Like Father Like Son John 5:9-17

Text: John 5:9-17

Let’s all stand as we read the Word of God.

John 5:9–17 NKJV

And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath. The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.” He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’ ” Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”

Parents have a tremendous influence on their children.

Children imitate their parents! Remember when I first started pastoring I used to wear a tie? And remember who used to come to church dressed in a tie? Jonathan! He would imitate me because I was his Dad and I was someone who loved him .

For us to begin to comprehend God and His love for us God sent Jesus, God in the flesh, to this world to live among us. Jesus had the perfect relationship with His father.

He imitated what the Father wanted.

He demonstrated who the Father was.

He Illustrated how the Father operated.

Jesus was a chip off the old block. He was and is just like His Father!

Jesus said in

John 10:30 NKJV

I and My Father are one.”

And so as we look at these verses this morning let’s remember that we are seeing God at work through Jesus. That’s how God chooses to work…through humans that are yielded and focused on pleasing Him!

Later in this chapter Jesus said in

John 5:30 NLT

I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will.

And so Jesus was focused on making sure the Father was pleased with all his actions. Jesus did what the Father would do. He did exactly what the Father wanted. This is the best way to live our lives…by being obedient to God’s commands.

We are blessed when we do what the Father wants. We are blessed when we do what the Jesus commands. In our text we start with a man who didn’t really know who Jesus was but he was still blessed by being obedient.

John 5:8 NKJV

Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.”

and gues what he did

God’s word said that he took up his bed, and walked!

He obeyed!

In these verses we will focus on three ways that Jesus demonstrated what His Heavenly Father is like.

Jesus Demonstrated the Father’s Ability to Heal ()

John 5:9 NKJV

And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.

John 5:

Notice the word immediately....

It didnt take a week, it didn’t take an hour, it didn’t take a minute…it happened instantly!

Jesus Healed a Man with Leprosy Immediately ()

There was a man that Jesus healed who had leprosy ......

Matthew 8:3 NKJV

Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

The Father Used Elisha to Heal Naaman of Leprosy Immediately ()

There were two blind men sitting by the side of the road outside of Jericho and

Matthew 20:29–34 NLT

As Jesus and the disciples left the town of Jericho, a large crowd followed behind. Two blind men were sitting beside the road. When they heard that Jesus was coming that way, they began shouting, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” “Be quiet!” the crowd yelled at them. But they only shouted louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” When Jesus heard them, he stopped and called, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord,” they said, “we want to see!” Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. Instantly they could see! Then they followed him.

2 Kings 5:1–14 NLT

The king of Aram had great admiration for Naaman, the commander of his army, because through him the Lord had given Aram great victories. But though Naaman was a mighty warrior, he suffered from leprosy. At this time Aramean raiders had invaded the land of Israel, and among their captives was a young girl who had been given to Naaman’s wife as a maid. One day the girl said to her mistress, “I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy.” So Naaman told the king what the young girl from Israel had said. “Go and visit the prophet,” the king of Aram told him. “I will send a letter of introduction for you to take to the king of Israel.” So Naaman started out, carrying as gifts 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothing. The letter to the king of Israel said: “With this letter I present my servant Naaman. I want you to heal him of his leprosy.” When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes in dismay and said, “Am I God, that I can give life and take it away? Why is this man asking me to heal someone with leprosy? I can see that he’s just trying to pick a fight with me.” But when Elisha, the man of God, heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes in dismay, he sent this message to him: “Why are you so upset? Send Naaman to me, and he will learn that there is a true prophet here in Israel.” So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and waited at the door of Elisha’s house. But Elisha sent a messenger out to him with this message: “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.” But Naaman became angry and stalked away. “I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!” he said. “I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me! Aren’t the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn’t I wash in them and be healed?” So Naaman turned and went away in a rage. But his officers tried to reason with him and said, “Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, ‘Go and wash and be cured!’ ” So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. And his skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child, and he was healed!

This ability to physically heal leprosy immediately is impressive but there is something God does even more impressive.

God Can Heal (Save) a Sin Sick Soul Immediately

If you believe that you are a sinner because God’s word says..

Romans 3:23 NKJV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

and you understand

Romans 6:23 NKJV

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And you understand

Romans 5:8 NKJV

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Then God can heal your sin sick soul immediately just like says

Romans 10:9 NKJV

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

That’s instantly people! It does not take years, months, or days to believe....

once you do it God’s word says you are a new creature:

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

.you can put your faith and trust in Christ right now sitting there in your seat!

I pray you do trust Jesus. I pray you will trust Jesus. I pray you will recognize the Savior for who he is. You will recognize the hand of God working in your life.

Many time people do not recognize God. They don’t recognize or see Him and we see that ......

Jesus Demonstrated the Father’s Ability to Hide (vs. 13)

John 5:13 NKJV

But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place.

Words

God’s timing is perfect. Jesus was always where the Father wanted Him, when the Father wanted him there. After Jesus healed this crippled man he disappeared into the crowd. The man who was healed didn’t even know who had healed him. He had not put his Faith and trust in Jesus.

The Jews asked the man who had healed him and he had no idea who it was.

There are a couple of reasons the Father hides himself that I want to highlight in this message.

The Father’s Salvation is Hidden from Those Who are Deceived ()

2 Corinthians 4:3–4 NKJV

But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

So basically Satan, who is the small “g” god of this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe. We could have someone sitting here today who has heard the gospel over and over and yet they won’t put their trust in God. Why is that? God’s word says they won’t repent of their sins and be saved because they have yielded to the Sin of unbelief when Satan tempted them to put their faith in something else besides Jesus.

The Father Hides Himself From Those Who Won’t Acknowledge There Is One God ()

Romans 1:28 NLT

Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done.

When you leave God out of the your life there is a void…an empty space that can’t be filled properly with anything else! People who don’t believe there is a God are called Atheist.....

Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Atheism, Response to

Atheism, Response to

The best reply to an atheist is to give him a good dinner and ask him if he believes there is a chef who prepared it.

Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Atheism, Dilemma of

The atheist’s dilemma is that when he feels very grateful and wants to give thanks, he has no one to give it to.

That’s because the Atheist does not believe God created everything. He believes it was all by chance and you can’t thanks chance.

Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Atheism’s Oversimplification

Atheism’s Oversimplification

“. . . Atheism turns out to be too simple. If the whole universe has no meaning, we should have never found out that it has no meaning: Just as, if there were no light in the universe and therefore no creatures with eyes, we should never know it was dark. ‘Dark’ would be without meaning” (C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity [New York: Macmillan, 1986], p. 46).

The Bible Definition of a Fool is an Atheist (Someone who says there is no God) ()

Psalm 14:1 NLT

Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good!

Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Atheism, Response to

Atheism, Response to

The best reply to an atheist is to give him a good dinner and ask him if he believes there is a chef who prepared it.

The fact is that when dinner is prepared someone had to prepare it. It doesn’t just automatically appear! Bonnie reminded me about that yesterday. It takes time and energy and effort to get a meal prepared.

It also took time, energy, and effort to create this earth…God did that!

John 5:14 NKJV

Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”

Jesus Demonstrated the Father’s Ability to Work Faithfully ()

John 5:17 NKJV

But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”

Anyone here 12 years old?

Jesus Was Serious About Pleasing the Father at Age 12 ()

Well listen to this story about How Jesus was serious very early about doing His Father’s will:

Luke 2:41–50 NKJV

His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.

Luke 2:41-

Teens listen up.....sorry to break it to you but God’s word does not support this idea that you don’t need to worry about serving the Lord until you are an adult. In Jesus day by the time you were 12 you were expected to start acting like an adult.....There was not modern day concept of adolescence where you get a pass from being responsible because of your age.

The good habits you are forming now in your service to God will carry over to you adult years and the bad habits you are forming will be difficult to break. Be an example now! don’t wait. Paul told young Timothy...

1 Timothy 4:12 NLT

Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.

The Father is Always Working His Will and His Plan ()

from the time Jesus was young he knew he had to be about his Father’s business.

Psalm 121:4 NKJV

Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

God is always working His plan. He actually has not opposition to His will. Because he is a loving God that is graciously giving men an opportunity to have temporary physical life and to have an eternal life and relationship with Him He created all we see and know.

We were made in God’s image

Genesis 1:26 NKJV

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

God Made Us in His Image and Gave Us Physical and Spiritual Work to Do ()

Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Work, God’s

“When God’s work is done in God’s way for God’s glory, it will never lack God’s supply. God is not obligated to pay for our selfish schemes. He is obligated to support His ministry” (Hudson Taylor).

God will give us the wisdom and strength to do the work He wants us to do! ()

Philippians 4:19 NKJV

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

What percentage of your needs will God provide? 100% So if you are running out of time, energy, or money and you are a believer then guess what? You must be doing selfish things...... you must be doing things that you want to do…not things God wants you to do.

Repent and cut out those things so you are not wasting precious time on worthless, short term pleasure. Think long term. Don’t be lazy!

Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Laziness

A farmer was sitting on the porch of his house when a stranger came by and asked, “How’s things?”

“Tolerable,” came the reply. He continued, “Two weeks ago a tornado came along and knocked down all the trees I would have had to chop down for this winter’s firewood. Then last week lightning struck the brush I had planned to burn to clear the fields for planting.”

The stranger responded, “That’s remarkable, what are you doing now.”

The farmer answered, “Waiting for an earthquake to come along and shake the taters out of the ground.”

We are to work hard like the ant!

Picture of an ANT

Proverbs 6:6–8 NKJV

Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest.

Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Laziness

According to John Silling, a Purdue University entomologist, the ant is an exemplary worker. “Basically the ant’s entire life, which can range up to seven years, is spent working,” says Silling. “They gather food, bring it back to the nest, and use it for day-to-day meals as well as to store for the winter.”

In addition, the amazing insects can be adept horticulturalists, states the professor. Some species “gather bits of grass or leaves and take them back to their nest. On this organic matter, which is used much like fertilizer, they place tiny mushroom spores and grow them for food.” But ants as dairy-keepers? That’s right. “Some ants get the majority of their food by ‘milking’ aphids or plant lice which are often known as ‘ant cows,’ says the scientist. “The ants sometimes herd the aphids down into the ant nests at night or when it starts to get cool; then when it gets warm again, they herd them back up to the plants.”

The Key Do Doing God’s Work Faithfully is To Love God()

1 John 5:2 NKJV

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.

1 John 5:2–3 NKJV

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

Matthew 26:42 NKJV

Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.”

1 John

If you don’t have enough Love for God then pray and ask God for more love.

We sing the song....More Love to Thee for this reason.

More love to Thee, oh Christ, more love to Thee! Hear Thou the prayer I make on bended knee. This is my earnest plea More love, oh Christ, to Thee More love to Thee, more love to Thee!

Conclusion: Be Like Jesus

Jesus and God are one.()

Jesus and His church are one body ()

Jesus Obeyed the Father ()

We must follow Jesus () by loving God and obeying God’s commandments ()

Ask the Lord for more Love for God. Its the key to a victorious Life!