Untitled Sermon

English Standard Version Chapter 5

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.”

Jesus Is Equal with God

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.

The Authority of the Son

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. 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. 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. 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.

Summary: After healing the man at the pool of Bethesda, Jesus gives 7 clear proofs of His Lordship.

December 30, 2001

Introduction

Let’s turn in our Bibles to John chapter 5, and as you’re turning you need to know this morning that there are really only 2 attitudes about Jesus Christ that the Bible recognizes. Either we reject Him or we bow to Him as Lord. Either He is Lord and King and God, or He is really nothing at all. You see there is no middle ground; in our lives, Jesus is Lord of all, or He’s not Lord at all. Either we believe that He has the right to reign and rule, and we are actively submitting to Him, or we are ruling over our own lives. That’s the only 2 positions there are.

In the passage we have before us this morning Jesus is going to present the Jews with proofs that He is Lord and God, all the while examining whether He is our Lord and our God.

Jesus’ healing of the lame man on the Sabbath served two very important purposes beyond the benefit the man received. First, it served to inflame the hatred of the Jews, particularly the Jewish leaders. The reason they were so angered was because by this act and in the subsequent dialogue Jesus claimed equality with God.

John 5:16-30

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.”

Jesus Is Equal with God

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.

English Standard Version Chapter 5

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.”

Jesus Is Equal with God

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.

The Authority of the Son

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. 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. 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. 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.

Witnesses to Jesus

30 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

The Authority of the Son

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. 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. 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. 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.

That brings us to our second purpose; Jesus here sets before us the doctrine of His deity. That is, the truth that He is equal to God in all respects. In this passage, we see the Son’s equality with the Father set forth in seven distinct areas.

Witnesses to Jesus

30 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

Here we have the Astounding Authority of Jesus Christ presented to us. We are shown that He is Lord, He is Judge of all, equal to the Father, He has life in Himself and He gives life to whoever He pleases. Jesus is Lord.

1B. The offense of the healing (5:16)

Now the context of this passage is that Jesus had just healed a man who had been sick for 38 years, and the Jews were persecuting Him and wanting to kill Him because He had healed on the Sabbath. And Jesus answers their accusations by providing 7 proofs of His Lordship; of His right to do as He pleases. In essence, He is presenting His Deity, His Lordship to the Jewish leaders here as well as us today. Let’s look at 7 proofs that Jesus is Lord.

The Jews were greatly offended by the fact that Jesus had “broken” the Sabbath by healing this lame man.

Proof 1. Equal with God (v.17-18)

What a demonstration of the hardness of the Jews hearts in that they were more concerned about the keeping of rules than the soul of a man.

In verse 17 He calls God “My Father” not “our Father” (v.17), indicating His special and unique relationship to God. The Jews clearly understood (v.18) “not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.”

What an indictment on us. Often we would rather “keep the Sabbath” rather than involve ourselves in the ministry to those who need the Lord.

What conclusion should the Jews have drawn from what Jesus said? Just that He had the right to do whatever He pleases with anyone He pleases on any day of the week He pleases because He is equal with God. He made man, therefore He is Lord of man, and has the right to do with man whatever He pleases. Later He would say to the Jews, “Before Abraham was born, I Am.” Taking the very name of God, the Great I Am. He would say to Philip, “If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father.” Philippians 2:66 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.

Proof 1: He is equal with God.

2B. The answer of our Lord (5:17-18)

Unity with the Father (5:17)

Proof 2: He does what God does (v.19)

(v.19b) “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.” In other words He can do as He pleases with man because He only does what God does. If the Jews are condemning Jesus’ work, they are condemning God Himself, because the work of Jesus and the work of God are identical. He is equal with God and His works are God’s works.

Ø Jesus credited the work He was doing to the Father.

Ø He is saying that He and the Father are united in their work and that you cannot distinguish the work of the Father from the work of the Son.

He is equal with God, He does what God does.

Proof 3: He has power over life and death (v.20)

Equality with the Father (5:18)

Ø The Jews rightly interpreted this as Jesus’ claiming to be equal with the Father.

“20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. 21 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.”

Jesus Claims Power To Give Life. (5:21, 24-26)

Beyond His claim that he is equal with the Father, He claims that as the Son of God He is the giver of life. (v. 21) “For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.”

The Old Testament clearly teaches that only God could give life or raise the dead to new life.

In we read, “Now see that I, even I, am He, And there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand.”

states, “The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up.”

The ability to give life is the prerogative of deity. Consequently when Jesus claims to be able to give life also he is clearly claiming to be God.

Notice how He says, “He will show him even greater things that these.” He would do greater things in power, and greater things in authority. Greater things in power, such as raising people from the dead. I mean if people thought healing a sick man was something wait until Jesus raises Lazarus, and Jairus’ daughter, and the widow’s son, AND HIMSELF. They would see greater things than these. And greater in authority. If the Jews thought Jesus was breaking one commandment out of ten (breaking the Sabbath) just wait until God nails the entire law to the cross of Jesus Christ.

I think Jesus liked to ruin funerals.

2A. Jesus is Equal with God in Will (5:19)

tell us:

13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

In Other Words.....

“13 God forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.”

1B. Jesus cannot act independently of the Father

“13 God forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.”

Indeed, God would show greater things than these, greater in power and greater in authority. He would not only heal the sick He would raise the dead. This shows us that Jesus is Lord of life. He has the keys of death and hell and as Lord he can cure sick people and raise dead people. It’s the same thing to Him. Every funeral He went to someone came back to life, because He is Lord over life.

Because His will was one with the Father, “…the Son can do nothing of Himself…”

“He never acted independently of the Father. He was always in perfect subjection to the Father’s will. There was no will in Him which had to be broken.”[1]

You know what the Jews should have done right here? They should have dropped to their knees in worship and begged His forgiveness. This man can give life to whoever He wants? He can not only heal the sick but raise the dead? He is Lord, He is God, and I’m so sorry.

2B. Jesus worked in perfect harmony with the Father, “…it is something He sees the Father doing…”

So notice the first 3 very compelling proofs that Jesus is Lord: He is Lord because He is equal with God, because He does what God does, and because He has power over life and death.

Proof 4: He is Judge of all the earth. (v.22-23) “22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 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.” He has control over the whole judicial process. Jesus is the Judge of all the earth, He is the Judge of the living and the dead. What conclusion should the Jews have come to when Jesus said this? That they should be honoring Jesus. What do we call our Judges? “Your Honor.” Jesus is “Your Honor.” The point is, the Jews were not honoring Jesus, therefore they were not honoring God, because He who honors Jesus honors God.

Jesus only did those things He knew the Father was doing.

“See,” blepo; means to contemplate, to perceive, to know.

So He is equal with God, He does what God does, He has power over life and death, He is Judge of all the earth.

Proof 5: He has control over man’s destiny VS. 21: the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”

3B. Jesus worked the way the Father worked, “… in like manner”

Jesus is sovereign over man’s final destiny. He gives life to whoever He is pleased to give it. He is in control of every man’s future, every person’s eternity. Speaking of the new birth and of eternal life, 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth.

Jesus’ service is equal to God’s in type, power and manner.

Yes we gain eternal life by hearing and believing the gospel, but Jesus is sovereign over Who He gives life to, who He gives birth, and the new birth to.

Ø Not only does Jesus perform His works with the same Divine power and excellence as the Father, He also does “whatever the Father does.”

So He is equal with God, He does what God does, He has power over life and death, He is the Judge of all people, and He has control over every man’s destiny.

“How this rebukes the self-will in all of us! Who is there among the saints who can truthfully say, I can do nothing in my own strength; my life is entirely at God’s disposal?”[2]

Proof 6: He is self-existent (v.26) 26 “For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself.” Jesus does not depend on any source outside of Himself for life, He has life in Himself. Every human being depends on God for our every breath, for our next heartbeat, but not so with Jesus, He is God, He has life in Himself. God is represented by the burning bush, which was self-contained, it did not need an outside source to continue burning and it was never burned up. That’s Jesus, He has life in Himself. Speaking of Jesus says, “In Him was life.” Because He is God, He is Lord.

1B. Jesus can receive and understand “all things” that God does.

The Jews should have been catching a clue here. This is more than a mere man.

Proof 7: He has power to resurrect all people from the grave (v.28-30) 28 "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out--those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.

The fact that Jesus can receive and understand everything the Father does gives testimony to our Lord’s Deity because the finite mind of man cannot understand the infinite ways of God.

This tells us that at the end of the world every single person will be raised from the dead by the voice of Christ. He will simply tell every person to come out of their graves, and every person will rise from the dead to be judged by Christ. Jesus is teaching that physical death is not the end of existence. Life here on earth is not the complete span for man, beyond this life there is another different existence which one cannot avoid.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD.”

•Every one will be affected by it.

Verse twenty-eight says, “…all who are

in the graves” this means “all” without exception.

•All mankind will fall into two and only two categories.

Death is not the end, all will stand before God; with judgment unto life for those who have a personal relationship with Christ and judgment unto condemnation for those who do not. When some who have yet to place their trust in Christ hear of this judgment, they still refuse to believe, saying things like, “I don’t believe a God of love would condemn anyone!” Others state that all they ask of God is justice. But I pity the person who is satisfied with justice when mercy is available.

2B. Jesus’ equality with God will be further displayed by even greater works and teaching.

So let’s just put this all together by way of a summary. Here it is: Jesus is equal to and one with God the Father, doing the very works that God does, and having power over life and death. He is the Judge of all people, and has control over every person’s destiny. As God He is self-existent and as the Judge of all the earth He will one day call out each person, every man, woman and child from the grave, and will judge us all in righteousness. Or in one simple sentence, “Jesus is Lord.”

So what is our response to this truth about Jesus today? I invite you to turn with me in your Bibles to and let’s note the only 2 responses that people give to this kind of a message:

“Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, Show us the Father?’”

12 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:1-3

1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.

4A. Jesus is Equal with God in Sovereign Rights (5:21)

1B. Jesus demonstrated His sovereign rights in the healing of the lame man.

As I said at the beginning today, Jesus is either Lord of all or He is not Lord at all. Our lives either say “Jesus be cursed” or “Jesus is Lord.” This is why we are praying for the Spirit of God to come in power, so that more and more people would be able to say “Jesus is Lord in my life.”

There were numerous sick people at the pool of Bethesda, but Jesus chose only to heal one.

Two Applications of this message today:

Unbelievers: Up to this point you have been saying “Jesus be cursed, I’ll run my own life thank you. I’ll do as I please, choose my own way of life.” What you need to do is bow your knee to Him, receive Him as Savior and surrender to Him as Lord, confessing your sins and receiving His pardon. See the issue is Lordship. Who is on the throne of your life, you or God? Today, if you hear His voice, don’t harden your hearts, rather bow your knees in humble submission to Jesus as Lord.

Was Jesus unjust or unfair because He did not heal everyone at the pool that day?

No, His healing of the lame man was an act of pure grace.

2B. Jesus exercises His sovereign rights in the spiritual realm

Does your life reflect that you know Jesus is Lord of all things and all people? Do you reflect a peace and calm assurance that God is in control, that He is seated on His throne, that He is working all things together for your good? Or are you frantic and frenzied and given to drama? If Jesus is Lord, you can rest in the knowledge that all things that come to us pass through Him, and that He is in entirely in control. He is Lord!

Oh Lord, we come to You Who are God and Lord of all, You Who are Judge of all. And yet when we look into the face of our Judge, we see a Savior there. The hands that hold the gavel have been pierced for our transgressions. Your Honor is our Savior and Lord and very best friend.”

He does not give life to the worthy, for none are worthy. ()

He does not give life to those who seek Him, for none seek Him. ()

He does not give life to the good, for none are good. ()

5A. Jesus is Equal with God in Divine Honors (5:22-23)

1B. The Father has made Jesus the judge of all people. (5:22)

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

2B. Therefore, Jesus is to be honored just as God is honored. (5:23)

“…Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”

6A. Jesus is Equal with God in Imparting Life (5:24-26)

1B. The proof of eternal life. (5:24)

The one who has eternal life hears Christ’s word and believes God.

The one who has eternal life does not come into judgment.

The one who has eternal life has passed from death to life. ()

2B. The power of eternal life. (5:25)

The voice of the Lord is a life-giving voice; the dead hear it and live.

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”

3B. The source of eternal life. (5:26)

The Father and the Son are the only source of eternal life.

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.’”

“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

How God imparts eternal life…

”

Ø Because of the new life within, the child now hears the Word of God and believes. (5:25)

Ø The child of God grows in grace by believing.

7A. Jesus is Equal with God in Judicial Power and Authority (5:27-30)

1B. God has granted Jesus the authority to judge all sin. (5:27, 30)

Jesus is the judge because of who He is, “He is the Son of Man.” (5:27)

Ø “The Son of Man” refers to the Lord’s Deity and humanity.

Ø He has the right to judge men because He is the God-man.

In judging Jesus is submitting to the Father’s will. (5:30)

Ø It is God’s will that the Lord be just in His judgment of sinful man.

2B. The judgment will result in two groups… (5:28-29)

The saved, “those who did the good deeds”

Ø These have received God’s grace and mercy.

The doomed, “those who committed the evil deeds”

Ø These receive God’s justice.

Application

1. Do you believe that Jesus Christ is equal to God in all ways?

2. If not, would you ask God to “help your unbelief”?

3. Are you prepared to meet Christ in the judgment?

4. Your sins will certainly be judged, either in Christ on the cross or at the final judgment. Either Christ has borne the penalty for your sins or you will.

5. Will you pray and ask God to extend His grace to you so that you might hear and believe?

Preparing for Next Week

1. Read .

2. How many witnesses are there here honor of men and not believing in Christ?

3. What is the meaning for verse 31?

4. What is the significance of the first half of verse 34, after Christ had already referred to “John”?

5. What warning is there in the second half of verse 35?

6. What is the force of “you think” in verse 39?

7. Who is referred to in the second half of verse 43?

8. What is the moral connection between receiving honor of men and not believing in Christ?

Untitled Sermon

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