My Father Is Always Working !
John 5:1-18
1. After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
3. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
4. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
5. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
6. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
7. The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
8. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
9. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
10. The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
11. He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.
12. Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?
13. And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.
14. Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
15. The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.
16. And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
17. But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
18. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
Our sermon this morning is going to be from V. 17. But before we deal with our subject I want us to look at the context surrounding this statement by our Lord.
In this great account from the life of our Lord we see.....
1. Pool of Miracles.
For many years the site of this pool was lost, covered with the debris of the centuries, but about 20 years ago it was discovered and excavated. The pool is located to the north part of the Temple Mount, near what is now called St. Stephen’s Gate, which is, in fact, the site of the Sheep Gate mentioned here. In these porches, set at various levels around the pool, during our Lord’s time it was the habit of many to gather during feast days, hoping for a healing miracle. (Ray Stedman)
Notice also if you would........
2. The People In Misery.
Those that gathered at this pool were a pitiful sight. They assembled on the five porches surrounding the pool with both hope, and hopelessness. They were....
a. diseased
b. disabled
c. disappointed
Why were they gathered at this pool ? Because to them it was there only hope. You see....they believed that from time to time a angel would stir the waters of this spring fed pool....and if one were able to be the first one into the pool after the angelic stirring that they would be healed ! Oh what a blessing it would have been to be able to get into the pool after the stirring of the waters.....but think of the disappointment of those still left in their dreaded condition.
However....let us not overlook.......
3. The Power of the Master
Jesus focuses his attention on one specific man who has been unable to walk for 38 years. As to how long he had been coming to the pool we have no idea, but it seems to have been quite some time because he tells Jesus that he has no one to help him into the pool and that before he can get there someone else always beats him to it ! Jesus responds to the man’s dilemma by telling him to "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk."
Then notice........
4. The Pharisees In This Matter.
a. Notice their religiousness.
These were the people in the know or thought themselves to be. What kind of response would you expect from people who supposedly knew the Lord ? Wouldn’t we expect rejoicing from them over the miraculous healing of this man ? Shouldn’t these religious leaders be down at the pool seeking to minister to the diseased, the disabled, and the disappointed ?
b. Notice Their ridicule.
They see a man who hasn’t walked in 38 years carrying that mattress that he had laid on for all those years....and what is their attitude ? They ridicule him for carrying his mattress on a Sunday. They are now trying to bind....to burden this man whom the Lord has just set free from an infirmity of almost four decades ! Religion is just enough to make you miserable, and those around you too !
The response of the healed man is that the one who made him whole told him to take up his bed and walk ! This man was simply being obedient to the one who had healed him ! I don’t know about you....but if I had been lame for 38 years, and were suddenly healed....I would have attempted to have carried a refrigerator down the road.....had I been told to do it !
c. Notice Their Reviling.
Pharisees: It’s that Jesus again ! He’s at it again....healing people on the sabbath.....stirring up trouble......defiling people ! Can you imagine such a attitude ? That’s what legalism will do for you ! The Lord will set you free.....Legalism will only bind you !
When they find Jesus, they begin to
revile him. The word "persecute" in V 16 carries with the idea of both pursuing and persecution. They pursued him.and when they found him.....did they embrace him, and ask for his deliverance.....did they pray for the afflicted in their family that the Lord would set them free........Absolutely not !
They begin to persecute him.....to revile him....and seek ways in which they can slay him !
I love the response of Jesus in V. 17 and it is from this text that I want to preach this morning. "But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. " What is Jesus saying ? "Like Father, like Son". He says my father has been working up until this point, and this place, and so do I.
Remember that he is "Lord of the Sabbath".....he is not ruled by the sabbath. Jesus is basically saying that My Father has always been at work in every place, and does so til now !
God never ceases to work ! Aren’t you glad ? He’s working even when we’re not aware of it !
If God Went On Strike
If only once He ’ d give up and said
That’ s it! I ’ m through !
I ’ ve had enough of those on earth
So this is what I ’ ll do
Then just to make things really tough
and put the pressure on
Turn off the vital oxygen
until every breath is gone !
Then God, and yet He carries on
supplying you and me
with all the favors of His grace
and everything for free
We don ’ t care whom we hurt
to gain the things we like
but what a mess we ’ d all be in
If God Should Go On Strike
author unknown
Let me share some points with you this morning about God’s working !
I. God Continues To Work In The Hearts Of People.
a. To Produce Salvation.
God’s work is unceasing.....his love unchanging.
Heb. 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.
Though our society is becoming increasingly immoral, and ungodly. He still works to bring salvation to lost souls. He works with patience in the heart of people.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promse, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Illust. Bernard Kendrick
Illust. An atheist & a minister were standing in a long shopping queue. The atheist, looking at the minister’s dog collar, says "I don’t believe in God." The minister, at first taken aback by this comment out of the blue, says "Really, I do. But listen, if you don’t believe in God, tell me what the God you don’t believe in is like." "What do you mean. I don’t believe in God." "Yes" the minister continues, "but you must have some concept of what the God you reject is supposed to be like...in the minds of people who do believe" The atheist sees his point. "I don’t believe in a God way up there in heaven while there’s all this pain down here on earth. He could stop it all but he doesn’t do a thing. He’s supposed to be all loving but he obviously doesn’t care about anybody but himself. That’s the God I don’t believe in." "That’s good" says the minister. "I wouldn’t believe in that sort of God either. The God I believe in is nothing like that at all."
Source: unknown.
Aren’t you glad that God is concerned about what is going on in the world, and continues to work in the hearts of men, and women, boys and girls to bring them into a relationship with him.
Joh 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
b. To Produce Sanctification.
God is working in the hearts of those that have by repentance and faith rec’d his salvation to bring about sanctification. He wants us to grow in the grace and knowledge of his Son. He does not want our relationship to become stale, and stagnant....neither dry, and dormant.....but vibrant, and victorious
c. To Produce Service.
God is working in our lives to produce fruit. Though saved by grace through faith, we are created unto good works
II. God Continues To Work In Hearing Our Prayers !
Joke: A small child attended church with his parents. When he knelt to say his prayers before going to bed that night, he prayed: "Dear Lord, we had a good time at church today. I wish You could have been there!"
Joke: Seven-year-old George came out with a loud shrill whistle during the minister’s prayer one Sunday morning. After church, his mother scolded him and asked, "Son, whatever made you do such a thing?" I asked God to teach me to whistle, and He did just then, " answered the boy.
Danny Dutton, age 8, from Chula Vista, California, for his third grade homework assignment to "Explain God."
"One of God’s main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth."
"He doesn’t make grown-ups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way, He doesn’t have to take up His valuable time teaching them to talk and walk, He can just leave that to mothers and fathers."
"God’s second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times besides bedtime."
Jer 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
Deut. 4:7 For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for ?
Psa 145:18-19 The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.
Psa 121:4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
Psa 18:6 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.
Heb. 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
At times our prayers might seem to be falling on deaf ears, but Jesus ever lives to make intercession for us. God is still at work in hearing our prayers ! Her ears are bent in our direction waiting to hear from us ! God still works in hearing, and answering the prayers of his children !
III. God Continues To Work In Heaven By Preparing.
Jn 14:2-3 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Just think of it.....God is working preparing a place for those he has saved, and for those for which he is soon coming.....and ohh what a place it is !
1 Cor 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Rev 22:1-3 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river was there the tree of life......" And there shall be no more curse:........."
Rev. 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be nor more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Heaven will be more than we could ever imagine, and envision.....and so much more. Jesus will be there......friends, and families gone before us who were saved await us there. It will be absent of the things that cause us pain here. There will be no more tears or crying or sorrow ! All pain will cease throughout eternity !
God is preparing for us another world to sing in.....a place beyond our wildest dreams.....Are you prepared ?
IV. God Continues To Work In The Harvest By Pleading.
Matt 9:37-38 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.
The harvest belongs to the Lord.....but he is pleading for partners who will serve, and work gathering the harvest.
God is working in our hearts this morning pleading that we will go and work in his fields.....bringing others to him !
V. God Continues To Work At His House With Power !
The same power that fell on the early believers on the day of Pentecost is still available today. It empowered them, and enabled them to fulfil the great task of reaching the unsaved world with the Gospel. The fulness of the Spirit is still available to us today. It is not only available but essential if we are to do his work !
Eph5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit;
Why search for substitutes, and imitations through programs, and plans...conferences, and seminars when we can have the old-time power of the Spirit of God that moves people !
God is still working today ! He works unceasingly on and for our behalf. Is God working in your heart this morning ? Is he calling you to come to him, and confess him as Lord and Savior ? Is he calling you to come and help him in his work by becoming a member of this church, and becoming a part of what the Lord is doing here ? Are you longing for the power of God upon your life ? Do you need the filling of the Holy Spirit ? God is still working today !
