Jesus points us to the Father
The Gospel of John • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 36:07
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1 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. 3 In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. 5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 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?” 7 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.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” 9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath. 10 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.” 11 But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’ ” 12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well!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.” 15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. 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.” 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.
A couple of minor, preliminary issues
A couple of minor, preliminary issues
Textual issue in Jn. 5:4
Textual issue in Jn. 5:4
King James Version Chapter 5
For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
The ESV Study Bible Chapter 5
The statement in the ESV footnote about an angel of the Lord stirring the water and the first person who stepped in being healed is found in some early manuscripts, but not the earliest. Therefore the omitted verse 4 should not be considered part of Scripture, although v. 7 (which is in all manuscripts) shows that people believed something like what this statement reports.
Sin can cause physical illness and other physical consequences (Jn 5:14)
Sin can cause physical illness and other physical consequences (Jn 5:14)
14 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.”
In biblical times, people were quick to assume that suffering—especially illness or natural disasters—were direct punishment from God for sins they had committed.
7 “Remember: who that was innocent ever perished? Or where were the upright cut off? 8 As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same. 9 By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his anger they are consumed.
2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
But in our times, we are quick to assume the opposite. We learned the lesson from Job a little too well, assuming that illness or trials in our lives are NEVER the consequence of sin. This verse clearly contradicts that assumption. Sometimes, illness and suffering IS a result of our sin and can only be cured through repentance.
14 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.”
27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.
Application:
Live a life characterized by repentance, and you’ll never have to worry or wonder about it!
If you’re convicted of sin and suspect that a particular illness or trial may be the consequence of that sin, repent! God may have mercy and lift that suffering from your life.
Don’t assume every illness is God punishing you. Trials and suffering come into our life for a variety of reasons and it is presumptuous to assume that we can know exactly why a trial comes to us. Most of the time we never fully know—only God does.
But those aren’t the main point of this passage, so we’re not going to spend any more time on them this morning. This passage is primarily about who Jesus is and what he shows us about the Father. This passage shows us three things:
First, that Jesus is equal with God the Father.
Second, that Jesus receives his authority from God the Father.
And third, that Jesus is the only way to God the Father.
Jesus is equal with God the Father (Jn 5:1-18)
Jesus is equal with God the Father (Jn 5:1-18)
Jesus heals what no man can heal (v. 6-9)
Jesus heals what no man can heal (v. 6-9)
Jesus forgives what no man can forgive (v. 8)
Jesus forgives what no man can forgive (v. 8)
If this man’s paralysis was a result of his sins, Jesus’ reversal of the illness seems to also imply a reversal of the cause of the illness.
We see this explicitly when Jesus heals another paralytic in Mk 2
5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— 11 “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.”
Jesus makes claims no man can make (v. 17-18)
Jesus makes claims no man can make (v. 17-18)
Jesus calls God his Father (v. 17a and 18b)
Jesus claims authority over the Sabbath, in fact...
Jesus claims the same level of authority as God himself (v. 17)
Jesus receives authority from God the Father (Jn. 5:19-29)
Jesus receives authority from God the Father (Jn. 5:19-29)
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.
We’ve already seen that Jesus is equal in his divine nature to God
We’ve already seen that Jesus is equal in his divine nature to God
Jesus is co-eternal with the Father (Jn. 1:1)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Jesus is the “exact imprint” of God’s nature (Heb. 1:1-3)
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
Jesus is the source of all Creation (Jn. 1:3) and upholds Creation
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
In light of his equality with the Father, look at his willing submission to the Father and the Father’s glorification of and love for his Son.
In light of his equality with the Father, look at his willing submission to the Father and the Father’s glorification of and love for his Son.
Jesus follows the Father’s master plan (v. 19)
The Father loves the Son and includes him in his master plan (v. 20)
Jesus judges on behalf of the Father (v. 22)
The Father glorifies the Son (v. 23)
The Trinity displays to us a model for loving headship and willing submission
The Trinity displays to us a model for loving headship and willing submission
The world argues that any differentiation of roles within a relationship means inequality. The Bible teaches otherwise.
This model of loving headship and joyful submission displayed in the Trinity applies to many areas of our lives:
Pastors and their churches
Husbands and wives
Parents and children
Employers and employees
We can display the glory of God and live out the gospel simply by being loving leaders and joyful followers.
When someone in a leadership position, be it a pastor, a boss, a husband, a parent, etc. seeks the honor of those under their care, demonstrates love and kindness towards them, seeks their good, etc. they show the world what the Father is like.
When someone willingly submits to those in authority over them (churches, wives, children, employees, citizens of a country, etc.) they show the world what the Son is like.
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Jesus is the way to God the Father (Jn. 5:22-47)
Jesus is the way to God the Father (Jn. 5:22-47)
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. 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. 31 If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. 33 You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35 He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36 But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, 38 and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. 39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. 41 I do not receive glory from people. 42 But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”
Because the Son has been given authority by the Father, whoever dishonors the Son, dishonors the Father (v. 22-23)
Because the Son has been given authority by the Father, whoever dishonors the Son, dishonors the Father (v. 22-23)
There are not many ways to God.
There is only one way to God.
1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Judgment is coming for those who reject the Son (v. 27-47)
Judgment is coming for those who reject the Son (v. 27-47)
Isn’t it enough to be a good person?
No. There is no amount of good that you can do to make up for high treason.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
What about those who have never heard?
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
People don’t reject God for lack of information.
They reject him despite knowing that he exists, wilfully suppressing the truth.
There is only one thing that can save you—believing in Christ and the Father who sent him. (Jn. 5:24)
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.
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.
Know this: If you’re sitting here today debating whether or not to believe in Christ, you are not doing so because you don’t have enough information. The facts of the gospel are not hard to understand.
God Created the world and humanity and has set laws which we must obey.
We have broken those laws—we have sinned.
Because of our sins, we stand condemned before God.
But God loved us and sent his only Son to pay the penalty for our sins.
So, whoever believes in him will have eternal life, and whoever rejects him will suffer eternal punishment in hell.
If you are rejecting Christ, it is not because the gospel is too hard to understand, it is because your heart is hard and rebellious against God. You do not love God. You refuse to submit your life to him. You are a rebellious traitor before God.
This warning is not just to those who don’t go to church! Jesus spoke these words to the Bible experts of his day!
37 And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, 38 and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. 39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.
It doesn’t matter how well you know your Bible if you don’t know God.
It doesn’t matter how much knowledge you have in your head if it’s not in your heart too.
Conclusion
Conclusion
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
Will you come to the light this morning? Will you submit your life to Christ and give him control of your heart?
Perhaps you have given your heart to God, but lately you find your heart hard, and cold, and dead. Will you repent this morning of your hardness of heart and apathy?