Jesus Reveals Himself as God

Last week we looked at the healing of the lame man at the pool of Bethesda. We discussed that Jesus chose him specifically so he could show that his purpose was to bring people out of their sin and into holiness. He also chose a specific time to do this miracle and that was on the Sabbath. We saw that this created some tension with the Jews as he told the man to violate the teachings of the rabbi’s and carry his mat on the sabbath. Yet we will see today that Jesus was going to more than this because he was going to admit to working on the Sabbath the same as God the Father, thus claiming that he is equal with God. Turn to John 5:16-29 as we look at three ways that Jesus claimed the authority of God.

John 5:16–29 ESV

And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” 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. 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. 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. For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 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. 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. “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. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath

John 5:16–20 ESV

And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” 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. 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. 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.

My father is working until now and I am working

God created all things then rested on the seventh day - not tired but admiring the glory of God being revealed in His creation. The idea of someone finishing a piece of art steps back to admire it and enjoy the way it reveals their skill and creativity, God stepped back and admired creation and how it would ultimately point us to him.

But then Sin entered the world and from that moment on God and Jesus includes himself have been working to restore the world to its sinless perfection.

Even the Jews acknowledged that God must work on the Sabbath for it is by his power he holds the universe together, he dictates the tides, the sunrise and sunset etc. God is working and Jesus is saying I too am working in the same way.

The Jewish Leaders recoginze his claim to Godship and were seeking to put him to death for blasphemy.

It is from this moment that their charge of blasphemy comes, and if Jesus was not God they would be correct to make such a charge. But they fail to recognize him for who he is, thus he presents his case and reveals to them who he is.

Indeed the Father and son work in complete harmony and unity The son only does what he sees the father doing and the father in his love reveals all that he is doing to the Son.

Jesus is saying you know God works on the sabbath and so do I because i do whatever God is doing we are one in purpose and essence.

Jesus is the judge

John 5:22–24 ESV

For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 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. 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.

Argument over whether the Father or the Son is the judge

I do nothing unless the father is doing it, Again I and the father are one, the reality is God is a triune being and the trinity is a dificult thing to explain

But we know the bible teaches the Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Sprit is God, One God with three parts but one God. The solution God is going to judge the world. How will he judge it?

Romans 3:23 teaches us

Romans 3:23 ESV

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

and Romans 6:23 says

Romans 6:23 ESV

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

yet Jesus says

John 5:24 ESV

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.

hears my word and believes has eternal life and will not come into judgement

Even though we all deserve death and eternal separation from God in Hell

God in in his love sent us Jesus to give us both mercy and grace through salvation

Mercy - to not give us the punishment we deserve - Jesus shows mercy by paying the price for our sins

Grace - to give us something we do not deserve - Jesus shows grace by giving us eternal life in heaven with him.

Notice the tense of these verbs

First He has eternal life it is not not a future event but a current reality from the moment of saving faith you have eternal life as a current possesion.

Second you will not come into judgement - the day of judgemnet is coming when God will seperate the sheep from the goats the saved from the lost with but one Question? Did you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior or not?

If yes then come and enter heaven, on the basis of Jesus Christ blood shed for you, not because you deserve it but because of the grace of God. Your sins will not be held against you in judgment not because you do not deserve punishment but rather because God in his mercy forgives you on the basis of Jesus Christ blood shed for you

Yet if you answer no then you have no right to complain because you are simply getting that which you deserve punishment for your sins.

So yes Jesus is the judge for it is he who will separate the sheep from the Goats as he will say to the Christian this one is mine and to those who are lost I never knew you

Jesus is the Giver of Life

John 5:25–29 ESV

“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. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

Jesus speaks and all the dead will be raised

those who have done good to the resurrection of life

those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment

This division is again based upon choosing Jesus for without him we are incapable of doing good for even when the action seems good our motives are impure.

Remember the words of Jesus in Luke 18:19

Luke 18:19 ESV

And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

How is it that Jesus can raise the dead

because just as the Father has life in himself so the Son also has life in himself.

Remember in the creation story God says Let us make man in our image.

Jesus was part of giving the breath of life to man

Therefore when Jesus promises to raise us from the dead and give us new life He can do so because He as God is the giver of life

Invitation

Jesus clearly and boldly makes the claim to be God in today’s passage he does not leave you with the option that he is just a good teacher, or a prophet as many today try to claim. As C.S. Lewis said Jesus is either a liar, a lunatic, or he is Lord. You cannot have it otherwise because he did not leave that option open to us. The question is will you place your faith in him as Lord of your life, or will you choose to call him a liar or a lunatic? When you stand before the judgment seat how will you answer the father’s question what did you do with my son? Your eternal destination hinges on that question. Deny him in this life and he will deny you on the day of judgement but claim him today and he will claim you as his own on the day of judgement. The choice is yours Jesus as Lord, or face judgement on your own merit, how will you choose?