Sermon Tone Analysis

A couple of minor, preliminary issues

Textual issue in Jn. 5:4

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 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)

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.

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.

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 heals what no man can heal (v.

6-9)

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

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)

We’ve already seen that Jesus is equal in his divine nature to God

Jesus is co-eternal with the Father (Jn.

1:1)

Jesus is the “exact imprint” of God’s nature (Heb.

1:1-3)

Jesus is the source of all Creation (Jn.

1:3) and upholds Creation

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 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.

Jesus is the way to God the Father (Jn.

5:22-47)

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.

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.

What about those who have never heard?

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)

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!

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

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?