Alliance Church
“The Father’s Son”
REVIEW
A most familiar Christmas carol asks a very important question; “What Child is this?” People though the ages have tried to speculate about this most significant figure in human history. Some have even tried to discredit his uniqueness.
I praise God for the written record from eyewitnesses to the life and ministry of Jesus. One of those witnesses was even someone from the inner circle of Jesus. John wrote so that all may come to believe and remain firm in their belief that Jesus is the Christ the son of the living God and in believing might experience genuine life through His name. He showed us his power over the elements of nature in Chapter 2 when he turned ordinary water to extraordinary wine. He highlighted his saving work in Chapter three in a conversation with Nicodemus.
In chapter 4 He brought us face to face with Jesus as the source of living water and eternal life. He affirmed the power of Christ to reverse the curse of sin with its consequences of disease, sickness and death in the last part of chapter 4 when he healed the little child of a government official and then chapter 5 when he completely healed a man unable to walk for 38 years. John illustrated how Jesus touched people from every walk of life.
He shows in his writing how people form all walks of life came to believe in him. He also shows, as he clearly indicated in his introductory chapter, that some would not receive Him.
This morning we look at some who reacted to the ministry of Jesus and His powerful answer to their objections.
Turning to John’s account in chapter 5 we see that not everyone responded positively to the miraculous demonstration of the Jesus’ ability to reverse the effects of sin on mankind. They also react to some clear bold claim made by Jesus concerning his relationship with God. After this clear demonstration of healing power, the religious leaders of the time scramble to discredit Jesus. They became so focused on the violation of their rules; they missed the wonder of a man’s release from a lifetime infirmity.
Now it was the Sabbath on that day. Therefore the Jews were saying to him who was cured, "It is the Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet." But he answered them, "He who made me well was the one who said to me, 'Take up your pallet and walk.'" They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, 'Take up your pallet, and walk'?" But he who was healed did not know who it was; for Jesus had slipped away while there was a crowd in that place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse may befall you." The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. And for this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. John 5:9-16
John records Jesus’ response to their objections concerning His work on the Sabbath.
“My Father is working and I am myself am working.” John 5:17
Jesus clearly communicates to the religious leaders that he followed a different set of rules than the set extra rules established by them through a misunderstanding of God’s original Sabbath command. He most emphatically asserted that His work on earth was a direct extension of the Father’s will and work. Jesus drew attention to the fact that His miracles and teaching demonstrated His divine origin and that He alone was the source of hope and eternal life. I think what irked the guy was the fact that Jesus did not function by their authority but the Father’s authority. The fact that he did not answer to them, the guardians of the religious world irritated them and even threatened them.
John indicates that these jaded Jews understood His claim perfectly.
For this cause therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. John 5:18
This wasn’t the only time Jesus irked the religious leaders by his Sabbath practice. His attitude was that God established the Sabbath for man’s benefit. It was to be a time set aside to focus on one’s devotion to God.
It was a time to help keep our focus and priorities in line and demonstrate to those around that we are God’s special people. From here now to the end of the chapter, John records Jesus’ extended answer to the Jews in which we find some compelling claims.
Having claimed equality with God in verse 17 Jesus continues to exert his authority to heal, anyone, anytime.
THE CLAIMS (What Child is this?)
Jesus claims partnership with the Father 19-20
Jesus therefore answered and was saying to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. "For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and greater works than these will He show Him, that you may marvel. John 5:19-20
We work together. We don’t operate on our own. Our relationship is so close that we do everything alike. I am only doing what the Father would do.
Jesus claims authority over life and death 21-29
The Father delegated authority of life and death, reward and judgment to the Son.
The delegation
"For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. "For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, John 5:21-22
The Purpose – all may honor the son as they do the Father (equal honor)
in order that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. John 5:23
The required response – honor, hear and believe
He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. John 5:24
Since the Father granted life and death, reward and judgment to the Son, it would be only logical that people should properly respond to the son. All those who hear and believe can expect: Eternal life not judgment. Pass from death to life.
The coming showdown
"Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear shall live. "For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. "Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment. John 5:25-29
The partnership applies to judgment
"I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. "If I alone bear witness of Myself, My testimony is not true. "There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the testimony which He bears of Me is true. John 5:30-32
We are one on this thing. These are not just empty claims. Pay attention to the witnesses.
THE WITNESSES
John the Baptist 33-35
"You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. "But the witness which I receive is not from man, but I say these things that you may be saved. "He was the lamp that was burning and was shining and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. John 5:33-35
The miraculous works 36
"But the witness which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish, the very works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. John 5:36
When John the Baptist became confused about the identity of Jesus he sent some of his disciples to ask Jesus if He was the chosen one. Jesus told them to think bout the works he had already done.
The Father 37-38
"And the Father who sent Me, He has borne witness of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. "And you do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent. John 5:37-38
These guys had no clue. They were not in touch with God. In fact, later Jesus clearly points out that not only were they not in tune with His father but they were operating by a different father, the devil.
The Scriptures 39-47
"You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me, that you may have life. "I do not receive glory from men; but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. "I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another shall come in his own name, you will receive him. "How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another, and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God? "Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. "For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote of Me. "But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?" John 5:39-47
What a powerful thing. Jesus appears from the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation. His work, His words, His purpose, His character all appear. Luke records a walking Bible study with two men on their way to Emmaus after the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus joins these two guys and keeps them from recognizing him at first and engages them in a conversation about Him.
And He said to them, "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! "Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?" And beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. Luke 24:25-27
What a study that must have been!
CONCLUSIONS
John bears testimony that Jesus was no ordinary man either by his observations or Jesus own declarations.
He affirmed his own claims by his works. The Father bore witness. The Scriptures bear witness. It is left to us to respond. We are left with a belief dilemma. Liar – Lunatic – Lord
If He is Lord, and He is, into the His hands lies the authority over life and death, reward and judgment.
One day every person that ever lived will face Jesus.
To those who hear and believe; eternal life.
To those who reject Him, death and judment.
But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, Romans 2:5
But there is an escape from the consequences of sin as surely as Jesus spoke healing to a little child and restored the limbs of a man crippled for 38 years.
For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; nor was it that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood not his own. Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. Hebrews 9:24-28
What will you do with Jesus? He is no longer a baby in the manger. He is the Father’s only begotten Son into whose hands lies both life and death. The Spirit brings conviction of sin based on the acceptance or rejection of Jesus. This eternal Son is now at the right hand of the majesty on high. The witness of John the Baptist, the works of Jesus, the testimony of the Father and the testimony of the Scriptures as to Jesus’ claims are clear.
Everyone must come face to face as Savior or Judge; the one who has the authority over life and death, reward and judgment!
If you honor Him you have eternal life and will not come into judgment but have passed (perfect) out of death into life.
What is this life all about?
It is an adoption and birth into the family of God. That makes us sons of God as well. That makes God our Father. This was quite a different concept than previously understood concerning relationship with God. The fact is, that some of the same things that witnessed the relationship of Jesus to the father also bear witness to our relationship with the Father.
The Father through the Holy Spirit bears testimony to our spirit that we are his children. Heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ to the point we cry out Abba Father.
The Scriptures declare both in the Old Testament and the New Testament as to our divine heritage.
Other believers serve to bear witness to our Sonship.
The works that we do on this earth in the power of the Holy Spirit and the name of Jesus bear witness that we are His children.
What about those works? Since we are Sons of God and God is our father, our response to him ought to be the same as the example of Jesus. What is our attitude toward God’s will and work? Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of God who sent me.” In other words, Jesus said, “The thing that gives me energy and sustains life is to wholeheartedly engage in the will of the Father.” I don’t do anything on my own initiative without checking with the Father. I do whatever I see the father doing.
Are we engaged in the work of the Father as Jesus? Jesus came to speak the words and work the works of the Father. What is the work we are sent to do? We are here to powerfully speak the words and passionately work the works of Jesus. Jesus tells the disciples later that greater works than these will you do.
"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father. "And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. John 14:12-13
What did Jesus come to do? What was the focus of His work? He came to demonstrate how to love and obey God. He came to demonstrate how to love and serve people. He came to demonstrate how to ruin the works of the devil and resist evil. He came to demonstrate how to seek and save the lost.
We are called to be ambassadors in a foreign land to urge people to become reconciled to God. It is our responsibility to continually discover new ways to get out the good news of reconciliation to all those who hunger for a restored relationship with God. Accomplishment of our part of the divine mandate will take radical commitment. I know you have heard me rant and rave on this before. That does not change the truth of the matter.
Development of a healthy church takes devotion to the things that really count.
Learning truth
Pursuing meaningful community.
Breaking bread in mutual commitment to the body.
Praying diligently for one another.
This is what drove the early church. This is the fuel that energized the mission. This is the foundation of healthy church growth. My desire is that we as a church focus on doing all we can to move people from where they are to where God wants them to be. As we enter the New Year, I challenge you to think seriously about your responsibility as children of the heavenly Father.
Is it your consuming passion to do the will of Him who sent you?
? Commit to becoming a passionate and faithful member of the team.
? Get involved in some aspect of ministry to the body.
? Cultivate meaningful relationships.
? Pray passionately for unity among us.
? Seek to learn all you can of the word through diligent study.
? Attend all the team meetings you can.
As we enter into the New Year, I also challenge you to develop a personal and family mission statement and vision statement. Adopt a Biblically based vision and mission statement that drives everything you do and who you wish to become. Develop a statement that stands at the core of all your decision-making as to where you spend your time and how you invest your resources. Develop and adopt a statement that will direct your time and resources to focus on the work of God.
What is that work? We are commissioned as children of the most high to powerfully speak the words and passionately work the works of Jesus.
? Consistently cultivating dynamic relationship with God. (Love and Obey God)
? Passionately pursuing meaningful community with others. (Love and serve people)
? Resolutely resisting evil.
? Effectively impacting our world for Christ (seek and save the lost).
With a specific mission statement in place, we are challenged to consistently ask ourselves at every turn, how this particular decision serves to further the mission God has called us to do? There may not be a great deal of time left to get in on the privilege of being faithful stewards of the multifaceted grace of God and hear that “Well done good and faithful steward.
