Jesus is Lord over Body and Days

Please open your copy of God’s word to John Chapter 5, and let us pray. AS you are turning there I encourage you to share with others on your social media pages as we look to reach people with the gospel. Pray

Its incredible when you read through the gospels and see what Christ does. From the miraculous healings to the teachings of Christ we see incredible things. And in John 5 this is no different. I have titled this message Jesus is Lord over Body and Days.

As we have dove into this book we have seen Jesus work as Lord. But we have also seen Jesus not be accepted as Lord, but does not mean he is not. In todays text we will see Jesus do an another incredible act as Lord, and see that Jesus is Lord over Body and Days.

The word of God says this in John 5:1-18

John 5:1–18 ESV

After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 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?” 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.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath. 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.” But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’ ” They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. 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.” The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. 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.

For those taking notes today the title and the main point are the Same. Jesus is Lord over body and days. x2

The setting of this text is in Jerusalem. A feast had just been celebrated but we are not sure which one it was. Jesus found himself in this particular situation by the Sheep gate in Jerusalem. This sheep gate was constructed during the time of Nehemiah. And it was a small opening in the North Wall of Jerusalem. This place has five roofed colonnades which were pillars that supported one side of the roof, and at this place was a pool.

And at this pool people who had problems laid there in hopes to be made well. The ESV calls these people invalid, and explains who they are. They are blind, lame, and paralyzed.

And one particular man who was there had been invalid for 38 years. Longer than Jesus had even been on this earth. And Jesus asked him a question do you want to be healed?

For those taking notes, or following along in our bulletin the first point is this.

Jesus is Lord over bodies.

The Question do you want to be healed? Seems silly from our end doesn’t it. This man wanted to be healed that is why he was there.

Now verse 4 is not included in the ESV, because its not found in most manuscripts. Its a textual variant. Your bible may have a footnote of what it says. The KJV says in verse 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.

So this man who was invalid believed that this water could save him, could heal him, could make him whole, but knew there was no way this could happen unless someone put him in this pool. There was never any evidence an angel caused this stirring it could have been a spring or something similar. All we know is desperate people went there in hopes to get healed.

The invalid man clearly wanted to be healed, but he knew he did not have the ability to go into this pool on his own. Every chance he may have had someone beat him to the punch. This man had no chance. But something changed for this man.

Jesus Said to him, GET UP, take up your bed and walk, and at once the man was healed. This man is different from the man last week who we saw who begged Jesus to heal his son. Jesus had compassion on someone who did not seek it directly from him.

But we see the same result of the officials son a complete healing. He was not lacking the ability to walk anymore, he was healed. It wasn’t progressive healing he was made well at once. Jesus does this over and over again in the gospel to show that he is Lord over bodies.

Its not like this recent bout of covid that I had where I was sick and got better day by day, the man was healed at one.

Its not like these faith healers to claim to heal people with a spoken word and they may seem to get better, but it doesn’t last.

When Jesus heals someone during his ministry on earth we see him do it completely. This was a man who had not been sick for just a little while, but for 38 years. And after 38 long years Jesus comes and changes his life in but a moment, he took up his bed and went along his way.

The one who was apart of all creation, who spoke everything into existence spoke healing to his man. A complete healing, a healing to a man who spent most of his days laying on a mat, could now carry it and be made well. Incredible act only God himself could do.

We dont see great faith from the man or even a testimony of this like saying Jesus Christ is my Lord. Only a healing.

Jesus can change any body in but a moment. He is lord of all bodies. And thats what he did to this man.

But this story is more than just the healing, its what happens afterwords that gets the attention of everyone including the Jews.

What Jesus did was incredible, but what makes it even more incredible during this time is he healed the man on the Sabbath.

For those taking notes the second point I have for you is this.

Jesus is Lord over Days

Jesus healed this man on a day were the Jews said work should not be done. When they interact with the man who had been healed the first thing they say to him is it is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed. They were being super legalist.

For the Jews they had strict rules on working on the Sabbath. These rules comes from Exodus 20:8-11 Let me read them to you to get a better understanding.

Exodus 20:8–11 ESV

8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

And from this command we just read they decided they needed to have 39 forbidden activities you cannot do on the sabbath. One of those was you could not carry anything. This small bed made of straw could not be carried on the Sabbath.

So the man not wanted to get in trouble told the Jews. The man who healed me, that man said to me, take your bed and walk.

So the Jews were curious about who healed this man. They said who is it that healed you ? But the man did not know.

Its incredible to think that the Jews were not amazed that this man had been healed. I am sure if this man was invalid for 38 years most would know who it is.

When I take my daughter to daycare I see the same lady almost everyday standing at the corner. Surly they would have known this man was sick for awhile. And would be happy he was healed, but instead they were more concerned about the breaking of the law, and who healed him.

One man wrote down this, “They are more concerned about regulation than about restoration. They are more concerned about adherence to the law than about the healing of the body. They care more about obeying commands then enjoying the presence of the one whose character the commands convey.”

Church family I thought of it like this. You can be concerned about what you think may be the right thing to do, and miss Jesus. I want to say that again, You can be concerned about what you think may be the right thing to do and miss Jesus.

The Jews continually miss who Jesus is, because they want him to be something he is not. They had pictured a different messiah one who would liberate them from Rome, and control. Instead they get a Messiah who came to care for the sick, heal the dying, teach the sinner, and die on the cross.

A Jesus they did not want was a Jesus they needed.

No one around knew the real identity of the one who healed this man, the one who made the man whole, complete, like new, but Jesus found the man later in the temple, and exchanged with him some powerful words.

Who knows why this man went into the temple, maybe he thought God had something to do with his healing and he wanted to praise him for it, and the reality is God did have something to do with it, and God himself was going to tell him to do something but first he says. See you are well.

Jesus reaffirmed that he was made well. And he could do that because he is Lord over the body. He knew that he and he alone could heal that man, and thats what he did. On a day that people did not work. To show he was Lord over that as well. But he doesn’t stop there, he told the man Sin no more that nothing worse may happen to you.

This is an interesting statement. Because the one who has authority over body and days focused more on the root problem with everyone which is sin.

Jesus did not say if a certain sin put him in the situation he was in and I believe we would do the text injustice if we drew that conclusion. But lets look at a few verses to help us understand the effects of sin on sickness. And see if we can see why this man may have been invalid. Gal 6:7-8 which says.

Galatians 6:7–8 ESV

7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Maybe the man reaped in the flesh, and it fleshed out in the form of him being invalid. He might have had a life full of sin prior to him becoming ill.

But maybe it was the result of living in a fallen world. Maybe the man didn’t do anything wrong. His sin may have not be the root issue, even though he was a sinner, because everyone outside of Christ is.

Your own sin may not be the cause of your condition though. Listen to the words of John in John Chapter 9. John 9:1-5

John 9:1–5 ESV

1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

God in the example in John chapter 9 shows us this man was sick so God could work in his life. Could do an incredible thing.

Another example is found in Luke chapter 13.

Luke 13:1–5 ESV

1 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

Looking at these these examples we can draw the conclusion that living in a sinful world sickness happens. Sometimes because of the person, sometimes because God is going to do something. Or just because we live in a fallen world.

But the reality of sin is ever present during there time and during our own, and Jesus tells the man.. Sin No more so something worse may happen to you.

Despite the man being invalid something worse could have happened to him. He could have been sent to hell. We can’t automatically assume he came to faith in Jesus, but for those who don’t they will not have eternal life in Christ.

It does not matter your circumstances, your health, your finances, or anything else if you dont repent of your sin and put your faith in Christ you will not have eternal life.

we all need Jesus no matter what he does in our lives.

After Jesus tells the man to not sin. He told the Jews it was Jesus who healed me who made me whole. and the Jews did not like that at all, especially because he did this on the Sabbath. Another example of Jesus being Lord over bodies and the Days is found in Mark’s gospel. Chapter 3. Let me read it for you.

Mark 3:1-6

Mark 3:1–6 ESV

1 Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. 2 And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3 And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” 4 And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. 5 And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6 The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

They were more concerned about the day in which Jesus was doing these things, then him actually healing people. Showing people he is Lord over bodies and days. They were hostile. Marks gospel said this made them want to destroy him.

But the true the matter is Jesus Lord of the Sabbath. Listen to Matthew 12:8

Matthew 12:8 ESV

8 For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

Jesus is Lord over the Sabbath. He is Lord of all days. Him healing someone on that day is more evidence that he is Lord over all days, including the Sabbath.

Church family Jesus is Lord over all. What I want us all to understand before we leave today is this. Third thing… Right this down.

Jesus is Lord over all.

Jesus in verses 17 and 18 lay out the reality that he is equal with God. If the Jews were not upset with what he was doing they sure are now.

While God rested on the 7th day he is continually working. God doesn’t get days off. He is sitting on his throne in complete control all the time. He doesn’t have the PTO we all covet. He literally has the whole world in his hands.

And when Jesus says my Father is working until now and I am working. He is making himself equal with God. See we need days off, but Jesus doesn’t. They tried to trap Jesus for not following a command that was not meant for him. God himself was working amongst them and they missed him. They missed the Lord.

The first hangup for them was that the man who was healed was not following rules they made up, he was not really working he was carrying his mat after he was made well,

but the second hangup was this, Jesus was making himself equal with God. because Jesus is God. He is Lord over bodies, and Lord over days, and Lord over all.

The Jews would continually reject Jesus for things he did and that he said, we will see it time and time again through this Gospel, and in the other gospels, but at the end of the day rejecting Jesus leads to damnation, but trusting in Jesus as Lord leads to salvation.

I said this earlier, but You can think you are doing the right thing and still miss Jesus. The Jews did not think they were doing anything wrong. They honestly thought they were seeking to follow God. But they missed following God, following Jesus, because they loved the rules more then they loved God and fellow man.

Dont be like the Jews and miss him as Lord. Dont get caught up in looking for reasons to not follow Jesus. Because if you honestly look at Jesus and see who he is and see what he had done, the only answer for you is to say that Jesus is Lord. He is Lord over bodies, he is Lord over days, and most importantly he is Lord over all and includes my whole life.

If you have your bibles lets turn to one of the most powerful scriptures in all of bible. And it ties into the reality of what every person will one day face. Philippians 2:1-11 Lets start in verse 1, and when your there say Amen.

Philippians 2:1–11 ESV

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus came to earth, left heaven, took on human flesh. He served others, love others, looked towards your best interests believer. Lived a perfect life, dying on the cross, but what I dont want you to miss about this section of scripture is that Jesus Christ is Lord, and every knee is going to bow to him, and if you do that on earth you can have eternal life.

BUT IF you deny him on earth you will still recognize him as Lord when you meet your maker, but your judgment is eternal separation from him forever.

Jesus is Lord over all, I wonder where you find yourself today. Hopefully you see him as Lord over all, and have you grasped that in your worship of him.

The text tells us today that he is Lord over your body. Do you recognize that your body is God’s. He can heal you in but a moment, he can rescue you from the greatest storms, bust most importantly are you using the body he gave you to worship him.

Jesus is Lord over all your days. Do we dictate our days as if Jesus is Lord over them, or do we go about our days as if he is just an accessory. That we will plug Jesus into the spaces that we have void.

Today may be a day for you to make a change in your life to make him Lord over your body or Lord over your days, but there may be someone in the room listening or online that has came to the place where they recognize that Jesus is not my Lord.

Don’t leave here today knowing that if you put your faith in him, and repent of your sins, you can make him your lord today.

I pray if you have not done that very thing that you do it today.

As we close each and every service we have a time of response, and during that time we respond how the Lord has impacted you today.

Maybe you want you put your faith in Jesus for the first time today come down and talk with me, no need to be afraid, he will change your life and you will never be the same. When you see Jesus as Lord for the first time you are like the man who was invalid for possibly his whole life, changed in but a moment.

Maybe you want to step out in faith and be baptized. I would love to baptize you.

Maybe you want to join this church. This church is headed for some great days ahead. Come join this journey with us. We want to be a church that pursues Jesus as a family of believers..

Finally if you need prayer or just want to respond in singing do so however the Lord may lead. Let us pray.