Jesus, Who Do You Say That You Are

Intro: Because of the explosion of information available through the internet and social media, we as a church need to be able to give a clear description of the person of Christ. Because so many have taken the liberty to provide their understanding of who Jesus is and who he is not I believe we must be given a clear picture of Jesus from a pure biblical perspective. Though a subject of this latitude should be preached in series form, I will attempt to answer the who, what, and how questions briefly through John chapter 5. So in John 5 we will hear from Jesus himself, describing himself in his own words. Therefore the title of my message is Jesus, Who Do You Say That You Are. Our reading today comes from John 5:8-9 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

Now brothers and sisters, all we need to know about Jesus this morning in the time allotted to me can be found in the command Jesus gave to the paralyzed man.

In verse one it says.......

Get up. (The Who)

The first answer to who is Jesus, is found in the fact that he told the man to get up. This man had been paralyzed for 38 years. It was already a far gone conclusion that this man would never be able to walk again. And everyone who knew him, or knew of him understood that this guy would be paralyzed for life. But here comes Jesus with what some would say a redundant question; Do you wan’t to be healed?

A. Only God can give you a command and give you the ability, the power to perform the command

1. 2 Cor. 9:8

2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

So just by giving the paralyzed man the command to get up proves that Jesus knew exactly who he was. He backs his actions up with a statement. In verse 21 Jesus says of himself

John 5:21 ESV

For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.

Question: What mere man can make such a statement? What man can say that he can give life to whom he will? Does that sound like a mere man to you? Only a God can make such a statement.

B. When God sets out to heal an individual, he does it with expectations.

Many people include in their prayers healings from different ailments. The key to receiving healing brothers and sisters is in what you plan to do for the kingdom afterwards. Do you include in your prayers what you intend to do for God once you receive the healing. You may not realize it but Jesus asked this man to do something after he healed him. And what Jesus asked him to do could get this man in some trouble.

Take up your bed. (The What)

A. It was the Sabbath

Notice the end of verse 5 “Now that day was the Sabbath.” Here brothers and sisters lies the point of contention in the text. This was taking place on the Sabbath. One of the rules of the Sabbath was that you couldn’t do any work on the Sabbath. The Jews had amended the Laws of Moses in order to further limit an individual from breaking the actually law itself. So the amendment, what the Jews called Melachot 39 says that it is against the law to Transfer something from one domain type to another domain type, or transferring within a public thoroughfare..... In addition, transferring an object for a distance of four cubits (or more) in a public thoroughfare or open area is forbidden.

So the amended law according to the rabbinic law, not the Mosaic law, did not allow you to pick up your bed, mattress, or even just a pillow any further than 6 feet. This man was told to take up his matt and walk. I’m sure this man knew the law. So putting ourselves in this mans shoes it must have crossed his mind, under what authority does this man ask me to do something against the Sabbath laws? (Read vv 16)

Jesus made it clear by what authority he commands this man to take up his mat and walk. Verse 17

17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”

Again Jesus makes a statement no other man can make. What man can say the work God does he does as well?

B. Lord of the Sabbath

In each of the synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke Jesus proclaims to be the Lord of the Sabbath. And on each occasion he was arguing with the religious men over the law of the Sabbath. He says in Matt. 12:8 in particular...

Matthew 12:8 ESV

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

So the argument the Jews were making about the law was with the one who made the law.

By whose authority does this man say “take up your bed and walk?” By his own authority. For Jesus is the law maker.

And WalK (The How)

A. In the bible the word walk or walking depicts lifestyle. Your walk is how you living. Jesus tells the man later on in verse 14 to live the rest of his life without sin. In other words brother you need to clean your lifestyle. Make better life choices, or else something worse may happen to you.

B. Ephesians 4:1-3

Ephesians 4:1–3 ESV

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

C. Many people believe that living a life of worship consist of only shouting the loudest in church. The best attendance in the church. Giving the most money in the church. Preaching the best sermon in the church. Well, if you are the best shouter, preacher, teacher, or singer in the church absent of humility, gentleness, patience, bearing one another in love then your nothing more than a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And that’s Paul being nice about it.