The Testimony of Jesus 1 of 2

Introduction 1

John 5:16–29

I hope you all had a good weekend. We got to watch the second half of the Superbowl last weekend. But most of the time we’re watching Bluey or riding bikes so I don’t catch most day-time TV. Sometimes we’ll catch a talk show on Youtube, but I don’t think I’ve actually watched TV in 2 years.

There was this really funny clip I saw of a celebrity, Dax Shepard and he was being interviewed, he’s done some movies and his wife Kristen Bell was Anna from Disney’s Frozen. The question the interviewer asked was “do your kids know you’re famous?”

He said. “Kinda. Like they’ve been to movie sets, and they’ve visited the podcast studio, and they know mom was Anna from Frozen.” “They’ve even noticed people stop us on the street to take pictures” “But- I was talking to my daughter and she asked ‘why do people listen to the radio/podcast show’” And he said “well probably because they know who I am”. His daughter said “Why do they know you?”. And he says “well, because daddy is famous.”

And she goes “You’re famous!?”

And he says “yeah hun, that's why we’re on billboards and people take pictures”.

She says “does mom know?”

“Yeah, and mommy is more famous than me”1

In today’s text, Jesus is going to talk about who He is. The disciples were a lot like the kid we mentioned earlier. She noticed mom and dad were pretty popular... But, that never added up to: mom and dad are famous.

The disciples were amazed this teacher they followed.

He healed people. Made people raise from the dead. And what He said was amazing. He said He was the light of the world, and He is Lord of the Sabbath, and that He commands armies of Angels. But, it never added up.

Transition to sermon

Most of them were clueless what this meant: that Jesus is the Son of God, God Himself.

Today we are going to worship Jesus by listening to who He says He is.

Kids don’t do this. They care about what mom and dad can do for them, and that’s okay. But for many of us in the room, we wish we could talk to them one more time and say “Tell me about who you are”.

So let us sit at Jesus’ feet today and hear it. Let’s worship Him by listening to who He says He is; His testimony.

Let us read

[16] And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. [17] But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” [18] 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. [19] So 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 Son does likewise.[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. [21] For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will

Pray

1. The Son is Equal

[16] And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. [17] But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” [18] 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.

17 Jesus is the first individual in the bible to call God “My Father”

18 Jewish teachers taught that a son is identified to be like his father so they found this blasphemous. They heard Him correctly!

Jesus taught that God worked on the Sabbath- a debated issue at the time.

Application:

Jesus’ intimate personal relationship with the Father is ours now!

How We Got the Trinity [SLIDE Shield of the Trinity]

[Repeat] If you believe the bible is true, the Trinity is unavoidable.

Why? Because this doctrine is purely bible based.

God says in Isaiah 45:22 ““Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.”

Yet John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” So either one of these verses are wrong, or they’re both correct and God is much more complex than you could ever imagine.

“Bring me a worm that can comprehend a man, and then I will show you a man that can comprehend the triune God.” - John Wesley

False religions are man-made and thus easy to comprehend.

Math? Show me how 5000 are fed my five loaves and two fish?

Nabeel Qureshi Quote:

“The definition of the Trinity is: God exists in one Being, and three Persons. Now, if I were to say that God was one Being and three Beings, that would be a contradiction. Same goes for if I were to say that He is one Person and three Persons. But, He is one Being and three Persons.

So, what’s the difference between a being and a person?

I am a human being. That is my being – I am human. But, my person is Nabeel. That’s who I am. So, my being makes me what I am, and my person makes me who I am.

Therefore, God is one Being, but His one Being has three co-equal Persons: the Father, the Son and the Spirit. This is not a contradiction. He is just more complex than anything we’ve seen on this earth. And that’s what we can expect!”

2. The Son is Obedient to the Father

[19] So 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 Son does likewise. [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.

19 Jesus came here on earth to do the will of the Father. This was not a reckless rescue mission from a rebellious Son, but an act of obedience from the Father to send the Son, which He accomplished in perfect obedience.

20 Jesus sees all that the Father is doing! Jesus has perfect sync with the father

John 6:38 “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.”

20 “Greater works than these will He show Him”

Jesus says in essence- “You think that is impressive? Just wait until you see me being raised from the dead.”

Just wait until, as we will read, you see Him judging the living and the dead!

Application:

Jesus emulates the perfect life- mirroring the Father. We are not collaborators with God, but tools in the Master’s hand.

3. The Son is Honored by the Father

[21] For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will [22] For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, [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.

21. Again this is equivalency to God. God-like powers, given to the Son, from a God who does not share His glory.

Isaiah 42:8 “I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.”

22. Jesus claims authority to Judge! yet look:

Psalm 75:7 “but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another.”

23. Jesus equates honoring Him as honoring the Father. Even more- a religion without Jesus does not have the Father either.

Hebrews 1:8 “But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.”

Application:

Jesus is the only access to eternal life and God Himself. Every man and woman must answer the question: “What will you do with Jesus”

4. Son of God, Son of Man

[24] 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 has passed from death to life. [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. [26] For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. [27] And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.

24. “My word”, that is what He is saying about Himself right now (this continues in the rest of ch.5)

We’re going to avoid any end-times speculation here and go right to the end of the matter: Christians do not come into judgment. When you come before the judgment seat, or the “berna” seat, you will receive rewards for your positive deeds, not judgment for your sins.

2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”

25. That is- the dead in spirit. Ephesians 2 says people are “dead in [their] trespasses and sins”

26-27. This granting is an “eternally cooperative” act. John 1:3 “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

Look at the two titles Jesus gives Himself in this passage- Son of God and Son of Man.

These dual natures exist because of the Mission of Jesus- the Gospel.

Son of God matters because of ability. One mere man’s death can pay for one man’s sin. If a group of men rob a bank, the judge would never send just one of them to jail on their behalf.

Son of Man matters because of representation. Jesus’ dies on His people’s behalf. Imagine during the Superbowl a man grabbed the football and ran across the field. Who would score- no one. Because he wasn’t part of the team.

Conclusion

Why does this matter?

Church is not a book club where we discuss our favorite parts, and think about our theories and catch up with friends. The central act of worship in the new testament church is the word itself. What we’ve done today is discuss theology- the study of God.

Sometimes we do a passage like this and immature Christians will act like a high schooler in algebra. “When are we ever going to use this?”. Yet students will perk up when they hear this “This will be on the test”

So why does Jesus say all this? Look-

[28] Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice [29] and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. (ESV)

Jesus tells us all this about Himself because it will be on the test.

One day you will rise out of the tomb.

You will come before the throne of Christ.

Two options: 1. Either be judged for your sins and sent to eternal Hell punishment.

2. You will only receive rewards for your deeds.