John 5 - The Authority of The Son

So good to see you all. Let me go ahead and pray before we dive into God's word father. I pray that you would. Speak to us through your word. And as you speak to us change us into the likeness of your son. Through your spirit who lives inside of us. And there may be some here do don't know you and I pray that you would use this time to bring them to Salvation through faith in your son.

But I'm weak and unable to change or save anyone even myself. I need you. I pray that you would be glorified as your word is preached. I thank you and praise you in Jesus name. Amen.

Well, I'm going to apologize right out front. We're doing an entire chapter of John 5. So this is going to be a pretty quick clip and you're going to be drinking from a firehose. So buckle up strap in here we go. John chapter 5 is all about Jesus his authority as the Son of God to give life and to judge. that Authority was challenged by the religious leaders because Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath and claimed equality with God two things that went against their understanding of scripture, but they willfully ignored the truth of Jesus's identity and Authority and now because we also tend to willfully ignore the truth. Jesus is clearly argued for his authority as the Son of God. Now the first 18 verses of John chapter 5 are the account of Jesus healing a man on the Sabbath which gives the context to Jesus's argument for his authority and the rest of the chapter verses 19 to 47. So we're going to briefly walk through the narrative the story then we'll spend the rest of our time unpacking how Jesus argues for his authority. Let's read verses 1 through 18 and see how Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath and how the religious leaders respond. After this there was a feast of the Jews and Jesus went up to Jerusalem now, there is in Jerusalem. By the Sheep gate at pool in Aramaic called best Bethesda, which has five roofed Colonnades in these lay a multitude of invalids blind lame and paralyzed one man was there who had been an invalid for 38 years when Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time. He said to him. Do you want to be healed the sick man answered him? Sure. I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up and while I'm going another steps down before me Jesus said to him get up take up your bed and walk and at once the man was healed and he took up his bed and walked now. That was the Sabbath that day was the Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who had been healed it is the Sabbath and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed, but he answered them the man who healed me that man said to me take up your bed and walk. They are so who's the man who said to you take up your bed and walk now the man who have been healed did not know who it was for Jesus had withdrawn as there was a crowd in the place afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him see you are well sin no more than nothing. Worse may happen to you. The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus because he was doing these things on the Sabbath but Jesus answered that my father is working until now and I am working. This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own father making himself equal with God. So, this is Jesus's controversial healing on the Sabbath in verses 1 through 4. John Narrows in on the setting for the story in Jerusalem near the Sheep gate at the pool of Bethesda. Jesus comes back to Jerusalem for another Festival. Probably the Passover again. He comes to a pool near the Sheep gate that was called Bethesda, which in Hebrew or Aramaic means House of Mercy. This pool was in a very large area large enough to have five roofed Colonnades. And this area was packed with people. desperate to be healed because there was a common belief that an angel would come and stir the Waters of the pool every so often and the first person to step into the water after it was stirred up would be healed. So these people are desperately waiting around for a last-ditch effort to be healed. Nothing else it helps them.

Lennon verses 5 through 9 Jesus interacts with one man. In particular among the multitude of blind lame and paralyzed people at the pool. Jesus singles out one, man. We've been an invalid for 38 years. Can you imagine 38 years?

Jesus knows this guy's been there a long time and he has compassion on him and he asks him a question that at first might seem kind of obvious. Do you want to be healed? I mean come on Jesus course he wants to be healed. That's why they're the first place. But Jesus is question is more than just asking the obvious Jesus's question shows his compassion to this man. Nobody else would give this guy the time of day.

He was lost in the crowd. The Jesus wants him to know that he sees him. And he cares about him. And this is a genuine offer of healing. Jesus is question is is General enough that we don't think about really the force of the question but it says as if Jesus is saying this whole pool healing thing isn't really working out for you is it? Would you like to actually be healed instead of just laying around watching other people get healed?

So that explains the situation to Jesus. He is physically unable to get himself into the pool first to be healed. And he doesn't have anyone to help him either. He's helpless. the loan

Vegeta tells him to get up take up his bed and walk. This is the third specific miracle that John has recorded in all three have been done instantaneously through Jesus commanding something and people obeying what he says. But this miracle was unique from the other two because this one was done on the Sabbath.

and work was that supposed to be done on the Sabbath? according to the law of Moses So there are rides as a conflict in verses 10 through 13 as the Jews the religious leaders see this man breaking the Sabbath by carrying his bed around they confront the man about carrying the burden of carrying his his burden on the Sabbath. Now this sabbath rule is actually established from Jeremiah 17 21 to 22. If you care to look at up that this man he doesn't want to get in trouble with the religious leaders. So he says that the guy who healed him told him to take his baton and walk around. He says it's not my fault. I was told to do this. So the religious leaders asked him who told you to break the Sabbath rule. Noticed that he told them that a man had healed him.

That seems pretty significant, right? I'm at the man who healed me told me to do this. Okay, you would think that they would ask who healed you?

Nope, they asked who told you to break the Sabbath. Their Devotion to their rules blinds them to the glory of God in their midst.

Now Jesus will have some very scathing things to say about this in the coming versus but this is the disastrous state. That these religious leaders are in and is this state that we ought to? recognize and take care to avoid

so they asked the guy who it was that told him to break the Sabbath, but he doesn't know because Jesus just healed him and left.

The Benin verses 14 through 18 the conflict escalates. As a religious leaders persecute and seek to kill Jesus. The man ends up at the temple probably to worship after being healed of being an invalid for 38 years.

And Jesus finds him there. Jesus focuses on the miracle Where the religious leaders focused on their rules, he says look you are healed. And then he warns him to not send anymore so that nothing worse than 38 years of being an invalid what happened to him? What could be worse than 38 years of being helpless and alone?

How about an eternity of it an eternity in hell? That's the worst thing that could ever happen. And that's exactly what awaits everyone who doesn't put their faith in Jesus for the Forgiveness of their sins.

Well after Jesus reveals himself, the guy goes in Frozen under the bus.

He goes straight to the religious leaders and tells them that it was Jesus who heals them on the Sabbath and told him to carry his bed around.

And they began persecuting Jesus defaming him threatening him because he was a Sabbath breaker.

And Jesus answered their persecution by saying my father is working until now and I am working. He explains very simply with the statement that the work he is doing is legitimate work to do on the Sabbath.

The Sabbath was based on the creation in which God rested from all his creative work on the 7th day, but God does not cease. From his work of upholding the universe. And Sovereign Lee governing all of creation. Jesus asserts this facts as the basis for his work on the Sabbath. So he also explains his authority and right to do what he was doing on the Sabbath by appealing to God as my father. Not the father. or our father my father

This is what the religious leaders pick up on because they understand that Jesus is Calling God his own father. making himself equal with God and God was very clear in scripture specifically in Deuteronomy 13 1 through 5. The false prophets were to be put to death. So they sought to kill Jesus. I'll admit growing up. I was thought that the religious leaders wanting to kill Jesus was like some sort of blood last but really they're just trying to follow God's law. God said those kind of people you need to put them to death and I said, okay for them to death. They were just following God's law.

Before Jesus leaves Jerusalem, he has some important things to stay as an explanation or argument for his authority. Explaining the legitimacy of his claim. The religious leaders have a problem with Jesus because they are so blinded by their Devotion to their religious rules. They cannot see the truth that Jesus is the Christ the son of God. But Jesus explains his authority in the form of a persuasive argument.

This is Jesus's argument for his authority and vs 19 through 47 first. He makes a series of statements about the authority of the Sun in general in 19 through 29. And then he applies those truths to himself appealing to four different Witnesses and explaining the reality of the religious leaders rejection of the proof of his identity and Authority. Versus 3447. So let's look at Jesus's statements about the authority of the Sun in general in vs 19 through 29. Do Jesus said to them truly truly. I say to you the son can do nothing of his own accord. But only what he sees the father doing for whatever the father does that the sun does likewise for the father loves the son and shows him all that he himself is doing and Greater Works than these will he show him so that you may Marvel for as the father raises the dead and gives them life. So also the sun gives life to whom he will the father judges. No one but has given all judgment to the son that all may honor the son just as they honor the father. Whoever does not honor the sun does not honor the father who sent him truly truly. I say to you whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but it's past From Death To Life truly truly I say to you an hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live for as the father has life in himself. So he has granted the son also to have life in himself and he has given him authority to execute judgment because he is the son of man do not Marvel at this for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out those who have done good to the resurrection of life and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgement. Jesus explains the authority of the Sun in versus 19 through 29 using the phrase truly truly. I say to you three times.

In each of the three times to identify throughs that cannot be rejected. That's the strongest possible affirmation that what follows is the truth. In verses 19 to 23 Jesus asserts that the sun's Authority is from the father. The son does what the father does verse 19 truly truly. I say to you the son can do nothing of his own accord. But only what he sees the father doing or whatever the father does that the sun does likewise if the father is working on the Sabbath to give life to All Things by upholding the universe and judging by Sovereign Lee ruling over all the creation than the Sun. Has this Authority likewise?

In the father shows the Sun the glory of redemption in verse 20. For the father loves the son and shows him all that. He himself is doing and Greater Works than these. Will he show him so that you may Marvel The Father loves the son so much that he shows him his glorious Plan of Redemption that will make everyone Marvel at the length of God's love. But he would send his own son to die to redeem his people from sin and death.

Both the father and the son give spiritual life verse 21 for is the father raises the dead and gives them life. So also the son gives life to whom he will that Plan of Redemption. results in spiritual life granted by both the father and the son in the father has given honor the honor of judgment to the sun in 1st 22. The father judges. No one but has given all judgment to the son. The father has given the son the authority to give spiritual life to whom he will and that Judgment of who receive spiritual life is given entirely to the Sun. the father and the son share honor in that judgment verse 23 that all may honor the son just as they honor the father. Whoever does not honor the son does not honor the father who sent him. The result of that judgment is honor. The same owners that is due to the father as The Sovereign ruler of everything to do what he will with his creation. That same honor. Is given to the son who is also Sovereign over everything?

Truly the sun's Authority and honor to give life and to judge as the very same as the father's Authority and comes from the father.

As true statement that Jesus gives in verse 24 research that believe in his word what he had just said results in eternal life and avoids judgment first 24th is truly truly. I say to you whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but it's passed from Death To Life.

And finally Jesus asserts that the son has authority to give life and to execute judgment both now and in the future in verses 25 to 29 even now. The sun is giving spiritual life to those who hear his voice and believe verse 25 truly truly. I say to you an hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. In Ephesians 2 1 through 10 to 1 through 10 Paul picks up the same theme spiritual death and life in a nutshell. He says that we were all dead in our trespasses and sins but God made us alive together with Christ. We were dead.

But we heard in face the voice of the Son of God in his word and he made us alive.

The father has granted the son the authority to give life because they're but they both have life in themselves verse 26 for as the father has life in himself. So he's granted The Sun Also Drive life in himself.

The sun's ability to give life is within himself. He's not dependent upon anyone or anything else for the ability to give life. And the father is granted the son the authority to execute judgment in verse 27 and he has given him authority to execute judgment because he is the son of man. You see the sun is the perfect judge. Perfect judge for the same reason he's our perfect high priest the perfect mediator between God and man and the perfect sacrifice to take the punishment for the sins of the world. The sun is perfect for all these roles because he's both God and man.

He's the perfect judge because he is human and he knows what it's like to be assaulted by temptation. Results of God which means he's perfectly sinless and his judgment is perfectly just and righteous.

And in the future every single person will be called by the sun to either eternal life. Or two judgment verses 28 and 29 do not Marvel at this for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out those who have done good to the resurrection of life and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgement. The Jesus is already explained how to obtain eternal life. And it's not by Good Works. So the good that he refers to here must refer to what she had stated earlier in verse 24th, but all who hear his word and believe.

father who sent him

Those are the ones who have eternal life. That's how you obtain eternal life believing in Jesus Christ. All is well done. Good are those who have believed that Jesus is the Christ the son of God sent from the father and all those who have done evil are the rest of mankind who do not believe in Jesus and you are bound up in sin receiving the just penalty for their sin. the Jesus makes these three assertions of the truth about the Sun the authority of the Sun is from the father believing in the sun results in eternal life and avoids judgment and the son has authority to give life and to judge both now and at the final judgement Now Jesus is going to shift his argument and apply what he just stated about the son in general to himself appealing to four different witnesses to back his claim that he is the Christ the son of God. Let's look at these Witnesses and how the religious leaders rejected them in versus 3347. Jesus says I can do nothing on my own as I hear I judge and my judgement is just because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me if I alone bear witness about myself. My testimony is not true. There is another who Bears witness about me and I know that the testimony that he Bears about me is true you sent it to John and he has borne witness to the truth. Not that the testimony that I received was from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was a burning and Shining lamp and you were willing to Rejoice for a while and his light but the testimony that I have is greater than that of John for the works that the father has given me to accomplish the very works, but I am doing bear witness about me that the father has sent me. And the father who sent me has himself born witness about me his voice you have never heard his form you have never seen and you do not have his word abiding in you for you. Do not believe the one whom he has sent you search the scriptures because you think that in then you have eternal life and it is they that bear witness about me yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. I do not receive Glory from people, but I know that you do not have the love of God within you I have come in my father's name and you do not receive if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe when you receive Glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God Do not think that I will accuse you to the father. There is one who accuses you Moses on whom you have set your hope for if you believed Moses you would believe me for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?

Jesus argues for his authority as the Son of God by appealing to four different Witnesses Jesus himself John the Baptist God the father and scripture. First Jesus his own witness in verses 30 and 31 when Jesus says I can do nothing on my own. You saying the exact same thing that he said in verse 19, but now he takes that relationship and applies it to himself. In verse 19. You said the son can do nothing on his own accord. And now here in verse 30. He says I can do nothing on my own.

You see he's claiming very explicitly. that he is the Son of God with that statement and then he says that his judgment is just because he seeks to do the will of the father who sent him he shows that the just Judgment of the sun which explains back in 27 that just judgment is his Because he is unbiased.

He's not seeking his own will or his own comfort and his judgment. He's seeking the will of the father. But if Jesus is testimony his claim to be the Son of God had no other Witnesses or evidence then it would be a lie. This is because the identity that Jesus is claiming that he is the Christ the son of God that I dentist identity was prophesied. In scripture by the father and even the 4Runner was prophesied in scripture and that 4Runner also Bears witness to the identity of the Christ. The son of God through Jesus has claimed to be the son must be accompanied by these other very specific Witnesses or else the claim is a lie. So Jesus goes on to give those exact other Witnesses the second witness. He appeals to his John the Baptist the Forerunner in verses 32 235. Jesus says that he knows that John's witness is true. Even if some made out. whether to believe the crazy guy with bug brass and camel hair clothing Duncan Jews in the Jordan River as if their gentiles Jesus says I know his testimony is true.

and many of these same religious leaders went out to see if John was the Christ back in chapter 1 But this is not Jesus's primary Witness. the testimony for Jesus's identity as the Christ does not hang on the word of one fellow man, but Jesus appeals to John's testimony because the religious leaders had heard John's testimony before or at least they'd heard of this testimony that Jesus is the Christ and Jesus appeals to it because even the true testimony of one crying out in the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord can be used to save even these prideful religious leaders and the testimony of one man crying out from this Pulpit to believe in Jesus to be saved from sin and death can be used to save any one of you who will listen and believe

John was a sensational evangelist and the religious leaders rejoiced for a little while in his glory until they discover that he was preaching against their religious system. But the next witness that Jesus appeals to is a much greater witness the third witness Jesus appeals to his God the father in verses 36 through 38. Jesus says that the works the father has given him to accomplish the very works that he is doing in their midst are much greater. Then John's witness these works that Jesus has been doing specifically the work of healing a man who had been an invalid for 38 years. These works are confirmation that Jesus has been sent by the father. Nicodemus it even said that the religious leaders agreed that no one could do these things that Jesus was doing unless God was with him. Houston take a quite far enough. No one could do these things that Jesus was doing unless he was God the son sent by the father. Then Jesus says that the father has himself born witness about Jesus as the Son of God. Jesus is referring to his baptism which the author John did not specifically record, but he alluded to it. When he recorded John the Baptist testimony and John 1:30 to 2:34 and the other gospels after Jesus was baptized. The father's voice Came From Heaven saying, this is my beloved Son. With whom I am well pleased. This is the Father's direct testimony to Jesus's identity and Authority as the son of God. But then Jesus says his voice. You've never heard. His form you've never seen. And you do not have his word abiding in you because you don't believe the one whom he has sent.

The father audibly testified that Jesus is his beloved Son, but the religious leaders willfully ignore that testimony and refuse to believe that Jesus is God's son. John had written earlier John 1:18 that no one has ever seen God but the only God who is that the father's side. He has made him known they refuse to believe that Jesus was God's son. And in that rejection, they'd close their eyes and their ears. They close their eyes to see the father because Jesus God's son makes him known.

And they close their ears to the father because Jesus God's son makes him known if you want to hear the father. Listen to Jesus. If you want to see the father. Look to Jesus.

He has made him known. If you refuse to accept Jesus Is God sending the father will remain unseen and unheard.

And Jesus also said that they do not have God's word abiding in them because his word also testifies that Jesus is the son of God the fourth and Final witness the Jesus appeals to his scripture in versus 39 and 40. This Final witness is Jesus's main argument that each of the witnesses has grown in weight and consequence from the previous Witnesses. Jesus his own witness alone stands or falls on whether the other Witnesses agree with his John the Baptist Witnesses from a fallible man who might just be the raving raving Wilderness lunatic. The father's witness is much greater, but it still depends on properly interpreting. Jesus's works and accepting the account of the father's witness at Jesus's baptism. What scripture Scriptures witness is something that the religious leaders cannot ignore. without demolishing their religion Jesus says you search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life and it is they that bear witness about me. The religious leaders were experts in scriptural knowledge. They knew their Bible inside and out.

When Jesus says that the scriptures that they know so well. Speak of him.

all the scripture points to Jesus

if they can't see that and they're truly blind if we can't see that then we are truly blind. And yet they refused to come to Jesus for eternal life. Scripture alone does not offer eternal life. Scripture speaks of Jesus as the Christ the son of God who gives eternal life. They refused to come to Jesus because they rejected him as the Christ. They did not believe these Witnesses and concluded the Jesus was a heretic. A false prophet who needed to be put to death.

At the end of Jesus's argument is a scathing indictment of the religious leaders who rejected Jesus as the Christ in vs41 247 Jesus Compares himself with the religious leaders specifically regarding where they receive their Glory. In verse 41. Jesus says that he does not receive Glory from people. He receives Glory from his father. Madonna verse 44 he says that the religious leaders receive Glory from each other.

as they show off their Bible knowledge and their adherence to their religious rules. When they should be humbly coming to Jesus to be saved from sin and death. And to receive a much greater glory. Being adopted into God's family.

Jesus says that he knows they do not have the love of God within them. Remember back in John 225 John said that Jesus knows what is in man? Jesus knows they don't believe they don't receive him as the Christ and he prophesize there further unbelief by saying that others will come in their own name and they will receive them. Is he after Jesus died and rose again and ascended to Heaven many people falsely claimed to be the Christ and a lot of the Jews accepted those false Christ after rejecting Jesus who really is the Christ. The religious leaders situation prevents them from True belief because it blinds them to the greater glory that comes from the only God. The glory of being adopted into God's family by believing in Jesus.

But Jesus doesn't accuse them. Jesus's Judgment of these religious leaders is not his own accusation of their unbelief. Ironically the one on whom they hope for eternal life Moses is the very one who accuses them of unbelief unto judgment. They say it's at their adherence to the law of Moses will save them from God's judgment, but the law was never meant to save the law of Moses the scriptures all point to Christ as the one who saves and Jesus has proven that he is the Christ who saves

they were so blinded by their adherence to the religious rules that they missed the most crucial point of the law. No one can perfectly obey the law. We need a perfect substitute. To be our righteousness for us. That's what the Christ is. That's what Jesus has done for us. He is our righteousness. He is our salvation. Not the law.

the law point us to Christ But if you don't believe Moses if you ignore the clear statements of scripture about the Christ, how can you believe Jesus is claimed that he is the Christ. You see they thought the Christ was God's way of liberating them from Roman tyranny. They did not believe that the Christ was God's way of liberating them from the condemnation of sin. They thought that they could do that on their own.

following God's law So they refuse to accept Jesus as the Christ to their own condemnation.

I believe that John intended for us to identify with the religious leaders in this chapter. As a warning to avoid their same unbelief. Don't be like the religious leaders. They were looking for eternal life in their good works their obedience and their knowledge of scripture.

Your salvation is not in your good works or in your obedience. Are your daily Bible reading? It's not how much you give to charity or give to the church and certainly not and how much you know about God and the Bible. Those things are all wonderful. An outpouring of your salvation, but they do not save you. Your salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ according to scripture into God's glory alone.

Jesus is your salvation because he paid the price for your sins and reconciled you to the father by dying on the cross and Rising again on the third day. Too many people in the church. I think that they're saved because they read their Bible to go to church.

Take a good look at your heart. Are you relying on yourself? Return To Life Do you find your Assurance of Salvation and how much you read and know the Bible or how much you attend church?

If this is you then I beg you to abandon your pride humbly. Come to Jesus for eternal life.

This is kind of like the warning from Hebrews 3 the Ryan priest last week. Take care that you do not have an evil and unbelieving heart. Take care that you are not looking for eternal life in scripture alone and not in Jesus. Take care of that. You are not like the religious leaders of John 5.

The warning is very real and necessary for True Believers to keep our hearts resting in Christ alone for our salvation.

On the flip side, perhaps you doubt yourself Asian. Because you don't feel compelled to read your Bible as often as others. Or maybe you'll find yourself so busy. Trying to make ends meet or managing a house full of kids who steal all your attention. So you barely have enough time to eat or sleep. Let alone read God's word.

I hope you find this encouraging. your salvation does not depend on how often or how much you read your Bible. It depends on your face in Jesus as your lord and savior.

But do not discount the importance of reading the Bible. Jesus said that the scriptures speak of him. So eternal life comes from Jesus and we get to Jesus Through the scriptures. Reading scripture memorizing scripture meditating on scripture talking with other believers about scripture. This is how we most handjib Lee interact with Jesus.

The Holy Spirit uses the words of scripture to show us Jesus. And as we Behold Him in scripture where changed into his likeness. Loving each other for giving each other helping each other and retelling the glories of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone because it's so amazing.

Now if you've not yet put your faith in Jesus to be saved from sin and death and now is the perfect time to do that.

You don't know when you'll hear the voice of Jesus. Be resurrected to eternal life or judgment. You've heard the very word of God assuring you that there are only two options option one. If you believe his word that Jesus is the Christ who is died for your sins and rose from the dead to secure your eternal life then submit to him as ruler of your life and rest in his salvation purchased on the cross. Option number two if you've heard God's word, but you discount it and refused to believe it. Then there awaits judgment. For you that ends in Eternal condemnation and Agony in hell because you will receive God's just punishment for your own sin. I pray that you would believe I have life in Jesus name.

Father thank you for showing us the glory of your son and your word. I pray that we would rest in him for our salvation and not in our own effort.

Help us to admonish and encourage each other with these truths. So that we can give you all the glory for our salvation and the good you do through us.

I pray that if there are any here who still need your salvation that you would work on their hearts and open their eyes to see and believe the truth of your love.

That you sent your son Jesus to die and rise again so that we could be forgiven and adopted into your family.

Or that such an amazing gift.

Help us to never take it for granted.

It's in Jesus name. I pray amen.