When Jesus Goes Too Far
The Gospel of John • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 9 viewsJesus heals a man on on the Sabbath. This raises the ire of many of the Jews who are already trying shut Jesus down. Jesus demonstrates his authority.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
There is a problem in many churches today. A problem that has been around for a long time. It can manifest itself in different ways but at it’s core is this idea that Jesus is not God. When I was a part of the the Disciples of Christ denomination I met pastors and professors in their seminaries that did not have the same view of Jesus as I did. Often it didn’t even seem like they had a biblical view. (Disclaimer: this was not everyone in the denomination and it is not limited to just the D.O.C).
When having a discussion with a discussion with a professor form Phillips Seminary about the trinity I was informed that there was no trinity and that Jesus was just a man that essentially got lucky and figured out how to live a life that pleased God. His death was cruel and unfortunate but he was just a man like me and his life and teachings are one that should be admired and emulated.
Last week I read a quote from C.S. Lewis book Mere Christianity. I’d like to read it again because this next section of scripture and the next few sermons are going to be dealing with the idea that Jesus was more than a good and moral man. More than a rabbi who taught well...
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
Read John 5:1-18.
1. While in Jerusalem Jesus goes to a pool that is known for healing those who are sick.
1. While in Jerusalem Jesus goes to a pool that is known for healing those who are sick.
-There are a lot of sick and lame people there all waiting to get into the pool called Bethesda and be healed.
-Controversy over verse 4 being missing from some translations. Has to do with manuscript evidence.
-This is an example of Jesus going to the bottom of the social latter to minister.
-Being among the sick and infirm would have violated all sorts of purity laws. But Jesus was always ministering to those who had the greatest need.
-The mans response to “do you want to get well” indicates
he has a no understanding in the true god
how ever this pool worked it was on a first come first serve basis.
-What Jesus does offer is something that the man cannot provide for himself. In fact no one can.
-What kind of healing does the man receive? Complete.
-The word Jesus uses here for his offer for healing is the same word he uses in Luke 5:31
Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
-Jesus tells the man, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk”
-The man doesn’t know it yet but this is what causes all the problems.
-It’s the Sabbath.
celebrated every 7 days
common and most basic way to worship God
regulations surrounding Sabbath was the central part of the Mosaic Law.
God rested on the 7th day and as a way of remember redemption form slavery
Sabbath keeping was sacred.
-Jesus had the habit of observing the Sabbath as a day of worship but he exposed the Jews heresy and misunderstanding of the Sabbath by not complying with the minute restrictions that had been set in place.
-How should we understand the Sabbath today?
Well the Jews saw this man with is mat walking around like it was Monday and they are furious.
2. The Jews questions the man who was an invalid and had visited the pool for decades.
2. The Jews questions the man who was an invalid and had visited the pool for decades.
-They are quick to point out that man is violating the Sabbath by carrying his mat.
-No doubt the man was confused.
-I really want to believe that his response was dripping with sarcasm, “THE MAN WHO MADE ME WELL SAID TO ME, ‘PICK UP YOUR MAT AND WALK.’”
-The Jewish leaders are really hung up on the who
-The man doesn’t know.
Some time later Jesus catches up with the man at the temple.
3. Jesus’ interaction with the man consists of physical healing but he also calls on him to stop sinning.
3. Jesus’ interaction with the man consists of physical healing but he also calls on him to stop sinning.
-Jesus first points out the healing then there is a call for repentance. A call that insists the man turn from his sin and rebellion and towards God in faith.
The presupposition of repentance is the tragic phenomenon of sin. The totality of creation was made to exist in perfect fellowship with and before God, so sin represents a contradiction of the end for which the world was made. Restoration of fellowship with God, therefore, requires sinful people to forsake their rebellious posture and return to a life of creaturely peace in obedience to the Creator God. Repentance is this act of turning and returning.
-So important is the message of repentance, Mark records that it was the first message of Jesus after his baptism. Mark 1:14-15
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
-So when the preacher calls for repentance what goes on in your mind? Do you get nervous? Does he know something?
-Repentance can not be separated from the gospel. Nor can it be separated from the life of the Christian.
Lexham Survey of Theology Repentance
As Luther famously put it in the first of his Ninety-Five Theses: “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, “Repent,” he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.”
-Jesus warning comes with a significant warning, “…or something worse may happen to you.”
-We cannot ignore the fact that sin has consequences. Jesus is not talking about the mans paralysis. This has to do with judgement.
-Paul helps us out quite a bit on this subject. Romans 2:4-5
Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.
-Repentance early on in the life of a Christian can be quite painful. Filled with shame and guilt. But as we grow in our faith we come more into alignment with Paul’s understanding; that our repentance is a result of God’s kindness. And what happens when we see God’s kindness, it produces joy.
-In addition as we grow in Christ and become more like him sin will decrease.
Paul brings a strong correction to the church in Corinth.
The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
-The bottom line is Jesus changes us from the inside out. But he will not force himself upon anyone. He says to the man and to us “STOP SINNING”.
The story continues to unfold and the man goes back to the Jewish leaders with a positive ID on Jesus.
I don’t think we’re looking at malicious intent here.
They confront Jesus about the healing and the mat carrying. Jesus response
In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.”
4. The Jewish leaders notice two things and they are outraged with Jesus.
4. The Jewish leaders notice two things and they are outraged with Jesus.
John records two very specific charges that are being brought against Jesus by the Jewish leaders.
-Jesus is breaking the Sabbath law.
-Jesus is breaking the Sabbath law.
-What they didn’t know and what Jesus would teach his disciples is that Sabbath is for man. It is a gift for us.
Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
Which leads us to their second accusation:
-Jesus is claiming equality with God.
-Jesus is claiming equality with God.
-This could only be summed up in one word, BLASPHEMY.
-The charges against Jesus were never that “he was a good teacher” or “he was a moral human being”. The charges were the claim that he was God. And in their minds Jesus had gone to far.
IMPLICATIONS & APPLICATION:
IMPLICATIONS & APPLICATION:
Jesus is altogether different from anyone of us. He makes claims and backs them up with miracles that support this truth.
When you have an encounter with Jesus you are called to repentance. Yes Jesus would spend time with the sick, and the sinner but he never just says, “As you were.”
Not everyone likes Jesus. Even after they’ve considered the good things he has done.
Closing.