Guilty or Not Guilty
Fortifying the Foundations # 13
John 5:16-47[1]
8-3-03
Intro:
I want you to come with me to a courtroom this morning.
There with the prosecution at this table[2] are a number of well-dressed men. They are well known in the community, experts in the law and highly respected leaders.
Over at the defense table is one man. He has friends but they are not community leaders. Most are uneducated workers with limited knowledge of the law. The defendant is defending himself. Two indictments have been brought against him. Both are capital offenses carrying the death penalty.[3]
I invite you to participate in the proceedings as the jury.
Judge: Is the prosecution ready to present your case to the court?
Prosecutor: We are, your honor.
Judge: You may proceed.
Prosecutor: Indictment #1, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, is a flagrant violation of penal code 35.2 of Exodus, which reads, “For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a Sabbath of rest to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it must be put to death.”
We call the court’s attention to a precedent setting case known as “The State verses Joseph Stickgatherer”. That case, found in Num 15.32 through 36 is hereby read into the court record:
“While the Israelites were in the desert, a man was found gathering wood on the
Sabbath day. 33Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and
Aaron and the whole assembly, 34and they kept him in custody, because it was
not clear what should be done to him. 35Then the LORD said to Moses, "The man
must die. The whole assembly must stone him outside the camp." 36So the
assembly took him outside the camp and stoned him to death, as the LORD
commanded Moses.” NIV
The specific events of the violation before the court today concerns a command given by the defendant to Mr. Poolside Matcarrier to pick up his mat and carry it on the Sabbath day. As our first witness we call to the stand Mr. Poolside Matcarrier.
Bailiff: Rev. Rigidlaw, raise your hand. Do you swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. So help you God?
Witness: I do.
Bailiff: You may be seated.
Prosecutor: Mr. Matcarrier, please tell the court in your own words what occurred during the resent Passover festivities on the morning of April 13th.
Witness: Well, as I have done for several years, I positioned myself as close to the Pool of Bethesda as I could possibly get waiting for the waters to be troubled.
Prosecutor: And why was that important to you?
Witness: I had been an invalid for thirty-eight years and I would always come there hoping to be the first in the Pool and be healed of my terrible affliction. Not having anyone to help me in, I had never made it into the pool in time. But on this particular day a stranger walked up to me and asked me a very strange question.”
Prosecutor: And Mr. Matcarrier, what did he ask you?
Witness: He asked me if I wanted to get well. I explained to him the disappointment I had experienced over and over during recent years and then an amazing thing happened.
Prosecutor: And what was that, Mr. Matcarrier?
Witness: He looked into my eyes with the most moving look of love and compassion you could ever imagine and simply said to me, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk”. That was the most beautiful moment in all my life. To my own surprise I did what he told me to do and in the process I was completely healed. It was so wonderful to walk again. Tears of joy just flowed down my cheek and...”
Prosecutor: Yes, yes, ok—but tell me, Mr. Matcarrier, did you carry you mat on the Sabbath day?
Witness: Well, yes I did but let me tell you how this whole experience changed my life.
Prosecutor: Mr. Matcarrier, just answer the questions. Is this the mat that you carried that day?
Witness: Yes.
Prosecutor: We submit this very used mat as exhibit number one.
Judge: The mat will be designated as exhibit number one.
Prosecutor: Now, can you identify the man who told you to so flagrantly violate the Sabbath law?
Witness: Well yes, at first I didn’t even know his name. Can you imagine that—not even thinking to ask him his name? But later when I was at the temple he found me and that’s when I learned who he was. It was at the temple he addressed the very cause of my affliction and warned me not to fall back into the iniquity that got me into trouble in the first place. You know, I knew exactly what he was talking about. Years ago I...”
Prosecutor: Mr., Matcarrier, Mr. Matcarrier, is the man who told you to carry your mat on the Sabbath day in this courtroom?
Witness: Yes he is.
Prosecutor: Would you point him out for the jury, please?
Witness: It is the defendant, Jesus.
Prosecutor: Thank you Mr. Matcarrier, no further questions.
Judge: Does the defense have any questions?
Defendant: No, your honor.
Judge: The prosecution may call your next witness.
Prosecutor: Indictment #2 refers to an incident that occurred as the accused was being questioned concerning the breaking of the Sabbath. This indictment charges the accused with violation of Penal Code 24.16 of Leviticus, which says, “Anyone who blasphemes the name of the LORD must be put to death. The entire assembly must stone him. Whether an alien or native-born, when he blasphemes the Name, he must be put to death.” NIV[4]
We call to the stand The Most Reverend Ananias Rigidlaw.
Bailiff: Rev. Rigidlaw, raise your hand. Do you swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. So help you God?
Witness: I do.
Bailiff: You may be seated.
Prosecutor: Rev. Rigidlaw, please describe to the court the kind of work you do.
Witness: I am a professional Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin.
Prosecutor: And is it not true that last year you were the recipient of the prestigious Nobel Prize for scriptural analysis.
Witness: Yes, I was humbled to receive that honor.
Prosecutor: So you would be considered an authority on the laws of Sabbath-breaking and blasphemy?
Witness: Yes, I hold a Ph.D. in both Sabbath Studies and Jewish Reverence Law.
Prosecutor: Please tell the court what happened when you and your associates confronted the defendant concerning his Sabbath-breaking activates.
Witness: Well to our surprise instead of denying the accusation, the defendant claimed special privilege as one working in equality with God. His very words which are recorded for the record in John 5:17 were “My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I, too, am working.” Of course, by calling God his own Father he has clearly made himself equal with God! We were shocked to hear such blasphemy coming out of this man’s mouth.
Prosecutor: Thank you Rev. Rigidlaw. I have no further questions.
Judge: Would the defense like to cross-examine the witness?
Defendant: No questions.
Prosecutor: The prosecution calls to the stand Mr. Merchant Swindler.
Bailiff: Mr. Swindler, raise your hand. Do you swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. So help you God?
Witness: I do.
Bailiff: You may be seated.
Prosecutor: Mr. Swindler, you’re a businessman, are you not?
Witness: Yes, for many years I have served the public by providing money exchange at the temple here in Jerusalem.
Prosecutor: And could you tell the court what you experienced during last year’s Passover feast at the temple?
Witness: Well, like many other merchants I was working my station there at the temple and suddenly I heard a commotion going on about 30 feet from me. When I looked up I saw the defendant turning over tables, creating all kinds of disruption, and shouting, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market.”[5]
Prosecutor: And Mr. Swindler, what did you do at that time?
Witness: I grabbed my cash box and got out of there as fast as I could. He was headed toward me!
Prosecutor: And Mr. Swindler, did you understand the defendant to be referring to God when he said the temple was his Father’s house?”
Witness: Yes, I did. In fact, I overheard some of the temple priests questioning him concerning those outlandish claims.
Prosecutor: So in that incidence you clearly heard the defendant refer to God as his father?
Witness: Yes.
Prosecutor: No further questions.
Judge: Any questions from the defense?
Defendant: No, your honor.
Judge: Does the prosecution have other witnesses for the court?
Prosecutor: No, your honor.
Judge: The defense may now present your case. Are you sure, Jesus, that you want to
act in your own defense?
Defendant: Yes, your honor.
Judge: You may proceed.
Defendant: Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, my plea concerning both charges is “not guilty” on the basis of my relationship with Father God. I do not deny claiming equality with God the Father. In fact, I affirm that reality as my defense.
Therefore I will begin with several statements of clarification concerning my relationship with Father God.
1st concerning the Father’s work, my Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.[6] The healing of this man at the Pool was a work I did in cooperation with my Father’s will. I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can only do what he sees the Father doing.[7]
Its not that I am incapable of acting alone, I simply cannot do it because of my love and commitment to the Father. Let me illustrate what I mean in this way. What if someone asked this usher, Dave Myers[8], to take $ 200 cash out of the offering this morning and spit it with him. Dave would immediately say, “I can’t do that”. It wouldn’t mean it was a physical impossibility. It would mean it is a moral impossibility because of who Dave is.[9]
So you see whatever the Father does the Son also does.[10] We always act in perfect unity.
I do not deny equality with the Father in His work. It is the Father’s delight to share His work with me.
2nd concerning knowledge, the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does.[11] I hide nothing from the Father. The Father hides nothing from me. We share completely in knowledge. In this I also confess equality with the Father.
3rd concerning power, 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.[12] In this you ought to rejoice—to know that I have come that you may have life.[13] I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except by me.[14] Do you see the authority that I have in my relationship with the Father? Do you see the opportunity that brings to you and your loved ones? The Father and I are one in power.
4th concerning judgment, know that the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son.[15] Now I know that you have long realized that every one will give an account of himself unto God. But you have not understood how that judgment will take place. I have been given this authority because I am the Son of Man.[16] As Son of God I know you. Also as Son of Man I have been tempted in every way you could possibly be tempted yet have remained sinless.[17] I know thoroughly the human experience. I judge righteously because my judgments are not mine alone but are in full accord with the Father.[18]
A time is coming when all who are in their grave will hear my voice and come out. Those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.[19] Be careful as to which group you find yourself in. The good deeds do not in themselves earn anyone eternal life. That is only something my Father and I can give.[20] But the good works are the result of the life we give. Those deeds are firm evidence of the heart’s condition. Just as evil works are evidence of an evil heart.
In judgment my Father and I are one.
5th concerning honor, this entrustment of judgment was given me by my Father 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.[21] Now I am leaving no room for misunderstanding when I make that statement. I did not say, “He who does not honor the Father does not honor the Son”—although that is true. But had I said it in that order you might conclude that there is some way to honor God without honoring the Son, some way to get to the Father and bypass the Son. To attempt to climb up to God some other way is to dishonor the Son and to dishonor the Father,[22] for the Father is the one who has sent the Son.
Do you see the equality of the Godhead concerning this issue of honor? Yes, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each have a role, a function, in the Trinity. But in the perfect unity of the triune God there is perfect equality of honor as God. God is one in power, one in honor, one in knowledge, one in life and love. The perfection of unity is found in the perfection of equality.
6th concerning life, I tell you as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself.[23] The Father delights in this reality. The Father’s life is “in himself.” It is not derived from any other source. The life each of you enjoys is life that comes from the Godhead. It is borrowed life. It does not emanate from you. You receive it from the Father and I. Just as the Father’s life is “in himself” so also my life is in and from myself. It is not two competing life sources, but one because the Father and I are in perfect unity.[24] This is another example of my equality with the Father.
7th concerning purpose,[25] I want you to know I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.[26] This utter abandonment to the will of another is why there is perfect unity in the Trinity.
The Father’s will is lost in my will. My will is lost in His will. The will of the Holy Spirit is equally so. There is only one will of God not three competing wills. I give myself entirely to the will of the Father and delight to do so. Therefore the works that I do are not just my will but the will of the Father as well. If you condemn my works you are in fact condemning the Father’s will.
As you can see, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I do not deny equality with the Father. I have taken the time to explain that equality to you in no uncertain terms because that is why I can say to this man “Pick up your mat and walk.” That is why I can say, “My Father and I are working”.
Prosecution: Objection, your honor. This man is simply bearing witness to himself. That is not a validate defense in this court.
Defendant: If I testify about myself my testimony is not valid in your eyes.[27] It is nevertheless a true testimony. In fact, if I denied my equality with the Father that would be false testimony. But your law does require two or three witness as it is written in Penal Code 19.15 of Deuteronomy, “One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”
So I call my first witness to the stand, John the Baptist.
I call John because you are the ones that sent to John for his testimony[28] a year ago. He testified concerning me at that time.
Bailiff: John the Baptist, raise your right hand. Do you swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. So help you God?
Witness: I always have. Of course, I do.
Bailiff: You may be seated.
Defendant: John would you tell the court who I am?
Witness: You are the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. The Father identified you to me on the day of your baptism because it was that day that I saw the Holy Spirit descend upon you in the form of a dove –and remain! That was the sign God had given me so I would know who you are. You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
Defendant: No further questions.
Judge: Would the Prosecution like to cross-examine this witness?
Prosecution: No, we would like to cut off his head.
What did you say, Prosecutor?
Your honor, I said, “No, we understood completely what he said.”
Judge: Does the defense have any more witnesses?
Defendant: I have testimony weightier than that of John.[29] I gave you[30] John’s witness to accommodate your need, not mine. I am not dependent upon the testimony of any man. But because you received him for a time I gave you that witness.[31]
Just so there is no question about the truth in this matter I refer you to three other witnesses that are greater than any human voice.
1st the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me.[32] If you won’t believe me because I tell you, then believe me because of the works you see me do. Are they not the works of God? Can any man do these works if God is not with him?[33] And are not these works consistent with the nature of God. I did not come to condemn the world but that the world might be saved. I did not come to destroy life but to give life. The healing of this man at the Pool of Bethesda, was it a good work or a bad work? Was it to save life or to destroy life? The works themselves declare who I am. This man who is made well is himself evidence for the case.
2nd and most importantly, the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me.[34]
You say I am a blasphemer because I tell you I am equal with Him. But He says, “This is my Son whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”[35] Do you receive His testimony?
I give you one other witness before I close.
You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me.[36] Will you receive that testimony? You claim to be followers of Moses. But if you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.[37] The Scriptures you so diligently study bear witness to who I am.
I do not present these witness so that I can have your approval.[38] I present them so that you might believe and have eternal life.[39] I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life.[40] I rest my case.
Judge: Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you have heard the accusations made against this man. You have heard his defense. You must decide whether this man is guilty as charged or not guilty because of his relationship with God the Father. Your instruction is to bring either a verdict declaring this man to be a Sabbath-breaking blasphemer or a truth-telling Savior. He is either Liar or Lord!
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John 5:16-6:1
16So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him. 17Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working." 18For 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. 19Jesus 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. 20For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. 21For 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. 22Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23that 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. 25I 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. 26For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. 27And 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 29and come out-those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. 30By 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.
31"If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid. 32There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is valid.
33"You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. 34Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. 35John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.
36"I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me. 37And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. 39You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
41"I do not accept praise from men, 42but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. 43I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?
45"But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. 46If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. 47But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?" NIV
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[1] John 5:16-47 was read earlier in the service as the text and is provided at the end of this sermon for the reader’s convenience.
[2] A table was set at each side of the platform so that the minister could stand at the prosecution table when speaking the prosecution’s words and at the defense table when speaking the words from the defense. A witness chair and a judges’ chair were also set up for similar purposes. Although in this presentation the minister spoke all the parts using physical gestures and vocal tones to indicate change of speaker. It is recommended that perhaps the judge, bailiff, and witnesses parts be spoken by others while the minister does the prosecutor and defendant parts.
[3] International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Electronic Database Copyright (c)1996 by Biblesoft under the heading of Punishments confirms Sabbath-breaking and Blasphemy as offenses that carry the death penalty.
[4] Time would not allow an interaction in which prosecutor tries to use State verses Naboth as precedent setting case for the death penalty and judge disallows it because a mistrial was later declared because of bribes given to the witnesses by Queen Jezebel (1Kings 21).
[5] John 2:16 NIV
[6] John 5:17 NIV
[7] John 5:19 NIV
[8] Dave Myers is one of the ushers sitting in the congregation who was known by most of the people there.
[9] The idea of this illustration was taken from Ray Stedman’s sermon entitled “The Secret of Jesus” which can be found at http://www.pbc.org/dp/stedman/john/index.html
[10] John 5:19 NIV
[11] John 5:20 NIV
[12] John 5:21 NIV
[13] John 10:10 NIV
[14] John 14:6 NIV
[15] John 5:22 NIV
[16] John 5:27 NIV
[17] Hebrews 4:15 NIV
[18] John 5:30 NIV
[19] John 5:28-29 NIV
[20] John 5:21, 24 NIV
[21] John 5:23 NIV
[22] John 10:1 NIV
[23] John 5:26 NIV
[24] Leon Morris, Reflections on the Gospel of John, Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody, Massachusetts, 2000, pp 189-190.
[25] The seven categories of equality in this text are adapted from Ivor Powell, John’s Wonderful Gospel, (Grand Rapids: Kregel Publishing, 1983), p. 129.
[26] John 5:30 NIV
[27] John 5:31 NIV
[28] John 5:33 NIV
[29] John 5:32 NIV
[30] Jesus is addressing the prosecution. Time does not allow the exposition of his charges against them as recorded in John 5:37-47.
[31] John 5:34-35 NIV
[32] John 5:36 NIV
[33] John 3:2 NIV
[34] John 5:37 NIV
[35] Matthew 3:17 NIV
[36] John 5:39 NIV
[37] John 5:46 NIV
[38] John 5:41 NIV
[39] John 20:31 NIV
[40] John 5:24 NIV
Richard Tow
Grace Chapel Foursquare Church
Springfield, MO
www.gracechapelchurch.org
