Signs in John: Healing at Bethesda

Healing an Invalid

Thesis: Christ is the God who gives life starting today and judges us concerning life eternal.

Goal: That people would worship Christ as divine and build their faith on sure evidence.

Text: John 5

Introduction

A. Sermon Series

1. Focused Activities:

a) Mention Teens

b) Devotional Reading on Christ’s Life

c) Follow Up Bible Studies on the Messages

d) Collecting Food for the needy

2. Studying the Signs in John

Signs are supposed to show us something about who Christ is and what He has come to do

a) Water to Wine: Christ cleanses us of all our impurities

b) Healing the Son: Christ has the authority to do what He wants

c) Feeding the 5000: Christ will lead us right to God

3. This week

a) Once again, the apparent meaning is in the bible study

b) The deeper meaning we’ll talk about in the sermon

c) The miracle is all about a man who was an invalid (38 years) and is set free by Christ – completely healed.

It’s truly miraculous – we’re going to look at what Christ after the healing – to a group of religious leaders about how and why He did what He did. We’re now at a place where Jesus is going to start pushing us to respond to these miracles. He is going to push the envelope of what He says about Himself – not just what He’s doing – Jesus does not leave us to second guess anything

PRAY

What is it that John wants us to take away from this miracle?

! I. Worship Christ as Divine

A. Marvel as Jesus Imitates the Father

Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. (John 5:19-20 NIV)

1. Jesus is using a metaphor for anyone who either has children or has seen children imitate their parents

a) Carrying trash to the dumpster

b) To us it’s cute because it is a weak imitation. Our children may try to look like us but they aren’t capable of truly imitating us. They aren’t as strong or capable as we are.

c) That’s where the analogy breaks down because Jesus is as strong and capable as the Father.

2. Jesus Gives Us Two Examples as to How He Imitates God

a) Jesus Gives Life like the Father

For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. (John 5:21 NIV)

(1) God is the Author of Life

The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. (Genesis 2:7 NIV)

“See now that I myself am He! There is no god besides me. I put to death and I bring to life…” (Deuteronomy 32:39 NIV)

(2) Jesus uses a title for Himself that is unusual is the Son of God (vs. 25)

I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. (John 5:25 NIV)

This is the only place in the New Testament where Jesus uses that title Himself. Plenty of people used it about Him – from the people who followed Him to Roman soldiers to demons. But this is the only time that Jesus uses it Himself. It was a statement claiming divine lineage.

(a) The Gospel authors leave nothing to doubt

(i) We know that the NT we read today is the most accurate copy in the history of the church. This is what the authors intended to say

(ii) What would be the point of putting these words in Jesus’ mouth if He didn’t say them? It was blasphemy, a crime punishable by death in 1st century Judaism. They were putting their lives on the line by writing it – a worthless sacrifice if Jesus didn’t say it.

(iii) It makes sense to believe that Jesus said it because it fits with the motivation of the authors and with the plotline. We know that the people listening understood the application because they wanted to kill Him for using the title (vs. 18).

(iv) They want you to know that Jesus said it and they believed it.

(b) When Jesus healed the invalid (a man crippled for 38 years) Christ spoke with the voice of the Creator to the invalid and he was healed

b) The Father Lets Jesus Judge Humanity

Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. (John 5:22-23 NIV)

God has given to Christ, the right to judge humanity

(1) This is an honor that had been reserved for God

…but the Lord reigns forever, executing judgment from his throne. He will judge the world with justice and rule the nations with fairness. (Psalm 9:7-8 NLT)

They believed that because God is creator and His virtues (like love and righteousness) are perfect, only He can judge fairly.

Jesus claims that God has chosen to give that honor to the Son now.

(2) Jesus seals that idea when He calls Himself the “Son of Man”

(a) This is one of Jesus’ favorite titles for Himself. We typically think of it as an identification with humanity – a title that He is human.

(b) However, it’s more than that:

As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13-14 NLT)

The Jews in Jesus’ day saw this passage as a description of the Messiah – the Chosen One of God who would come to bring salvation. Jesus uses it to describe His ministry:

(i) He is in the presence of God

(ii) He has authority, honor and sovereignty over all the nations of the world

(iii) He wants the world to obey Him

(iv) He possesses an eternal reign

(3) In the end, this is exactly what happens:

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20 NIV)

Transition: This simple passage is profound in what it declare: we worship Jesus as Divine by marveling at the way He gives life and judgment like the Father. So how do we continue to worship Him?

B. Receive Life from Him

“I tell you the truth, whoever hears what I say and believes in the One who sent me has eternal life. That person will not be judged guilty but has already left death and entered life. I tell you the truth, the time is coming and is already here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will have life. Life comes from the Father himself, and he has allowed the Son to have life in himself as well. (John 5:24-26 NCV)

1. The First “amen, amen” Statements

Listen up, what I am telling you is extremely important – HEY PAY ATTENTION!

You can have eternal life

2. He’s pretty clear as to how that happens:

whoever hears what I say and believes in the One who sent me has eternal life. That person will not be judged guilty but has already left death and entered life

a) Hear (give heed to) Christ’s message – Not just the “I heard something the other day” This is to hear something and then act on it – that’s the believe part

b) Believe (trust) God – When the bible uses the word believe it does not merely mean a set of ideas that you hold to be true. It means knowledge that you are willing to stake your life on.

c) Illustrations:

(1) like getting a good stock tip that you choose to use as an investment

(2) like having terminal cancer and hearing about a new experimental treatment that you are willing to try

(3) it’s like being single and hearing that the girl you like is really into Chris Daughtry so you buy two tickets and mention to her that you just happen to have an extra…would she like to come?

3. What Kind of Life?

a) Look at what Jesus says:

(1) “has life” – present tense

(2) “has already left death and entered life” – the journey is begun

b) You have eternal life starting today – you don’t have to fear death – it’s a transition to God

c) That life that starts today – makes a difference today: THE IMPORTANCE OF LAST WEEK’S BIBLE STUDY – pick it up at the Information Center

Transition: John wants us to Worship Jesus as Divine by Marveling at How He Imitates the Father and to Receive Life from Him. He also wants us to…

C. Yield Judgment to Him

“I tell you the truth, whoever hears what I say and believes in the One who sent me has eternal life. That person will not be judged guilty but has already left death and entered life. (John 5:24 NCV)

And the Father has given the Son the approval to judge, because he is the Son of Man. (John 5:27 NCV)

1. The Second “amen, amen” Statement

Act on what Jesus says and trust in God and you will not be judged guilty.

Jesus is talking about the final day when everyone gives an account for his or her life.

2. The Standard of Judgment is Clear

“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. (John 5:28-29 NIV)

a) Good receives life

b) Evil receives condemnation

c) It’s the same thing said by

(1) David in the Psalms

Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done. (Psalm 62:12 NIV)

!!!!! (2) And Paul in Romans

God “will give to each person according to what he has done.” To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism. (Romans 2:6-11 NIV)

d) OK – sounds good right?

3. Problem is no one has escaped doing evil

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. (Romans 3:23 NLT)

4. Good News: No one except Jesus

Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. (Romans 3:24 NLT)

5. It’s the reason that He has been given the right to judge: the Son of God paid the penalty for our wrong doings and can now grant us pardon.

You need to decide what you will do with that privilege.

Transition: Worship Christ as Divine by Marveling at how He imitates the Father, Receiving Life (for now and through eternity) from Him and Trusting Him with Your Judgment.

This is a lot to swallow and some say you have to do it completely by faith. I wouldn’t say that. I think there is some convincing evidence. John would say that as well as Jesus. They would say:

Break for Worship

! II. Build Your Faith on Evidence

A. Trust the Testimony of Eyewitnesses

In fact, you sent investigators to listen to John the Baptist, and his testimony about me was true. Of course, I have no need of human witnesses, but I say these things so you might be saved. John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were excited for a while about his message. (John 5:33-35 NLT)

1. Record of Eyewitness

a) Jesus presented John the Baptist as a credible witness because he was a godly man with a good message and a solid ministry – they respected Him.

2. We have the record of these four Gospels.

a) People like Matthew and John who knew Jesus because they worked and lived with Him.

b) People like Luke and Mark who interviewed first hand witnesses

3. These people are credible because

a) They put their careers, their reputations, their lives on the line for what they believed

b) They also left powerful statements of truth behind that we respect – anyone who records the Sermon on the Mount isn’t likely to lie

c) We encourage you to study these Gospels

(1) If you are new, read one, anyone

(2) If have walked with Christ for a long time – keep going – read it again and again and again

B. Trust the Record of Achievements

But I have a greater witness than John—my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me. (John 5:36 NLT)

1. The Record of the Past Miracles

a) This word, “works”, is another term, like “signs” that Jesus uses for the miracles.

(1) Signs: signs along the road that point to something important that we would not necessarily see on our own.

(2) Works: this is what God does – like creation, bringing justice, caring for His people – the miraculous is not supernatural to God, it is the natural

b) We study these miracle for what they say about the life and work of Christ

c) They stood as a testimony that He is the promised one from God:

Listen to the promise God gave through Isaiah (born several centuries before Christ)

Say to people who are frightened, “Be strong. Don’t be afraid. Look, your God will come…then the blind people will see again, and the deaf will hear. Crippled people will jump like deer, and those who can’t talk now will shout with joy. Water will flow in the desert, and streams will flow in the dry land. (Isaiah 35:4-6 NCV)

2. The Record of Your Transformation

This is why we present personal testimonies even today:

TESTIMONY

C. Trust the Presence of God

And the Father who sent me has testified about me himself. (John 5:37 NLT)

1. Record of God’s Presence in the Life & Ministry of Christ

a) Spoke at His baptism

b) Spoke at the Mount of Transfiguration

2. Record of God’s Presence in the Life & Ministry of the Church

The presence of God in the church today:

Conclusion