Bible Study

Bible Study - John 5:16-32

Review:

[Last week - not in the study. Enlighten me]

Study

V 16: Why is this persecution? If it were anyone else doing these things on the Sabbath, would they persecute them or try to work with them to come back into the rule of Law?

Jesus was accused of breaking the Sabbath, not so much because He had healed a man, but because He had instructed the man to break the Sabbath (to carry his mat). We might have offered Jesus a variety of persuasive defenses for this act: that He had done good, not evil; that He had shown mercy; that the act of carrying a mat was not really “work”; or that carrying the mat had violated only Jewish oral tradition, and not the written law. But Jesus, choosing none of these options, seemed only to make matters worse in His reply, My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working ().

Dongell, J. (1997). John: a Bible commentary in the Wesleyan tradition (p. 91). Indianapolis, IN: Wesleyan Publishing House.

It is true that Christ put an end to those shadowy ceremonies by his coming, as Paul points out (see ), but the question before us does not hinge on this. For people are only commanded to cease from their own deeds, so that anything which is God’s work and not man’s work—for example, circumcision—is not breaking the Sabbath.

Calvin, J. (1994). John (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

What is the Sabbath? Why and how do we practice it?

For the law commands men to cease from their own work, so that their faculties are free to be given over to thinking about God’s deeds. So anyone who does not allow, on the Sabbath, free rein to God’s deeds is not only explaining the law incorrectly but is wickedly overturning it.

Calvin, J. (1994). John (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

After God had finished creating the world, he consecrated that day so that men might make use of it to reflect on his deeds. But God did not stop upholding his world with his power or ruling it with his wisdom or supporting it with his goodness, so that everything on earth and heaven is done according to his will. In six days the world was created, but it continued to be governed, and God never stopped working and upholding it. Paul says this: “ ‘For in him we live and move and have our being’ ” (). David says that all things exist so long as God’s Spirit upholds them and that they collapse as soon as he withdraws his support (see ).

Calvin, J. (1994). John (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

“God ceases to think about us and we stop existing.”

V 18:

Jesus would be a god of His own making, an independent god, a second god; His followers would be guilty of polytheism (the belief that there are many gods), a foundational heresy for every Jew who confessed, “The LORD our God, the LORD is one” (see ). Were the accusations of Jesus’ opponents true, blasphemy would be the appropriate charge against Him, and death would be His appropriate punishment.

Dongell, J. (1997). John: a Bible commentary in the Wesleyan tradition (p. 92). Indianapolis, IN: Wesleyan Publishing House.

And in the view of His opponents, Jesus had propelled himself to this lofty level of divine authority, perhaps not unlike the boasting tyrant about whom Isaiah wrote: “You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly.… I will make myself like the Most High’ ” (, my emphasis).

Dongell, J. (1997). John: a Bible commentary in the Wesleyan tradition (p. 92). Indianapolis, IN: Wesleyan Publishing House.

In what ways do we try to make ourselves equal to God?

Idolatry? (obviously)

Questioning?

Learning more about science and diminishing the wonder of God?

Is it faith if we never question it? What does that say about Thomas?

V 19: The verb is important here. “Sees”

So we must keep Christ in our sights, as he was sent into the world by the Father to be a Redeemer. The Jews could see in him nothing more than a human being. So Christ argues that when he cured an ill man, he was not using his human power but his divine power, which was concealed by his visible body. This is the principle at stake. The Jews focused their attention on what the body did, and so they despised Christ. Christ encourages them to raise their sights and to look at God. The whole discourse must be viewed in this light. People who think that they are dealing with a human being are making a flagrant mistake when they blame Christ for doing truly divine work. This is why Christ insists so strongly that in this work there is no difference between him and his Father.

Calvin, J. (1994). John (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

As is often true, the NT presents Jesus in paradoxical expressions. In some texts He is one with the Father (cf. 1:1; 5:18; 10:30, 34–38; 14:9–10; 20:28); in others He is separate from the Father (cf. 1:2, 14, 18; 5:19–23; 8:28; 10:25, 29; 14:10, 11, 12, 13, 16; 17:1–2), sometimes even subservient to Him (cf. 5:20, 30; 8:28; 12:49; 14:28; 15:10, 19–24; 17:8). This is probably to show that Jesus is fully divine, but a separate and distinct personal manifestation of deity.

Utley, R. J. (1999). The Beloved Disciple’s Memoirs and Letters: The Gospel of John, I, II, and III John (Vol. Volume 4, p. 52). Marshall, Texas: Bible Lessons International.

V 20: Another important verb: “Shows”

The starting point for everything lay in the special bond between the Son and the Father: The Father loves the Son (). The Father, then, by choice shows [the Son] all he does.

That Jesus sees the Father (5:19) places Jesus far above Israel’s prophets; for the God of Israel is veiled from human eyes, wrapped in cloud or darkness or fire (see ). Even so-called “visions” of God became viewings of His “clothing” (or unusual sights around Him; ) or hearings of His voice (). Whatever the Son reveals about the Father, then, is based upon His direct vision of the Father, and is therefore completely reliable.

Dongell, J. (1997). John: a Bible commentary in the Wesleyan tradition (p. 92). Indianapolis, IN: Wesleyan Publishing House.

It is as if he said, “As the Father has given me his heart, so he has poured out his power on me, so that the divine glory may shine in my deeds, and, what is more, so that men cannot seek anything divine except what they find in me.” Indeed, outside Christ it is useless to seek God’s power.

Calvin, J. (1994). John (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

“Yes, to your amazement …” Through these words Christ is obliquely accusing them of ingratitude when they despised such an illustrious demonstration of God’s power. It is as if he had said, “Even though you are dull and stupid, the deeds which God will do through me later will attract you, no matter now reluctant you are.” However, this does not appear to have been fulfilled, since we know, as Isaiah says about the reprobate who are blind in God’s light, that they were like people “seeing, but never perceiving” (). In answer to this, I say that Christ is not speaking about their attitude but only throws out a suggestion about the splendor of the proof which he would later give about being the Son of God.

Calvin, J. (1994). John (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

HA!

V 21: When, previously, had the Father raised the dead? ()

Important verbs here: “Raised the dead” AND “gives them life”

Application - we are not just dead raised. We are raised to life!

V 22: ALL judgements? Where is the church’s place in judgement?

The Father did not change when he appointed Christ as supreme King and Lord of heaven and earth, for the Father is in the Son and works in him. But since our senses fail us when we want to picture God, Christ is put in front of our eyes as the living image of the invisible God. So we have no reason for fruitlessly working at exploring the secrets of heaven, since God has provided for our weakness as he shows himself near in the person of Christ. However, whenever we are concerned about the government of the world, our own condition, the heavenly protection of our salvation, we must learn to train our eyes on Christ alone, since all power has been entrusted to him (see ). In Christ’s face God the Father, who would otherwise have been hidden and distant from us, is seen by us, so that the exposed majesty of God does now swallow us up in its unimaginable brightness.

Calvin, J. (1994). John (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

V 23: This excludes “Jesus only” philosophy and other modalistic ideas.

Muslims and Jews give the God they worship beautiful and magnificent titles. However, we should remember that whenever God’s name is separated from Christ, it is nothing more than empty imagination.

Calvin, J. (1994). John (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

V 24: What two things are required for eternal life? The hearing of Jesus’ words and the belief in the Father.

Where is the role of the indwelling of the HS?

Who can be so hard as not to want to submit willingly to Christ when the reward of eternal life is offered? And yet we see how few people Christ won over to himself by such great goodness. We are so depraved that we prefer to die voluntarily rather than hand ourselves over in obedience to the Son of God so that we may be saved by his grace.

Calvin, J. (1994). John (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

Christ now states that this life is received by “whoever hears” his “word.” By “hearing” he means faith, as he immediately declares. But faith has its center in the heart, not in the ears.

Calvin, J. (1994). John (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

“Has” is an important verb here. We are not waiting for eternal life. It starts in the SECOND you accept God.

How can we both die here on earth and also have “passed out of death?” ()

V 25: “An hour is coming and now is.” The kingdom of God is both here and not yet.

Who are the dead spoken of in v 25? (The spiritually dead)

The Bible speaks of three kinds of death: (1) spiritual death (cf. ); (2) physical death (cf. ); and (3) eternal death (cf. ; ; , ) or the lake of fire, hell (Gehenna).

Utley, R. J. (1999). The Beloved Disciple’s Memoirs and Letters: The Gospel of John, I, II, and III John (Vol. Volume 4, p. 53). Marshall, Texas: Bible Lessons International.

What must they do to live? (Hear)

V 26: Jesus has the same authority over life as the Father does.

Great Commission -

We do not have inherent life within us. Our life is derived from others. In the physical sense, our life is given to us by our parents. However, even that transaction is shrouded in deep mystery. Again Jesus claimed deity by saying he was not dependent on another for life just as the Father derived his life from no one. Jesus possesses inherent life, the power to create and the power to renew life that has been extinguished.

Tenney, M. C. (1981). John. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: John and Acts (Vol. 9, p. 65). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

V 27: Jesus has the authority to judge.

The title “Son of Man” has appeared twice previously in this Gospel: once in describing Jesus’ function as a revelator of divine truth (1:51) and once in connection with his function as a Redeemer (3:14). Generally it is used only by Jesus concerning himself. As the Son of Man he is qualified to judge humanity because he belongs to it and can understand the needs and viewpoints of men. As the Epistle to the Hebrews states, “He had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people” (). Hebrews emphasizes Jesus’ priestly function rather than his judicial position, but the underlying concept is the same.

Tenney, M. C. (1981). John. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: John and Acts (Vol. 9, p. 65). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

(see , for the connection between the Son of Man and judgment).

Dongell, J. (1997). John: a Bible commentary in the Wesleyan tradition (p. 93). Indianapolis, IN: Wesleyan Publishing House.

V 28: To whom is Jesus referring in verse 28? (The dead in the tombs. The physically dead.)

V 29: Our deeds DO matter.

This does not refer to judgment based on works, but rather to judgement based on believers’ lifestyles (cf. ; ). There is a general principle in God’s Word and world, humans reap what they sow (cf. ; ). Or to put it in an OT quote, “God will recompense humans according to their deeds” (cf. ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; and ).

Utley, R. J. (1999). The Beloved Disciple’s Memoirs and Letters: The Gospel of John, I, II, and III John (Vol. Volume 4, p. 54). Marshall, Texas: Bible Lessons International.

Is judgement a universally bad thing here? Or is this an opportunity for another chance?

V 30:

“I judge.” This word “judge,” strictly speaking, refers to Christ’s teaching. But it also applies to his whole life. It is as if he is saying that he lives according to his Father’s directions in everything and that his Father’s will governs him, and so he will defend him from all his attackers.

Calvin, J. (1994). John (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

“Whatever comes from God is right and true.”

How does Jesus go about judging in v 30? (As he hears he judges.)

How does he keep it from being biased? (It’s the will of the good and perfect Father.)

Can we be dispassionate, impartial judges?

(Maybe for next week)

V 31: What does this mean?

That if some random person claims to be God, it’s not true until God actually testifies and works through that person.

We know that nothing anybody says about himself can be thought of as being true or authentic, even if he says the truth in everything else, because no one can testify about himself. Although it would be wrong to reduce the Son of God to this level, Christ is prepared to give over his rights so that he may convince his enemies by God’s authority.

Calvin, J. (1994). John (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

(Also, see following witnesses of Jesus’ deity in 33-47. Jesus’ authority is reinforced by John the Baptist, his own works, and by the father.)

V 32: That testimony from the Father is infallible.

Application

God’s ways are not our ways. (Sabbath for the Godly versus the worldly)

The Son is The Just Judge.

As followers of God, we must fix our eyes on God (v 19) to see which way he leans so we may make truly just decisions - always recognizing that God through Jesus is the only truly Just Judge.

Just as Nicodemus was asking about being born again and Jesus said you must have a spiritual rebirth, there are differences between our spiritual and physical deaths. Those that come to Jesus have passed from death into life and, therefore, need not worry about the physical death that awaits them (v 24).

God is essential to our lives. Though we try to fool ourselves into thinking otherwise, there is no us without God. Do you live as though God is essential to your life?