Christ’s Credentials | John 5:1–18

Opening Remarks: Different kind of passage. Admittedly, there are things in this text that are hard to explain. Critics will latch onto that and say, “Oh, this doesn’t belong in the Bible.” But just because we don’t understand something doesn’t mean we toss it out. We believe God’s Word is true. We accept by faith what the Bible says, and this passage is no different.

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On first reading, you might assume this passage is about how Jesus Christ has compassion on the helpless and is able to heal any disease. And while that’s true, there’s a deeper and more complex issue being dealt with here. We’ll hopefully see by the end that Jesus Christ is dealing with the issue of authority. They didn’t want to admit that Jesus was God. So the Lord is essentially holding out His ID making His case. Title: Christ’s Credentials.

PRAY

Introduction: Touring Nuclear Power Plant in Nebraska with a member from the church named Bro. Steve

Jase and Lacey had to get state issued ID’s

Jase thought he was pretty big stuff with an official ID and a new wallet to hold it

But when we arrived, something quickly became obvious. Our credentials enabled us to get in, but Bro. Steve’s credentials were what really mattered

His badge could get him anywhere. At times Bro. Steve is the operator in the control room responsible for the entire plant. If there’s a decision to be made, he’s the guy. If an emergency arises, he leads them through it. That’s heavy responsibility.

So even though we felt important as we strolled in with our Driver’s Licenses and State issued ID’s, what really mattered was we were with Bro. Steve. His credentials were the final authority. We were just along for the ride.

Bro. Steve has the credentials. He has the authority. He has the work history. He has the knowledge. He has to pass a test every couple of months just to keep his credentials. The man has authority.

And in many ways, that’s exactly what is happening here in John 5. The credentials of Jesus Christ point to His authority as the Son of God.

The purpose of John’s Gospel was to convince the readers that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. So John sets about to do this by highlighting certain miracles or signs that Jesus performed.

Water into wine (upon request)

Cleansing of Temple (spontaneous)

Healing Nobleman’s son (upon request)

Healing a paralyzed man at the pool of Bethesda (spontaneous)

Every sign that John gives is to provide evidence of the identity of Jesus Christ

He wants people to believe that Jesus is who He says He is

So as we go through this text, it’s good for us to understood and remember that’s the underlying lesson. We are looking at the credentials of Jesus Christ. He’s showing His badge. Swiping His card. Giving evidence of His deity. Proving His authority.

And you say, “Why does this matter so much? Why should we care that Jesus has authority?”

Have you noticed how our culture views authority?

They don’t like it. The concept of authority is in trouble.

Beginning in the 50’s and 60’s, there has been a cultural revolution against authority.

The Music Industry and Hollywood proudly waves their anti-authority flags.

Anything traditional or representative of authority is torn down and degraded. No one likes to submit anymore.

llustration: Harrison Butker gave the commencement speech at a Catholic University this week about how his family had embraced the traditional role of a mother staying at home with her kids and got absolutely lambasted for it.

No one wants to submit to traditional roles or any kind of authority.

It’s happening when it comes to people embracing their biblical roles in a family unit.

It’s true about governmental authority.

It’s true in schools. It’s true when it comes to submitting to law enforcement.

It’s happening in homes with children being celebrated for rebelling against their parents.

Our culture has all but villainized the concept of authority.

And it’s especially true when it comes to spiritual things. God is the ultimate authority, but most people refuse to even acknowledge Him. Much less submit to Him.

But this rebellion against authority is nothing new.

It was happening to Jesus Christ even near the beginning of His ministry.

We’ve already considered this thought in our series, but everyone gladly accepted the miracles of Jesus.

They liked being healed. They liked having their relatives get better. They wanted improved lives. We like the benefits.

In fact, and we’ve already looked at this, but we have an emotional response to someone being helped. We love the stories of sick boys being healed and lame men walking. And honestly, that would be an easier message.

When you’re helpless and down and out and you have no man to help you, that’s when Jesus steps in! Amen!

But remember the last verse we read. They weren’t upset that Jesus healed. They were upset that He healed on the Sabbath. They were upset that He claimed to be God. That is the issue at hand. They did not want to accept the authority of Jesus Christ.

And that’s what we must deal with.

This text is really a display of Jesus’ authority. He’s showing His credentials.

And He just happens to use the healing of paralyzed man to do it.

So what are the Credentials of Christ?

Credential #1 - He Has Power Over Disease

Jesus has authority over the physical

Jesus goes up to Jerusalem during a Feast. We’re not told which one, so it must not matter much.

But He just “happens” to go by the pool of Bethesda, which was located just outside the northeast walls of Jerusalem, just north of the Temple. This pool was perhaps used to provide water to the Temple, or it could have been a pool in which people would take ritual baths before entering into the Temple. We’re not sure.

Around this pool were five columned structures with roofs that looked like gazebos or open air shelters. And sitting in the shade of these structures were countless disabled people just waiting for an angel to stir the waters and provide healing to the first person in the water.

Apparently, as a certain time of year, this angelic being would give someone the option of being healed of their infirmity if they could get there first.

We don’t have answers, we don’t know why, we don’t have explanation. So I can’t speculate. I just know and believe what the Bible says.

So Jesus comes walking by, knowing that there’s a man, paralyzed, who has been waiting for 38 years to get to the water first.

Vs. 6 - Jesus asks Him, “Do you want to be healed?”

It seems strange to ask, of course he wanted to be healed.

Vs. 7 - “Sir, I have no man…”

He’s paralyzed. He’s lame. He can’t move quickly enough.

So Jesus simply simply looks at the man and says (vs. 8).

This is where we see Jesus hold out His badge to prove He is God by revealing His power over disease.

He’d already proven it in the case of the nobleman’s son. He had proven it during the first Passover in John 2 when He healed and touched many. He would go on to prove it time and time again.

He loosened deaf ears, opened blind eyes, healed lepers, helped lame men to walk, fixed withered hands and cast demons out of those who were possessed. He even brought people back to life.

Jesus has power over every physical ailment. Any infirmity. And with one sentence, Jesus did what no one else could do.

Illustration: People always give medical advice when you’re sick. (Home remedies, secret elixirs, etc).

Can you imagine how much unsolicited medical advice this guy received in 38 years? And in one phrase Jesus says, “Rise,” and he does.

As much as we love the physical healing of Jesus Christ, His mission was not to feed the poor or heal the sick. His mission was to offer eternal life to as many as would receive it.

So even though He heals this paralyzed man, the biggest problem for all of us is not physical. It’s spiritual. It’s sin. God’s greatest concern for your life is sin.

You talk about paralyzed. Sin affects every man, woman and child.

When it comes to sin, we’re all sitting helpless next to GOD’S pool of mercy.

There are some here today that still sit before God in that condition.

Men have long offered you solutions.

“Work harder”

“Live better”

“Be more sincere”

But you can’t heal your soul from its sin on your own. No more than this man could get to the pool on his own.

You can stop doing this or that, but it won’t fix your sin problem.

Being moral won’t wipe away your sin.

Overcoming addiction won’t make you righteous.

Cleaning up your life won’t clean up your heart.

As good as church is, it can’t fix your sin problem.

Are you paralyzed by sin?

If you are, Jesus asks you the question, “Wilt thou be made whole?”

Only two answers - Yes or No.

You can say, “I got this,” but get ready for 38 years of frustration.

Or you could say, “Yes,” and find forgiveness of sin, peace in your heart, and a relationship with Jesus Christ. All by simply responding with belief to what Jesus says.

Religion can’t help. Jesus can.

Many I’m this room have come to that point of decision, and the process was the same for all of us

We heard the Gospel.

We were convicted of our sin by the HS.

We responded with humility and belief.

We trusted Jesus Christ as Savior, and He did the saving work.

You are helpless without Jesus Christ. He’s your only hope.

Credential #1 - Christ has power over disease.

Credential #2 - Christ Has Authority Over The Sabbath

Jesus has authority over the spiritual

For 38 years, this man sat next to that pool just praying that something good would happen.

And one Saturday, a man comes along and asks him if he wants to walk.

You know what He didn’t say? “Yes sir, but not if it means breaking one of the Sabbath rules.”

The Pharisees had added about 1,500 extra rules to the people regarding the Sabbath alone.

Legalism was rampant. Religion was about the countless rules. And if anyone stepped out of line they were criticized and railed against for breaking man-made rules regarding how to please God.

So this man simply obeys Jesus when He says, “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.”

Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk. And this should have been cause for rejoicing, but there was no gladness this day. Only outrage and criticism that Jesus had ignored the Sabbath and broken the law.

But understand, there was no law broken. The Sabbath was to be a day of rest regarding the normal duties of life like work and chores and every day tasks.

But the Pharisees had made it a burden with all the extra rules. And now this man was in danger of being stoned to death because they said he broke the law, even though carrying your mat after being healed was not breaking any laws set forth by God.

They had lost sight of the fact that “The sabbath was made for man” according to Mark 2:27. It wasn’t to be a burden. It was meant to commemorate God’s day of rest at creation and give the people a day free from distraction to worship and serve the Lord.

But it became a burden. So much so that they came at the healed man in vs. 10. Notice what they say, “It’s not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.”

Never mind that they’re talking to a dude that hours before couldn’t even move himself close to the water. They ignore the fact that Jesus has proven to be something supernatural, but all they can focus on is that the law was broken.

The man says, “Hey, I just did what I was told. I just stood up and grabbed my bed and walked away. I don’t even know who it was.” Jesus had disappeared.

But the point is this - the Sabbath was to be a blessing, not a burden. It was to give people a distraction-free opportunity to know God. The Sabbath was not about the Sabbath. It was about God.

And Jesus makes the point when He heals this man on the Sabbath.

I say this often, but don’t settle for religion over a relationship.

Your religion should be a relationship. I’m not saying religion is wrong, but if it’s only tradition for you and there’s not vibrant walk with God, that’s not what Jesus wants.

So here’s the Credential - Jesus says, “It’s about me, not the Sabbath Day.”

Does that mean the Sabbath doesn’t matter? No. The principle is clear that we ought to give one day a week to God for God. But not at the expense of a relationship with God. The two can happen at the same time, and they should. But Jesus is proving that the glory of God is the point of the Sabbath, not the other way around.

I love church. Whether or not you do, you’re here today because you recognize the value and importance of honoring God.

But if you are doing it out of habit and tradition, you’re missing what it’s all about.

Jesus has authority, even over the Sabbath. And if we as His people would submit to that authority, can you imagine how much more He could when His people gather if they would all come for the right reasons?

Credential #3 - Jesus Has The Right To Command

Behavior - Jesus has authority over my life

Vs. 14 - At some point afterward, Jesus sees this healed invalid in the Temple and says, “You’ve been made whole, sin no more.”

Apparently, there was a connection between this man’s sin and his infirmity. But it also appears that he had been healed without genuinely placing his trust in Christ for salvation.

So Jesus comes along and says, “Listen, if I have healed you, and I have the right to govern your life. And right now, you’re not living in a way that is fitting for someone whose life has been touched by me.”

You see, for many people, the question, “Wilt thou be made whole?” simply means, “Hey, do you want to walk?”

Of course, everyone wants to walk. But understand, when you say “Yes” to Jesus, you’re not just saying Yes to His healing power. You are saying Yes to His authority in your life.

If He heals you, He has the right to command you.

There are countless people, maybe even in this room, and you understand that you need salvation but you haven’t submitted to salvation because you recognize that submission to salvation means submission to Christ’s authority in your life.

Or maybe you have submitted to salvation - You recognized your sin, the HS pressed your heart and convicted you, and you know that Christ died for your sins and you placed your faith in Him alone. That’s all great.

But now that you’re saved, you’re struggling to submit to His authority over your life.

There’s an area that you know He’s not pleased with, yet you don’t want to give it up.

You have a habit that quenches the HS, but you don’t want to give in.

You have something in your life that you know grieves your Savior, but you don’t want to wave the white flag.

Let me just remind you, according to this text, Jesus Christ has the right and authority to command those He’s redeemed.

We gladly accept the “Rise up and walk!”

But when He says, “Go and sin no more.” We walk the other way.

I’ve preached a message here before called “Benefits without demands.”

We want a healed body, but we don’t want to give up the hidden sins that we enjoy.

And here’s the truth: We’re still paralyzed by sin. We look like we’re walking, but our hearts our bound.

We’re religious and paralyzed.

We’re saved, but a few months or years in, we’re still sitting next to the pool with no power to take steps for God.

So when God says, “You’re bought with a price, here are my expectations…”

We say, “I’ll gladly be saved, but not every Sunday is yours.”

“I’ll happily receive you as my Savior, but don’t expect me to give you Saturdays to try to reach people for Christ.”

“I’m happy to be made whole, but if you expect me to give you Wednesday nights for Bible study, think again.”

“I love the fact that I have eternal life, but don’t try to tell me how to live this life.”

Can you imagine saying that? No. But we say it with our lives.

And it means we’re extremely ungrateful.

Redeemed, but holding on to things that don’t please the Redeemer.

Where would you be without Jesus?

So why is it so hard to be a committed disciple?

Why is it so hard to get out of bed to read His Word?

Why do we struggle to be a witness?

Why do we fight against church on Sunday and Wednesday nights?

If we benefit from salvation, it should be easy to surrender.

Paul said it this way in Romans 12:1–2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

The only reasonable response to redemption through Christ is submission to Christ.

We have no hope without Christ. We’d be hopeless without Him.

So Jesus says, “Okay, now that you’re saved, do this. Go here. Go there. Obey me in this way.”

And we say, “Appreciate it, but no thanks.”

Talk about ungrateful.

If Jesus Christ has power over the physical, and if He has authority over the spiritual, then He has the right to govern our lives.

It’s time to stop acting as if we are our own authorities. He’s our authority. He proves it here.

But we’re like the healed man and the Pharisees. It’s not the healing we have a problem with. It’s submission to Him as our authority.

But if He’s God, aren’t we better off submitting to Him and letting Him work in our lives than resisting Him and missing out on His work in our lives?

It’s time to submit to the Authority of Christ.

He’s shown His credentials and they are legit.

It’s time to submit to the One who has redeemed us.