Jesus, the Messiah who has the words of eternal life
John 6:60-71 [1]
Rejection by Many Followers
60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?”
61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”
66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
Confession by Peter
67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”
68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” 71 He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.
Message
See v60.
60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?”
What they found hard to accept was the sacrificial model of His Messiahship. That is, there was a cost to follow the Messiah. This was very different from what they expected from the Messiah. They did not expect the love and sacrifice but the power and domination model of the Messiahship.
See v61-63.
61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
Jesus is the living bread which came down from heaven (John 6:51a). ‘Where He was before’ is ‘heaven’. What if Jesus ascends to heaven? Jesus said this bread was His flesh (John 6:51b). However, this bread is not His physical body but His sacrifice (to get us right with God). Eating this bread means believing in His sacrifice.
See v64.
64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him.
Many of His disciples left (66) and Judas Iscariot, one of twelve was going to betray Him (70-71).
See v65.
65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”
Jesus said this in John 6:44.
See v66.
66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
This ‘love and sacrifice’ model of His Messiahship might offend them. When they realised the cost to follow Jesus, they left Him.
See v67.
67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”
Jesus didn’t beg them to stay. Instead, He challenged and asked them whether they also wanted to leave Him.
See v68-69.
68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
When Peter confessed His faith in Jesus saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16),
17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
(Matthew 16:17–19 (NKJV))
Jesus said it was God’s revelation that let Peter know the truth. So, his faith was like the solid rock, the right foundation to build the house that can withstand the rain, the floods and the winds (Matthew 7:24-25).
See v70.
70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?”
Jesus knew all men (John 2:24). Jesus knew one of the twelve was a devil. Jesus did not rely simply on every believing (John 2:23-24, James 2:19). Jesus was not deceived simply by the membership one held.
See v71.
71 He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.
References
- The New King James Version. 1982, Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
John 5:36 ~ 6:60-64
The weekly messages between Sunday 30 Apr 2023 and Sunday 13 Aug 2023 are available here: 16 messages on John 5:36 ~ 6:64
* This website was down between 2 Oct 2023 and 8 Feb 2024 and restored on 9 Feb 2024 using the website backup file created on 23 Apr 2023.
Another Witness of Jesus – John the Baptist
John 5:33-35 [1]
33 ‘You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. 34 Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. 35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.
Last week, we studied that there should be at least two witnesses to establish a matter according to the Law (Deuteronomy 19:15) and Jesus has other witnesses who testify for Jesus [2]. Today let us study Baptist/Witness John, one of four witnesses of Jesus.
I. Jesus acknowledges the testimony of John being true (33)
“You have sent to John” (33a) refers to the event written in John 1:19-34 (See [3]). “and he has testified to the truth” (33b, John 1:7-8) is written in John 1:29, 34, 30-33.
II. Jesus does not depend on human testimony (34a)
See v34.
34 Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved.
Jesus does not depend on human testimony (34a). God’s testimony is greater (1 John 5:9b) and He has God’s testimony (Matthew 17:5, Mark 9:7, Luke 9:34-35).
III. We need human testimony/witness for our salvation (34b-35)
We accept and need human testimony for our salvation (34b, 1 John 5:9a).
Baptist/witness John was sent from God for us to believe (John 1:6-7). The Gospel of John, which we are studying right now, was written for us to believe and be saved (John 20:31). God wants all people to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4) and pleased with evangelism (1 Corinthians 1:21).
See v35.
35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.
Baptist John worked in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17). Elijah (1 Kings 17:1-19-18) was a prophet like fire and his word burned like a torch (Sirah 48:1). He was not the light (John 1:8a) but only a witness to the light (John 1:8b). Matthew 5:14 says that we are the light of the world, but not as the source of the light but as a lamp (Matthew 5:15) and a reflection of the light to glorify the source of the light (Matthew 5:16).
References
- The Holy Bible: New International Version. Anglicised. Revised and updated. ed. 2011: London: Hodder & Stoughton.
- Park, Y. The Testimony of Jesus Is Always True. 2023 23/04/2023]; Available from: https://comnc.org/the-testimony-of-jesus-is-always-true/.
- Park, Y. Baptist John Storyboard. 2022 23/04/2023]; Available from: https://comnc.org/baptist-john-storyboard/.
The Testimony of Jesus Is Always True
John 5:31-32 [1]
31 ‘If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is another who testifies in my favour, and I know that his testimony about me is true.
The Jewish leaders began to persecute Jesus because they thought He was breaking the Sabbath law (John 5:16). Jesus started his defence from John 5:17 till John 5:30.
Today let us study why the testimony of Jesus is always true.
I. The Legal Requirements to Establish a Matter
See v31.
31 ‘If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true.
Jesus is giving the presuppositions in the case [2]. V31 means that His testimony is not true if Jesus is alone testifying about Himself. It is because the Law requires not one but two or three witnesses to establish a matter (Deuteronomy 19:15, Deuteronomy 17:6, Numbers 35:30). See Deuteronomy 19:15.
15 One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offence they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
The principle in Deuteronomy 19:15 was applied by Jesus in Matthew 18:17 and Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:1 [2].
Matthew 18:17
16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that “every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”
1 Corinthians 13:1
This will be my third visit to you. ‘Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
II. The Witnesses Who Testify for Jesus
See v32.
32 There is another who testifies in my favour, and I know that his testimony about me is true.
Here, ‘another who testifies in His favour’ is Baptist John (John 5:33-35), the works that the Father has given Jesus to finish (John 5:36, John 10:25, 37-38), the Father (John 5:37-38), or the Scriptures (John 5:39). Each of these witnesses testifies about Jesus. Jesus (a witness for Himself) knows another witness’s testimony about Himself is true. Therefore, Jesus Himself and any one of the other witnesses can establish Jesus’ testimony as being true.
Later, on another occasion, the Pharisees challenged Jesus, saying ‘Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.’ (John 8:13).
The Father is not visible to them (Refer to John 8:14c-15). Even if Jesus testifies on His own behalf apparently alone, His testimony is valid (John 8:14). Jesus is not alone but stands with the Father (John 8:16), who is His other witness (John 8:18b), who sent Him (John 8:18c. Refer to John 8:14b).
References
- The Holy Bible: New International Version. Anglicised. Revised and updated. ed. 2011: London: Hodder & Stoughton.
- Borchert, G.L., The New American Commentary: John 1-11. 1996: Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
Jesus, the True Light, the Resurrection and the Life
John 5:26, 21 [1]
26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.
21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.
Happy Easter! Jesus is the True Light (John 1:9) because in Him is the life that is the light of all mankind (John 1:4, John 5:26). Having the experiential relationship with the Father and the Son is eternal life (John 17:3, Section II in [2], [3], 1 John 5:11, 20b, 1 John 1:2).
Jesus is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25, John 14:6c). Jesus has life in Himself (John 5:26, John 1:4) and gives life to whom he is pleased to give it (John 5:21, 1 Corinthians 15:45).
- Jesus raised Himself (John 10:17, 18), Lazarus (John 11:1-43), the widow’s son (Luke 7:15), and the daughter of Jairus (Mark 5:42).
- Jesus raises the (spiritually) dead who hear His voice (John 5:25, Section II in [4]).
- Jesus will raise everyone on the day of Judgement (John 5:28-29).
- Jesus is the bread of life (John 6:35, 48).
- Jesus is the author of life (Acts 3:15).
References
- The Holy Bible: New International Version. Anglicised. Revised and updated. ed. 2011: London: Hodder & Stoughton.
- Park, Y. Have Eternal life or Remain Condemned. 2022 9/04/2023]; Available from: https://comnc.org/have-eternal-life-or-remain-condemned.
- Park, Y. Bible Study on John 1:4. 2021; Available from: https://www.tiktok.com/@yongjoojohnpark/video/6991432730760219906.
- Park, Y. Friendship and Revelation. 2023 9/04/2023]; Available from: https://comnc.org/friendship-and-revelation/.
Friendship and Revelation
John 5:20-30
20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honour the Son just as they honour the Father. Whoever does not honour the Son does not honour the Father, who sent him.
24 ‘Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. 25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.
28 ‘Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. 30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
I. Friendship and Revelation (20)
The basis for the Son’s dependence (John 5:19) is “the Father loves the Son” (20) [1].
See v20a.
For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does.
When Jesus was baptised, the Spirit came down from heaven as a dove and remained on Him (John 1:32, Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:10, and Luke 3:22a). And a voice from heaven said the following (Matthew 3:17, Mark 1:11, Luke 3:22b).
- This is my Son
- whom I love;
- with him I am well pleased.
The use of the “show” (or “reveal”) twice in v. 20 indicates the intimate relation between the Father and Jesus [1]. “As God’s agent, Jesus received direct insight from the Father and acted in accordance with the Father’s wishes. The actions of Jesus, therefore, were the actions of the Father because in Jesus the Father was in fact acting.” [1]
Here, ‘love’ is not agape (unconditional love) but philia (love between friends).
God showed the secret (e.g., the plan of the judgement on Sodom and Gomorrah) to the father of faith, Abraham, too. See Genesis 18:17.
17 Then the Lord said, ‘Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?’
God called Abraham ‘my friend’ (Isaiah 41:8, 2 Chronicles 20:7, James 2:23), which indicates intimacy.
Jesus died for us as the friend dies for his friends (John 15:13-15) and let us know everything as his friends (John 15:15).
See v20b.
Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.
Here, ‘these’ means the works of healing Jesus demonstrated. Love is the motivation of showing the Son ‘all’ the Father does (20a), and even greater works than these (20b). Jesus tells them what the ‘even greater works’ are in John 5:21-30. This indicates God’s love toward the Son, Jesus. At the same time, we can see the love of Jesus toward them reflecting God’s love because He is not hiding but showing them the greater works that Jesus will do, and his believers (John 14:12).
In John 5:21-30, Jesus is about to tell them about even greater works than these, so that they will be amazed (20b). Let us study v25, 28-29 first in this section.
In John 5:28-29, Jesus says “Do not be amazed at this” when He tells them about the coming resurrection and judgement.
28 ‘Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.
The resurrection (v28b-29a):
a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—
The judgement (29b):
those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.
Before we continue, let us study John 5:24 first.
‘Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.
‘Belief’ is the only condition to receive this Grace. This Grace began when God credited the ‘belief’ of Abram to him as ‘righteousness’ (Genesis 15:6). Genuine ‘belief’ is accompanied by ‘action’ (James 2:17).
Finally, let us note that “has crossed” is the present complete tense.
II. The Authority of Resurrection (21, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29a)
See v21.
21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.
See John 10:17-18.
17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.’
Jesus declared that He had authority to take His life up again (John 10:18). That is, He had authority to raise Himself from His own death.
Jesus, the resurrection and the life (John 11:25) [2], raised
- Lazarus who was dead and decaying for four (4) days (John 11:1-43)
- the widow’s son in the village of Nain (Luke 7:15)
- the 12-year-old daughter of Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue (Mark 5:42)
We studied v24 in Section I.
25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.
In the present, though people are spiritually dead, (The spiritually dead would be like ‘heatless, senseless, ruthless, ignorant and etc’.) They will become spiritually alive if they hear the voice of the Son. (As a result, they would become like ‘loving, sensitive, caring, understanding spiritual things and etc’.)
In future, all including the physically dead will hear His voice to rise either to live or to be condemned (John 5:28-29).
See v26.
26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.
The first man Adam became a living being (Genesis 2:7); the last Adam (Christ Jesus) is a life-giving spirit (1 Corinthians 15:45).
We studied v28 and v29a in Section I.
III. The Authority of Judgement (22, 23, 24, 27, 29b, 30)
See v22.
22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son,
Christ Jesus is the Judge as well as the Creator and the Redeemer.
What we bind or loose on earth will happen in the heavenly realm (Matthew 16:19, Matthew 18:18). That is, the believers can open or lock the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 16:19).
Jesus gave His believers the authority of judgement. See Matthew 12:41.
41 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here.
See Matthew 12:42.
42 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here.
See v23.
23 that all may honour the Son just as they honour the Father. Whoever does not honour the Son does not honour the Father, who sent him.
See John 12:26b.
Jesus said, “My Father will honour the one who serves me.”
See John 13:20.
Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.’
Other relevant verses are John 12:44-45, Matthew 10:40, Luke 9:48, Luke 10:16, and Mark 9:37.
We studied v24 in Section I.
See v27.
And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.
Regarding ‘the Son of Man’ in v27,
“The idea is no doubt a juridical principle: because He is to judge men, therefore He must have not only knowledge of man, but also a human experience. As Son of man, thus embodying the ideal of human life, He is the standard of the judgment, and virtually the judgment itself; as Son of man, He has the whole experience of humanity, sin excepted (which is no pure experience), and as He, in that He has been tempted, is able to succor them that are tempted, He is able also to judge them that are tempted.” [3]
We studied v29b in Section I.
See v30.
By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
Jesus will judge based on the true reality (“as I hear”). “perfect perception of the divine will [3]”
His judgement is just because he is not self-seeking. His submission to God was demonstrated in his Gethsemane prayer “yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).
References
- Borchert, G.L., The New American Commentary: John 1-11. 1996: Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
- Park, Y. Jesus – the Resurrection and the Life. 2014 2/04/2023]; Available from: https://comnc.org/jesus-the-resurrection-and-the-life/.
- Lange, J.P.S., Philip, A Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: John. Logos Research ed. 2008, Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
The Son can do only what he sees his Father doing
John 5:19 [1]
19 Jesus gave them this answer: ‘Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.
The reason Jesus did good works on the Sabbath was ‘My Father (God) is always at his work to this very day.’ (John 5:17). Jesus called God His own Father (John 5:17). The Holy Spirit conceived Jesus in Virgin Mary without a human male’s help. Therefore, it was literally true that God was His own Father. But they knew nothing about it and were offended, and blamed Jesus for the blasphemy (John 5:18). They needed Bible Study sessions for the explanation. Jesus explained in v19.
I. The Son can do only what he sees his Father doing
See v19.
19 Jesus gave them this answer: ‘Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.
What Jesus does is not arbitrarily decided by Himself alone. Jesus depends [2] on what He sees the Father doing (19). What Jesus does is a divine work [3]. “They must fight with God Himself if they persist in condemning what must necessarily be ascribed to Jesus.” [3].
II. The importance to acknowledge the spiritual blindness
The Jewish leaders were spiritually blinded (John 9:39-41) but they thought and claimed they were able to see (John 9:41).
Nicodemus thought and claimed that HE KNEW JESUS had come from God (John 3:2). In contrast, John the Baptist (Mark 1:4-5) and Witness (John 1:8) was a kinsman of Jesus and was born 6 months before Jesus. But John claimed that HE DID NOT KNOW JESUS (John 1:31, 33) until he saw (John 1:32, 34) and heard (John 1:33) in spirit.
III. Spiritual sight: an example of John the Baptist & Witness
Only after John the Baptist & Witness heard and saw in the Spirit, he testified about Jesus saying, “This is God’s Chosen One.” (John 1:34).
What John heard:
“The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptise with the Holy Spirit.” (John 1:33)
What John saw:
‘I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.’ (John 1:32, 34)
IV. Some knowledge is given by God’s Sovereignty
As described in the previous section, John’s ‘knowledge’ of God’s Chosen One was obtained via God’s revelation.
Some knowledge is given by God’s will & selection (Matthew 11:27).
… no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
When Peter said to Jesus, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ in Matthew 16:16, Jesus said that this was revealed to Peter by His Father in heaven. See Matthew 16:17.
‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.’
V. How to truly know is how to receive the spiritual sight. The answer is the spiritual rebirth
Nicodemus thought and claimed that HE KNEW JESUS had come from God (John 3:2). In response, Jesus taught him saying, “NO ONE CAN SEE the kingdom of God UNLESS they are born again.” (John 3:3). That is, the true knowledge requires the spiritual sight, which is given through the spiritual rebirth.
The conditions of being born of God are written in John 1:12-13.
12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
- natural descent (13a): physical birth [4]
- human decision (13b): self-determination [4]
- a husband’s will (13c): the choice of another person [4]
A video message that explains John 1:13 is here [5].
The messages on spiritual rebirth are
- Spiritual Rebirth and Spiritual Sight (John 3:1-3) [6]
- You must be born of water and the Spirit (John 3:4-8) [7]
- Rebirth by God’s Sovereignty (John 3:9-11) [8]
References
- The Holy Bible: New International Version. Anglicised. Revised and updated. ed. 2011: London: Hodder & Stoughton.
- Borchert, G.L., The New American Commentary: John 1-11. 1996: Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
- Calvin, J. and W. Pringle, Commentary on the Gospel according to John. 2010, Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
- Gangel, K.O., Holman New Testament Commentary: John. Vol. 4. 2000: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
- Park, Y. Bible Study on John 1:13. 2021 26/03/2023]; Available from: https://www.tiktok.com/@yongjoojohnpark/video/7012184323755363585.
- Park, Y. Spiritual Rebirth and Spiritual Sight. 2022 26/03/2023]; Available from: https://comnc.org/no-rebirth-no-see/.
- Park, Y. You must be born of water and the Spirit. 2022; Available from: https://comnc.org/you-must-be-born-of-water-and-the-spirit/.
- Park, Y. Rebirth by God’s Sovereignty. 2022; Available from: https://comnc.org/rebirth-by-gods-sovereignty-and-unbelief-by-nicodemus/.
Repent your persecution. Receive the Gospel. Start a new life.
John 5:16-18 [1]
16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. 17 In his defence Jesus said to them, ‘My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.’ 18 For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
Persecution was how the Jewish leaders treated Jesus. This showed that they were standing on the opposite side of the truth (John 18:37c). They were on the wrong side! They didn’t belong to God (John 8:47). The spirit they had was not from God (1 John 4:2-3) but was the spirit of the antichrist (1 John 4:3) and falsehood (1 John 4:6c).
For the same reasons, the unbelievers may respond with persecution toward the Gospel or the Evangelist/Preacher of the Gospel. Let them read John 5:1-18 and see their Jewish leader-like attitude toward the good works done by Jesus and the Gospel. And let them repent and receive the Gospel.
I. Persecution for breaking the Sabbath (16)
See v16.
16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him.
What do ‘these things’ include? See John 5:8-9.
8 Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’ 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
The day on which this took place was a Sabbath,
Jesus healed a man and also let him carry the mat on the Sabbath.
For Jesus’ healing them on the Sabbath, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were indignant (Luke 13:14), accusatory (Mark 3:2, Matthew 12:10), and homicidal (Matthew 12:14).
Also, they thought the law would forbid the healed man to carry his mat on the Sabbath (John 5:10) because of what is written in the law such as Exodus 20:8-11, 35:2, and Deuteronomy 5:12-15.
Because Jesus was breaking the Sabbath (18b), they began persecuting Jesus (16b).
Our body is the temple of God, where God’s spirit can reside. The temple of God in Jerusalem represented the body of Jesus. Jesus is something greater than the temple (Matthew 12:6). The priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent (Matthew 12:5). When we, as the priests (1 Peter 2:5), are in Jesus (inside the temple), on the Sabbath, we don’t have to just rest but can do the good works of God.
II. Persecution for committing blasphemy (17-18)
See v17.
17 In his defence Jesus said to them, ‘My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.’
Because Jesus was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God (17, 18c), they tried all the more to kill him (18a).
Blasphemy is forbidden by the law (Leviticus 24:16, Exodus 20:7, Deuteronomy 5:11) and the penalty is death by stoning (Leviticus 24:16). They thought Jesus would deserve to die because of blasphemy (John 10:33, John 19:7) and later, the Sanhedrin condemned Him as worthy of death for blasphemy (Matthew 26:65-66, Mark 14:64) before the crucifixion.
Genesis 3:15 promised the Saviour of the world would be sent as the offspring of the woman. Jesus was conceived in the virgin Mary without a human male. God’s holy spirit made her pregnant supernaturally (Luke 1:35). So, God the heavenly Father was His real father. He was literally the Son of God. At the time of Jesus on earth, many people knew nothing about this. Instead, they simply thought Jesus’ father was Mary’s earthly husband, Joseph (Matthew 13:54-56).
Even if they didn’t know about His birth by the virgin through God, what surprises us is that they didn’t praise God for His good works (John 10:32, 38) but only blamed Him for breaking the Sabbath or committing blasphemy (John 10:33). His defence is written in John 10:34-38.
When we tell the unbelievers that Jesus died for them to forgive their sins, they should never stop until they would find out their sins & penalties, and God’s love, mercy and forgiveness toward them. But they often respond with criticism like what the Jewish leaders have shown. Whoever reads John 5:1-18 can see that their attitude was totally wrong. Based on this understanding, he/she could repent their wrong attitude toward the Gospel, diligently find out his/her own sins and God’s love, confess his/her faith in Jesus and start a new life.
References
- The Holy Bible: New International Version. Anglicised. Revised and updated. ed. 2011: London: Hodder & Stoughton.
Continuing to sin may cause something worse
John 5:9b-15 [1]
The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10 and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, ‘It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.’
11 But he replied, ‘The man who made me well said to me, “Pick up your mat and walk.” ’
12 So they asked him, ‘Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?’
13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.
14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, ‘See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.’ 15 The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.
Last week, we studied Jesus healed a 38-year invalid man in John 5:1-9a.
“Jesus performed this miracle on the Sabbath and that became the point of argument in the next four chapters. Because people want rules, not grace. They want to boast about what they did to earn merit from God. This attitude opposes the gospel.” [2]
Today, let us study the subsequent scripture that the Jewish leaders contrasted Jesus’ mercy and grace, and the man’s illness was due to his sins (14).
I. The problems of the Jewish leaders and the sins of the invalid man
The day on which the invalid man was healed was a Sabbath (9b). The Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, ‘It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.’ (10)
Here, the Jewish leaders were not interested in the healed man’s joy or well-being but merely in their rules and traditions (10, 12). They were rigid, doctrinaire, noncaring religious leaders, who were responsible for the death of Jesus. [3]
What was the reply of the man? See v11.
11 But he replied, ‘The man who made me well said to me, “Pick up your mat and walk.” ’
He didn’t praise God and express his joy and gratitude for healing. He pointed his finger at the healer for the responsibility of breaking the law. Regarding the man’s sin of ‘no glory and no gratitude to God’, see below.
The beginning of the sins: No glory and no gratitude to God (Romans 1:18-32)
Romans 1:18 declares,
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness,
People are without excuse that they didn’t know God because God’s eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from God’s creation (Romans 1:19-20).
The beginning of the sin is expressed in Romans 1:21, ‘They neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him although they knew God’.
The Sin of no glory and no gratitude to God progresses to idol worship and sexual impurity (Romans 1:22-25), unnatural sexual relations (Romans 1:26-27), and social sins (Romans 1:28-32).
When Jesus healed the ten men with leprosy, only one came back to thank him (=give praise to God) (Luke 17:11-18). Together with this example, today’s scripture teaches how important to thank God after receiving God’s grace and mercy.
The blaming, self-centred, self-preservation pattern of his former life
“The blaming, self-centred, self-preservation pattern of his former life continued after the healing as he turned from the Healer to investigators (the Jews) and reported Jesus to these authority figures.” [3]
See v12.
12 So they asked him, ‘Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?’
The Jewish leaders deliberately [4] didn’t ask the man about the healing. Nor did they praise God for the healing. But they looked for the identity of the man’s healer in order to persecute him (12).
“Their minds are fixed only on the supposed transgression, on this violation of their all-important traditions. For these Jews, Jesus is not the man who healed this great sufferer, who bestowed on him divine mercy, but a man who broke their traditions, who had to be punished.” [4]
Fortunately, or unfortunately, the man didn’t know who his healer was (13).
II. Continuing to sin may cause something worse
Later Jesus found the man at the temple and said to him, ‘See you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.’ (14)
V14 shows the man’s illness was caused by his sins. We studied the sins of the invalid man in section I. He was physically healed but showed problems in his attitude (11).
On the other hand, the born-blind man in John 9:1-41, whose misery was not caused by the sins but for displaying the work (or glory) of God, defended Jesus (John 9:30-33) and showed a good attitude (John 9:9, 25, 27, 38).
References
- The Holy Bible: New International Version. Anglicised. Revised and updated. ed. 2011: London: Hodder & Stoughton.
- Gangel, K.O., Holman New Testament Commentary: John. Vol. 4. 2000: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
- Borchert, G.L., The New American Commentary: John 1-11. 1996: Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
- Lenski, R.C.H., The Interpretation of St. John’s Gospel. Logos Research Edition ed. 1961, Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House.
Jesus changed the game. Start to live now.
John 5:1–9a [1]
Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralysed [—and they waited for the moving of the waters. 4From time to time an angel of the Lord would come down and stir up the waters. The first one into the pool after each such disturbance would be cured of whatever disease they had.] 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?’
7 ‘Sir,’ the invalid replied, ‘I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.’
8 Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’ 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
I. An invalid man in the game of the world (1-5)
It was one of the Jewish festivals (1) when people would enjoy themselves with their families, relatives and friends. But there were people who couldn’t enjoy it together. A great number of disabled people used to lie near a pool called Bethesda in Jerusalem – the blind, the lame, the paralysed (2, 3a).
When everyone was busy enjoying the festival, Jesus went to care for the most miserable people (1-6). Jesus considers that the person in difficulty is Jesus Himself (Matthew 25:31-46). He taught in Matthew 22:39, “Love your neighbour as yourself.”
Why were the disabled people there? See v3-4. They were waiting for the moving of waters (3b). Bethesda means ‘place of mercy’ [2]. From time to time an angel of the Lord would come down and stir up the waters (4a). The first one into the pool after each such disturbance would be cured of whatever disease they had (4b).
This is a picture of this world. Even if some people in this world may be physically OK but everyone has mental and spiritual problems. Also, people are competing for the same opportunities and only a limited number of people win the favour.
Who was there? See v5.
5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.
Based on the 36 years of his sickness, he might be one of the worst patients in that place.
II. Jesus, the healer and the game changer (6-9a)
When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time (6a), what did Jesus say to him? See v6b.
he asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?’
This man might have lost his hope for healing after being sick for such a long time (5) and repeated failure to enter the water first (7). “Do you want to get well?” was a kind voice of the Savior, giving him hope of healing. Today, Jesus asks us, “Do you want to get well?” even if we ourselves have given up and forgotten. It is because He loves us, and wants to give us hope and heal us.
What was his answer? See v7.
7 ‘Sir,’ the invalid replied, ‘I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.’
He was in abandonment [3]. Instead of saying ‘yes’, he replied with a long story of his repeated failure in the game of the pool. His answer included dependency, complaints, blame [3], and negativity [3] about no help from others. Are you negative and ready to blame others [3]? You may be a type of sinner in this scripture.
What is the response of Jesus? See v8.
8 Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’
Jesus commanded the man, “Get up!”. He didn’t say quietly. He didn’t give his hand to help him up. Instead, He exclaimed. Further, he asked him to pick up the mat that he was lying on, and walk.
What is the result of His command? See v9a.
9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
He was cured immediately. It was without having to wait for the moving of the waters. It was without having to compete with others to enter the water first. Jesus is the game changer.
Have you suffered any problems for a long time? Are you negative and ready to blame others? Jesus wants to heal you immediately without being limited by the rule of the game you are in. Start a new life in Jesus today.
References
- The Holy Bible: New International Version. Anglicised. Revised and updated. ed. 2011: London: Hodder & Stoughton.
- Easton’s Bible Dictionary.
- Borchert, G.L., The New American Commentary: John 1-11. 1996: Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
