Everyone Should Honor Jesus Christ as God
The Gospel of John
John 5:15-23
Sermon by Rick Crandall
Grayson Baptist Church - August 21, 2016
(Revised July 27, 2019)
SCRIPTURE:
*In tonight’s Scripture, the Jewish rulers charged Jesus with two very serious crimes. These charges grew out of the amazing miracle of healing that Jesus performed at the Bethesda Pool in Jerusalem. So let me begin by reading the story of this healing in vs. 1-15:
1. After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches.
3. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.
4. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.
5. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.
6. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?''
7. The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.''
8. Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk.''
9. And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.
10. The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, "It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.''
11. He answered them, "He who made me well said to me, 'Take up your bed and walk.' ''
12. Then they asked him, "Who is the Man who said to you, 'Take up your bed and walk'?''
13. But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place.
14. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.''
15. The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
*With this miracle story in mind, let’s read what happened next in vs. 15-23. And as we read, we will see that everyone should honor Jesus Christ as God.
BACKGROUND:
*Jesus Christ is righteous and holy! -- Spotless, perfect, pure! The Lord never sinned even once in thought or word or deed. He never sinned, and He never will! But there were some times when Jesus pled guilty, and this was one of those times.
[1] SO WE MUST UNDERSTAND THE RULERS' ACCUSATIONS.
*Their accusations were extremely serious in that day, and we see this truth in vs. 15-16, where God's Word says:
15. The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
16. For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.
*When the rulers found out that Jesus healed the sick man on the Sabbath Day, they tried to kill Jesus, and this wasn't the only time. But we need to remember that Jesus never disobeyed God's commands. He only disobeyed the man-made laws that the Pharisees had added to God's law.
*William Barclay explained that they made religion a thing of thousands of petty rules and regulations. And that's how it became an intolerable burden for people. Barclay also gave this good test for religion: "Does it make wings to lift a man up, or a weight to drag him down? Does it make joy or depression? Is a man helped or is he haunted by his religion? Does it carry him, or does he have to carry it?" (1)
*The Pharisees had distorted God's law with an impossible load of man-made rules and regulations. For example, in Jeremiah 17:21, "Thus says the Lord: 'Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day.'"
*So a burden had to be defined, and it was defined as "food equal in weight to a dried fig, enough wine for mixing in a goblet, milk enough for one swallow, honey enough to put upon a wound, water enough to moisten an eye-salve," and so on.
*Then they had to settle questions like this: Could a woman wear a brooch on the Sabbath? Could a man wear a wooden leg or dentures? -- Or would it be carrying a burden to do so? Could a chair or even a child be lifted on the Sabbath Day?" (2)
*On and on the regulations went. And the consequences for disobeying the Pharisees' rules could be deadly. Not too long after this incident, the Lord healed another man on the Sabbath Day. One place we see this story is in Mark's Gospel. There the Lord strongly rebuked the hard-hearted Pharisees, and again they plotted to kill Jesus.
*Please listen to this Scripture from Mark 3:1-6:
1. And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand.
2. And they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him.
3. Then Jesus said to the man who had the withered hand, "Step forward.''
4. And He said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?'' But they kept silent.
5. So when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand.'' And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.
6. Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.
*That word "destroy" means to "abolish," "destroy fully" or "kill" someone. Healing on the Sabbath Day was a serious charge. But the second charge was even more serious.
*Please listen again to vs. 15-18:
15. The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
16. For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.
17. But Jesus answered them, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.''
18. Therefore the Jews sought ALL THE MORE TO KILL HIM, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, MAKING HIMSELF EQUAL WITH GOD.
*So, what were the charges against Jesus? First, that He broke God's Law of the Sabbath Day, which was not true. The second charge was that Jesus said God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.
[2] THOSE WERE THE LEADERS’ ACCUSATIONS. BUT ALSO LOOK AT THE LORD’S ANSWER.
*Jesus begin to answer the Jewish rulers in vs. 19-23:
19. Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.
20. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.
21. For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.
22. For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son,
23. that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
MESSAGE:
*It may seem strange to put it this way, but Jesus pleaded guilty to that second charge! Jesus made Himself equal with God, because He IS God! And so, we should honor Jesus as God.
*As Jesus said in vs. 23, "All should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him." Everyone in the world should honor Jesus Christ as God!
1. THE FIRST REASON WHY IS BECAUSE NO MAN CAN SEE LIKE JESUS SEES.
*This is God's truth for us in vs. 19, where Jesus said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner."
[1] THIS SCRIPTURE TELLS US THAT JESUS COULD SEE INTO HEAVEN!
*And yes, on earth, Jesus was fully man, but He was also fully God. And in a miraculous way that we cannot understand, Jesus could see into Heaven.
*The Lord reinforced this truth in similar verses. For example, in John 1:18, Jesus said: "No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him." In John 3:13, Jesus said, "No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven." And speaking of Himself in John 6:46 Jesus said, "Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father."
[2] JESUS COULD SEE INTO HEAVEN. HE CAN ALSO SEE INTO OUR HEARTS.
*Back up in vs. 6, before Jesus healed the man, the Scripture says: "When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, 'Do you want to be made well?'''
*Jesus knew that this man had been terribly sick for 38 years. Actually, Jesus knew all about him, just like in John 4, the Lord knew all about the Samaritan woman who had been married 5 times. That's why in John 4:29, she witnessed by saying, "Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?''
*Jesus knew all about them, and He knows all about us. God's Word strongly affirms this truth in many places. For example, John 2:23-25, says this about Jesus:
23. Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did.
24. But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men,
25. and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.
*Matthew 9:1-7 says:
1. So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city.
2. And behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.''
3. And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, "This Man blasphemes!''
4. But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?
5. For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise and walk'?
6. But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins'' then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.''
7. And he arose and departed to his house.
*Matthew 12:22-28 says:
22. Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.
23. And all the multitudes were amazed and said, "Could this be the Son of David?''
24. But when the Pharisees heard it they said, "This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.''
25. But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.
26. And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?
27. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges.
28. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.
*Jesus, knew their thoughts, And He knows our thoughts too. He really can see into our hearts.
2. WE SHOULD HONOR JESUS AS GOD, BECAUSE NO MAN CAN SEE LIKE HE SEES, ALSO BECAUSE NO MAN CAN DO WHAT JESUS DOES.
*We see this truth in vs. 19-21, where God's Word says:
19. Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.
20. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.
21. For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.
[1] NOTICE HERE THAT JESUS DOES GOD'S WORKS
*In vs. 19, "Jesus answered and said to them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.'"
*God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit all work together as one throughout all eternity. Remember that in the opening verses of his Gospel, John stressed the Lord's role in creation. There he called Jesus "the Word," and said:
1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2. He was in the beginning with God.
3. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (John 1:1-3)
*John 1:10 also says this about Jesus: "He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him."
*The preincarnate Christ was also the great "I AM," Jehovah, LORD God who revealed Himself and worked throughout the Old Testament. For example, in Exodus 14, it was the LORD who parted the Red Sea for the Children of Israel to pass safely through. It was the LORD who miraculously fed the Children of Israel in the wilderness for forty years.
*And we know that Jesus is the great "I AM," because of what He said in John 8. There Jesus was speaking to some unbelieving Jews who asked:
53. "Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Whom do You make Yourself out to be?''
54. Jesus answered, "If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God.
55. Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, 'I do not know Him,' I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word.
56. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.''
57. Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?''
58. Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.''
*Jesus Christ did the works of God, because He is God, one with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. That's why here in John 5, Jesus was able to miraculously heal a man who had not been able to walk for 38 years!
*Another great example of the Lord's power is in Mark 1:32-24. There, Jesus was in Capernaum, and:
32. . . at evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed.
33. And the whole city was gathered together at the door.
34. Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.
[2] JESUS DOES GOD'S WORKS, AND SAID HE WOULD DO GREATER WORKS.
*In vs. 20 Jesus said: "For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him GREATER works than these, that you may marvel."
*Jesus went on to calm the storms, raise the dead, and walk on water! He went on to do so many miracles that John 21:25, says: "There are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written."
*Jesus said He would do greater works! And for us today this means that no matter what we have seen Jesus do, the best is still to come! Praise the Lord!
[3] JESUS DOES GREATER WORKS. AND HE DOES GRACE WORKS.
*In vs. 21, Jesus said, "For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will." Jesus Christ has the power to give His everlasting life, and this is His greatest work for us. But the only way He could do it was through the mercy and grace of the cross. The only way Jesus could give us eternal life was to give up His life on the cross for our sins!
*Again, Jesus never sinned even once. Instead, He died on the cross for every sinful thing we have ever thought, said and done. Jesus took the punishment for every single one of our sins. But thank God! -- He rose again from the dead!
*Now Jesus will give everlasting life to everyone who will believe in Him enough to receive Him as their Lord and Savior. As Jesus said in John 11:25-26: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. . ."
*Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and He will give you His life that lasts forever!
3. EVERYONE SHOULD HONOR JESUS AS GOD, BECAUSE NO MAN CAN DO WHAT HE DOES. AND NO MAN CAN JUDGE LIKE JESUS JUDGES.
*We see this truth in vs. 22-23, where Jesus said:
22. For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son,
23. that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
*The great irony in this story is that these Jewish rulers were trying to judge Jesus. They were even trying to condemn Him to death. But they were the ones in the greatest danger of judgment. They were standing before the real Supreme Court! They were standing before the Judge of all judges. And His judgment is inevitable for "the Father has committed all judgment unto the Son."
*The Apostle Peter affirmed this truth in Acts 10:39-43, where he said:
39. . . "We are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree.
40. Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly,
41. not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.
42. And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ORDAINED BY GOD TO BE JUDGE OF THE LIVING AND THE DEAD.
43. To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission (or forgiveness) of sins.''
*Jesus Christ is the Judge of all. The Apostle Paul agreed in Romans 14:9-12. There Paul said this to all Christians:
9. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
10. But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
11. For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.''
12. So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.
*Christians: We are saved from hell by the Blood of the Lamb, but that doesn't mean we won't give an account to the Lord. As Christians, we must all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ.
*His judgment is inevitable, and it is infallible. Jesus never makes a mistake! We can always count on Him to do the right thing.
CONCLUSION:
*Everyone in the world should honor Jesus Christ as God.
-Because no man can see like Jesus sees.
-No man can do what Jesus does.
-And no man can judge like Jesus judges.
*The bottom line is that we should, we must honor Jesus Christ as the Lord God Almighty. Let's honor the Lord tonight, as we go back to God in prayer.
(1) Adapted from BARCLAY'S DAILY BIBLE STUDY SERIES (NT) by William Barclay, Revised Edition Copyright 1975 - Edinburgh, Scotland. The Westminster Press, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - "Making Religion A Burden" - Matthew 23:1-4
(2) Adapted from BARCLAY'S DAILY BIBLE STUDY SERIES (NT) by William Barclay, Revised Edition Copyright 1975 - Edinburgh, Scotland. The Westminster Press, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - "The Man Who Came by Night - John 3:1-6)
