7 Clear Proofs

Let’s turn in our Bibles to John chapter 5, and as you’re turning you need to know this morning that there are really only 2 attitudes about Jesus Christ that the Bible recognizes. Either we reject Him or we bow to Him as Lord. Either He is Lord and King and God, or He is really nothing at all. You see there is no middle ground; in our lives, Jesus is Lord of all, or He’s not Lord at all. Either we believe that He has the right to reign and rule, and we are actively submitting to Him, or we are ruling over our own lives. That’s the only 2 positions there are.

In the passage we have before us this morning Jesus is going to present the Jews with proofs that He is Lord and God, and we will do well to study these together over the next several weeks, all the while examining whether He is our Lord and our God.

16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him. 17 Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working." 18 For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. 19 Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, 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. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. 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 honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. 24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. 25 I tell you the truth, 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 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 good will rise to live, and those who have done 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. John 5:16-30

Here we have the Astounding Authority of Jesus Christ presented to us. We are shown that He is Lord, He is Judge of all, equal to the Father, He has life in Himself and He gives life to whoever He pleases. Jesus is Lord.

Now the context of this passage is that Jesus had just healed a man who had been sick for 38 years, and the Jews were persecuting Him and wanting to kill Him because He had healed on the Sabbath. And Jesus answers their accusations by providing 7 proofs of His Lordship; of His right to do as He pleases. In essence, He is presenting His Deity, His Lordship to the Jews here. Let’s notice 7 proofs that Jesus is Lord.

Proof 1. Equal with God (v.17-18)

In verse 17 He calls God “My Father” not “our Father” (v.17), indicating His special and unique relationship to God. The Jews clearly understood (v.18) “not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.”

What conclusion should the Jews have drawn from what Jesus said? Just that He had the right to do whatever He pleases with anyone He pleases on any day of the week He pleases because He is equal with God. He made man, therefore He is Lord of man, and has the right to do with man whatever He pleases. Later He would say to the Jews, “Before Abraham was born, I Am.” Taking the very name of God, the Great I Am. He would say to Philip, “If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father.” Philippians 2:66 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.