John, Part 19
Series: The Messiah’s Confirmation, Part 4
John 5:16-30
- Welcome to Seasons – intro – thankful you are here today; dismiss children
- Continue our series: “The Messiah’s Confirmation” (part 4 of 6 today)
-- Purpose: Help us unpack teachings, miracles, & some incredible revelations
- As we study Ch 5, keep this in mind: Jesus has all authority from God
-- Many struggle with “hopelessness” … but hope (liberation) does exist!
-- Last week: healing of a man who was lame for 38yrs; annoyed Jewish leaders
- Read John 5:16-30 / Pray No points, 1 theme: The Messiah’s Deity (5 items)
1. The B I G Question – “Why do the religious persecute Jesus?” vv17-18
• He clearly reveals that God is His Father! – Rom 8:32
• He made Himself equal with God – Phil 2:6 – but He doesn’t hold onto it!!
- Difficult truth to concede: who He is matters more than who we want to be
-- APP: His conviction pushes people AWAY; why we refuse to repent of sin
-- We don’t want to hear that we are not in charge; that someone else rules over us
-- So in response, the religious (be careful 2025) commit to have Him killed
2. His Deity – Jesus is shown by God what/how to act, live, etc. vv19-20
• KNOW: He was in perfect community with God
• SEE: He was of the same nature of God
• REALIZE: He acted as God because He was God!
- Word that we must hear: OBEDIENCE; Greek: shama; listen / heed / submit
-- He did exactly what God said to do! God showed Him (Gen 1) and He lived it
-- How do I know? There was no delay in His reaction to do what God said!
3. His Claim – God is the only one who has the power to GIVE life v21
• If He wants, He can give life to a dead body – why? He is the Creator!
• He is not constrained, or restricted, or limited – all authority IS His!
• APP: So, Jesus does exactly what He sees His Father do: He gives life!
• Without His giving, there is NO real life to be had: this is temporary
4. His Authority – He has total control over life’s end result! vv22-23
• Being equal with God, He is given all authority to identify AND forgive sin
• See the words: v22: God judges no one – instead, he has given…
- WARNING: Judgment is final - there is no escape, think: Supreme Court
-- There is no undoing once pronounced; Only Jesus has authority v22b
-- This is why He is so vilified … it’s why (today) people don’t want Him
-- SEE: We want a version of Jesus that we approve of; which is of demonic roots
-- Jesus commands us to follow, change, and if we won’t – we WILL be judged!
- BIG: Authority to judge is given so that humanity would honor Him, alone!
-- The one who won’t honor the Son does NOT belong to the Father! – 1 John 2:23
- APP: How do we know who are His? They are truly, SAVED! vv24-25
• Given eternal life by the promise of Jesus spoken to us!
• They are saved by believing in these words (“…already passed…”)
5. His Effect – He was resurrected from the dead; He will raise others! v28
• Those who hear will never be condemned; because they belong to Him
• Eternal life is given as each passes from death INTO life; justified in Him!
• He comes to deliver us from the punishment owed: Romans 3:23; 6:23
- VERY IMP: He is given authority to judge because of who He is! v27
• He is the Son of Man, a title given ONLY to Jesus Christ; identify Himself
• The title that He used to settle the argument once forever (ref: I AM)
• GREEK: eimi; am, is - Huios; child, son - anthropos; man
- The religious (the legalistic; those who live with preferences first) ask: Who cares? Why does this matter? (Wisdom for application in today’s world)
We must decide how we will respond:
- SEE v29: If we will not repent, if we will not submit – JUDGMENT!
-- His judgment is Predetermined / it will be Precise / and it will be Perfect
-- Jesus obeys exactly what the Father says; He is NOT fooled by pretending
- He calls us to repent, to stop sinning, to worship & honor … or be judged!
-- This is not of me, or your fav devotional, or your fav podcast: it is from GOD!
-- SEE v30: I do nothing on my own; My judgment is “just” (dikaios; righteous)
- Pray
