Sermon Tone Analysis

As we read through this Bible study I want to begin to implement what we do in 3/3rds which is as we read through the text and I teach I want you to write down what this text teaches us about people and what does this text teach us about God?

I will be asking these questions throughout the Bible study so be sure to write it down so you remember what you find.

John 4:43–54 (ESV)

43 After the two days he departed for Galilee.

44 (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.)

45 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast.

For they too had gone to the feast.

46 So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine.

And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill.

47 When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.

48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.”

49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”

50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.”

The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.

51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering.

52 So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.”

53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.”

And he himself believed, and all his household.

54 This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.

Vs 43-45:

John foreshadows the reception Jesus will experience in Galilee with a parenthetical comment: Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honour in his own country.

The evangelist is preparing his readers for the lack of faith Jesus will encounter in his homeland.

This might seem a bit odd because as we read verse 45 seems to communicate Jesus was welcomed with open arms.

But do not be so quick to read these two verses and assume a contradiction.

Though Jesus was welcomed with open arms, the point being made by John is that this was not lasting as we continue into chapter 5.

This is also true for us today.

They remembered when Jesus performed miracles.

They remembered what Jesus had done, so they accepted Him.

But this was not going to last.

Vs 46-54

The point that John makes in verse 44 does not show up immediately.

However it is very clear that Jesus knew it was coming.

“So Jesus said to him, ‘Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.’”

Some translations make it more clear than ESV does but the “You” stated by Jesus is plural.

Jesus is speaking to the crowd not the official alone.

Jesus recognizes that their “faith” hinges upon Jesus performing signs not their hope or faith in Him.

The official, however, though we do not see him anywhere else in Scripture appears to believe in who Jesus is.

I believe that this man and his family did truly have faith in Jesus for who He is.

I believe this based on three evidences: First, 49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”

50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.”

The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.

The man showed that Jesus was true to His word.

Jesus said the boy will live.

He trusted Jesus.

The second reason, which i love about this text is how this man investigated his sons health.

He tested to see if the boy was healed because of Jesus, whom he had trusted, and behold.

“The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.”

And he himself believed, and all his household.”

The third reason, is extra Biblical.

How would John know this man went home, investigated, and the entire family believed unless this man was then a part of the Body of Christ from that point.

Now, John could have been told this by revelation.

I am not writing that off, but I think more than likely its because this man and his family testified to what Jesus had done.

That concludes chapter 4, though chapter 5 immediately pick up in the narrative, What did these 11 verses teach us about people and teach us about God?

Setting the scene:

Before we get into the text at hand we need to make a point to see that here is where we begin to see Jesus cause problems for the religious.

This almost seems to be the turning point in Jesus’ ministry where people begin to jump ship.

This is what John was speaking of in 4:44 and Jesus as well interacting with the people before healing the officials son.

The sabbath held significant religious implications for the Jews.

They believed, beyond God’s command to keep it Holy, but that the Messiah was going to be very closely linked to the perfect keeping of the Sabbath.

As we read through the Gospel of John, one of which we are about to read, we see that the Pharisee’s added to the Words of God and made more guidelines for obedience in relation to the sabbath.

Jesus, does not keep their added rules.

This raises the problem, because their added rules have become authoritative and on the same level as the Word of God.

Whether or not they made created the added rules to protect the sabbath the outcome is the same, it actually led them to break God’s command to keep it Holy, because of their adding to His Words.

I think this must also provoke in us a time of self reflection, have we as a church done the same.

Me as a Pastor here have we as Elders done this.

Has the church in America done this.

We need to challenge ourselves in this.

Have we, whether with good motives or not, have we added to qualifications or church practice which has actually inhibited growth and involvement?

Have we created measures which actually restrict growth rather than encourage it.

By growth I mean, have we created a culture here at FCC which helps people find their spiritual gifts and then use them?

Does our church help in the growth of Christians by disciplining them?

If not, then we have to dismantle what is getting in the way.

The Pharisee’s placed a greater burden on people to walk in the LORD rather than helping them to grow and walk fully in the LORD.

Jesus seems to show a disregard for the sabbath in their own minds, but really, Jesus is keeping the Sabbath Holy.

John 5:1–17

Verses 1-2

The location of the miracle is found at what is called the Sheep Gate which was located near the north-east corner of the old city of Jerusalem.

There are no other references to it in the NT, but it is mentioned in descriptions of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem in Nehemiah.

The pool called Bethesda was a double pool.

Each pool was trapezoidal in shape, and the overall length of the two pools (north to south) was about 318 feet.

The smaller pool to the north was about 197 feet wide on its northern side and the larger southern pool was about 250 feet wide on its southern side.

Verses 3-5

Early manuscripts do not have the verse 4 or as other believe it to be the end of verse 3. Regardless we see this arise more in latter translations and some have only part or all of verse 4. Does this change any Doctrine?

No.

It is a textual variant and like all other variants has no baring on the Christian faith.

But we should know that the early manuscripts do not have verse 4.

However, we should note that in Jesus interaction with the man later, Jesus does no confirm nor deny verse 4.

The man has been invalid for 38 years.

We do not know what his illness is.

We know he lacks the ability to climb into the water.

We do not know if this is due to weakness or paralyzation.

But we do know he is brought to the pool by someone.

More than likely he was not brought every single day but he was brought when it was believed to be the time which the waters would stir.

Verses 6-9

I want to ask you, what separates Jesus’ miracle here with the others?

The other miracles were performed following a request or plea, whereas here Jesus does this on His own initiative.

The question must be asked, why?

This will be answered shortly.

But we must also take notice, Jesus did not heal everyone at the pool, only this man.

Healing happens and it has a purpose.