Misunderstanding Grace

John 5:1–18 ESV

After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

Which festival? Not sure. We’re entering what has been named the “Festival Cycle.” This will cover chapters 5 through 11. Reminder—John is very organized and intentional in his retelling and shaping of the story. We’ve seen, chapter 2 to chapter 4, was the “Cana Cycle.”

In this “Festival Cycle,” John includes Passover, Tabernacles, and Dedication (Hanukkah). This could be the Feast of Pentecost or Feast of Trumpets.

But, Jesus, being a devout Jew, has gone to Jerusalem to worship. Important note—this is, now, the second of three trips to Jerusalem that Jesus will take. We’ve already seen him in chapter two in Jerusalem for Passover…remember…he cleanses the temple and has the middle-of-the-night encounter with Nicodemus.

Now, here in chapter five, we are in year two of Jesus’s ministry…we know that because in chapter six, we see Passover AGAIN…marking the end of year two of his ministry.

John 5:1–18 ESV

Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed.

>>SHOW PICTURE OF TEMPLE<<

Note: Something we’ll come back to…this would have been a place that the Jews coming to worship would have avoided. It was unclean. It was “that part of town” that you tried to keep hidden.

Meaning of Bethesda—“house of overflow”

John 5:1–18 ESV

One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight 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, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.”

COMMENT: Ok. I know we’re living in the ancient world and you didn’t have tv or media or fast forms of communication but, apparently, this guy has somehow not heard about Jesus and the miracles he’s been doing.

EXPLAIN: This is mythical

John 5:1–18 ESV

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 day was the Sabbath.

This is the turning point in the pericope. Sabbath. Now, I want to clarify something, here. This doesn’t necessarily mean it is the Sabbath day.

Leviticus 23—all of the feasts/festivals began with “Sabbath.”

John 5:1–18 ESV

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 asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place.

The Jews—leaders (Sanhedrin/Pharisees/Scribes)

Exodus 31:12–14 ESV

And the Lord said to Moses, “You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, ‘Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you. You shall keep the Sabbath, because it is holy for you. Everyone who profanes it shall be put to death. Whoever does any work on it, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

The “Jews” had written what was called the Mishna for the purpose of supporting the Mosaic Law. One of those “rules” was that you should not carry goods on the Sabbath.

So…the man’s joy is immediately robbed. He’s confused…he’s “caught” and all he knows to do is blame the guy who has now gotten him in trouble.

John 5:1–18 ESV

Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that 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 them, “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.

Explain:

Jesus finds this man in the temple and issues him a warning. Throughout the miracles, there is often a physical healing paired with a spiritual healing.

The man lowered by his friends through the roof—“your sins are forgiven”

This man received physical healing from Jesus but missed the whole point of what Jesus came to do and had done for him.

What “worse thing” might happen to this man? The judgment of God.

Vs. 17 & 18—Jesus makes himself equal with God the Father. In this “Festival Cycle” we are going to see Jesus become even more bold in His claims about who He is. We’re going to see the “I Am” statements of Jesus. In this second year of His ministry, the tension is going to build even more between He and the Jews.

Three Misunderstandings About Grace

Grace is based on effort.

Grace is limited.

Grace is cheap.

Three Truths About Grace

Grace is freely extended to the undeserving by faith.

Grace is limitless.

Grace is costly.

Psalm 85 ESV

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. Lord, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin. Selah You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger. Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us! Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations? Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation. Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly. Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land. Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky. Yes, the Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. Righteousness will go before him and make his footsteps a way.

Revival

Remember God’s Past Grace

Repent and Return

Boldly Ask for Revival

Listen for God’s Voice

Long for God’s Glory to Dwell Among Us

Pray for Gospel Transformation and Fruit