands, the whole Israel observes the Sabbath; They do not work and they do not carry any loads on the Sabbath. But this man, Jesus, openly in view of all who came to this feast healed this man on the Sabbath and even he let the man carry the matt! This was how the Jews thought about Jesus. This man Jesus dares to challenge God’s law. So the Jews persecuted Jesus. But Jesus’ way of thinking is totally different.
17 Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working."
Jesus is working on the Sabbath because His father God is working on the Sabbath. Simply speaking, Jesus is following what the Father God is doing. When they heard this they became more furious:
18 For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
Jesus is like one among them. So Jesus cannot be the Son of God. He cannot call God as his father! How dare to call God his father! When one does not know Jesus, this is how people think about Jesus. He can be a mighty prophet of God. He can be the most holy and righteous man. But he is not the Son of God. He cannot be the Son of God, the creator of heaven and earth! This is not a belief. This is not from God but from men’s understanding in reason. The world wants Jesus to shoulder with Mohamed, Buddha, Confucius, and Socrates. As long as we put Jesus in line with these great men of the world, the world is willing to let us do anything. But the moment we honor Jesus as the Son of God, the world will hate us. Such thinking reflects our un-regenerated mind and the mind of the people of this age. How can a sinful human being overcome this and be able to see the Son of God in Jesus?
19 Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.
Jesus cannot do anything by himself. He cannot heal the man paralyzed by his own accord and by his own power. What he did is from God the Father. It was Father’s will and Father’s power!
20a For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. God the Father reveals to his Son Jesus, everything that he wants to do to human being. If it is healing, healing, if it is teaching, teaching, if it is what is yet to come, what is yet to come, if it is understanding of each man, then understanding!
Among many there are two things that God delegated to his son.
20b-23 Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. 21 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. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son,
God the Father has life and has authority to judge according to his righteousness and holiness. But God the Father delegated these two roles to his son Jesus: Giving life and authority to judge. So Jesus can give life anyone whom he is pleased with. When he comes back as the king, he will judge according to his own will. So Jesus is the holder of life and death! God delegated this role to his Son! What does it mean to us or to the people of the world?
24 "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.
As Jesus emphasized the importance saying ‘I tell you the truth’, this word is so important and I like to discuss the details. So whatever Jesus does, it is God who does in and through him. Whatever he said it is the sayings of God, the Father. So here says; whoever hears Jesus’ word and believe God who sent Jesus will have eternal life.
Read again v24. 24 "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.
Here ‘whoever’ includes who? It includes each one of us. It also includes, robbers, thieves, murderers, adulterers fornicators, all kinds of sexually immoral people, as well as liars, cheaters. It also includes Americans, Africans, Indians, Moslems, Buddhists.. Actually it is inclusive of whole human race regardless of his condition.
“believe him who sent me” Here HIM is God. It is acknowledging that God sent Jesus and Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus is doing such miracles because God the creator is Jesus father. Ultimately God is demanding us to honor him as God the creator of heaven and the earth, the author of our lives. Also he is demanding us to believe his goodness and his righteousness.
“has eternal life and will not be condemned” Eternity is the killer of time that we are confined in. God give us eternal life as we believe him in Jesus. That means that the life we have will continue to eternity, defying the power of death. Also we will not be condemned, no matter how sinful and wicked we are. Sin that we committed will not be counted against us! As we have seen in the paralyzed man, without any prior condition Jesus healed this man.
How can all these things happen? It is when we believe the word of Jesus. It is now working to save lives. His word will continue to save lives till the end of ages as we have seen in this man. Here Jesus teaches us how Jesus word will work in power in forth coming ages.
V 2525 I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.
This is the period that covers from Jesus’ time until now and then to the time of Jesus coming! This is the period from Jesus ascension to heaven until Jesus comes back. In this time the anchor of faith is the word! The word of Jesus, the Word of God! Though we were dead spiritual in our sins, through Jesus’ word, we will live eternal life.
V28 "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out-- those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.
This is the time when Jesus comes back as the king of the world! When Jesus calls, all human beings, those who were dead and buried in the tombs, must listen to the voice of Jesus. They all will come back to life. This time there is not choice but to listen to the voice of Jesus. At this time Jesus command all obedience to His word. Also there is a difference between now and then. At this time One will come back for judgment, the other for eternal life. It is the judgment period! At this time also, Jesus work through his word!
V30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
Jesus is doing all these for what? It is to please God the creator of heaven and the earth.
What can we say about all these?
I like to review this in reference to what we learned from the last week; the kingdom of God. [Slide 47]
1. Jesus planted the seed of the kingdom of God on his people. This is when Jesus was on earth. So Jesus is the initiator and creator of the kingdom of God. It was his will and his prerogative from its beginning!
2. He ascended to heaven. Jesus gave his life and his word. So his life and his word are the anchor of the kingdom of God while he is in heaven. The word is living word and we are to believe and respond to his word that gives life! His life and his word is the source of power to grow like mustard seed and to spread the whole dough like yeast. The world has become one dough, and since it began, it will surely spread to the whole dough!
3. The end will come when Jesus comes back as the supreme king. At this time all the lives from creation to this time will come back to life by Jesus’ word. As fisher man sort out one fish by one fish, Jesus will sort out bad from good ones. He will throw all bad one’s to fiery lake. But the good one will join with him in his eternity.
4. All these, what is the key element that calls for people; It is the word of God. It was during his earthly ministry. It has been since till now. So now it is the words of Jesus is what we are to believe and to put trust on. Now people enjoy freedom either to choose Jesus word or to reject Jesus’ word. But the time will come when they won’t have any choice but to listen and obey Jesus word. When this time comes, it is too late to bring about a change in his or her life.
5. Behind all these is God the father who delegated these two roles to his Son Jesus. To give life and to judge.
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