John, chapter 5

• NIV John 5:1 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews.

John, chapter 5

• Which feast???• John may have purposely left out this

information because it was not pertinent to his message. Instead, by simply mentioning Jesus was attending a feast, he lets his audience know why the Savior left Galilee, and, more importantly, lets them know that a feast in Jerusalem meant the city and temple would be filled to capacity with people from throughout the region.

Fourth Gospel and Jewish Worship by Aileen Guilding

• University of Sheffeld prof.

• She shows how ancient 3 year Jewish lectionary is followed by John.

• This feast would correspond with Feast of Trumpets and readings of restoration as the purpose of the Sabbath, looking forward to the Last Day when the Trumpet of the Lord sounds.

John, chapter 5

• The Feast of Trumpets is specifically and biblically the first day of the month of Tishri. Leviticus 23:24 states, "Speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation" (NKJV). It is the only Hebrew feast to occur on a new moon.

John, chapter 5

• Rosh Hashanah (feast of trumpets) is observed as a day of rest (Leviticus 23:24) and the activities prohibited on Shabbat are also prohibited on Rosh Hashanah. Rosh Hashanah is characterized by the blowing of the shofar, a trumpet made from a ram's horn, intended to awaken the listener from his or her "slumber" and alert them to the coming judgment.

                                                                                                                        

Size of

John, chapter 5

• 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades.

Sheep gate rebuilt in 1500’s

John, chapter 5

• Sheep gate also known as…

The Sheep Gate

• Remember the animals needed for sacrifices sometimes ran over 200,000 for special feasts like the Passover. This was a very busy section of Jerusalem and the Temple with doves, sheep, and cattle being brought in.

The Pool of Bethesda

• Two pools (in trapezoidal form) formed upper and lower resevoires. This also may explain a source for the much need water with the cleansing and sacrifices in the Temple.

John, chapter 5

• 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie-- the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. 4 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.

John, chapter 5

• 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?" 7 "Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me."

Stirred water

• There was local tale that an angel stirred the water from time to time and the ill could be healed.

• The stirring may have been the action of an underground spring.

John, chapter 5

• 8 Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath,

John, chapter 5

• 10 and so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, "It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat." 11 But he replied, "The man who made me well said to me, 'Pick up your mat and walk.'"

John, chapter 5

• 12 So they asked him, "Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?" 13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.

John, chapter 5

• 14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you." 15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.

How might the man be sinning???

• Obviously, the man had opportunity to speak of the healing and restoration done on the Sabbath!!!

• This was a chief reason for the Sabbath!!! God restores. Christ restores.

• He diverts attention to self by not mentioning the healing and stating Jesus is responsible for his carry his mat, against Jewish tradition based on the Law.

Found Jesus in Temple Courts Later

BethesdaSheep Gate

John, chapter 5

• NIV John 5:16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him.

• Persecution?

• Endiokon – Relentless pursuit.

John, chapter 5

• 17 Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working."

• Jesus says that His Father and He restore on the Sabbath.

• Jesus’ statement claims equality with God, as the next verse states. But Jesus is also saying that He has exemption and authority to heal alongside His Father on Sabbaths.

John, chapter 5

• 18 For 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.

John, chapter 5

• 19 Jesus 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.

• Children reflect and emulate parents.• Remember we were to be God’s image,

reflection, and emulation before sin.

John, chapter 5

• 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. 21 For 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.

John, chapter 5

• The Father restores.

• The Son restores.

• Like Dad, like Son.

John, chapter 5

• 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 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.

• Judgment is solely entrusted to the Son??? People are judged in how they respond to or treat Christ. How one treats God in the Flesh is how one treats God as a whole. Jesus states that He is the touchstone of God or the tip of the iceberg of God.

John, chapter 5

• 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.

• Cherishing Christ and His Word (through the apostles and prophets) reflects saving faith.

John, chapter 5

• 25 I 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. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself.

• Again, as the Father restores, the Son restores.

John, chapter 5

• 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.

The Son of Man

• NIV Daniel 7:13 "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

John, chapter 5

• 28 "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out-- those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.

• The good and evil conduct is specific to the text at hand. How one treats Christ judges oneself.

John, chapter 5

• 30 By 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.

• Christ is THE loving child who delights to please His Dad, Father.

• NIV Galatians 4:6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."

John, chapter 5

• NIV John 5:31 "If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid. 32 There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is valid.

• You cannot stand up as your own witness in legal documents or proceedings.

• In the Divine Image of God, greatness is found in dependence upon others, not security by self.

John, chapter 5

• The Son pours out self for God and man.

• The Son gives glory to the Father, Spirit, and man.

• The Son is dependent upon the Father and Spirit for the glory He receives.

• Now reflect on how this is true for the Father and Spirit.

• Think how this corresponds to you.

John, chapter 5

• 33 "You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. 34 Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved.

John, chapter 5

• 35 John 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.

John, chapter 5

• 37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent.

John, chapter 5

• John was recognized as a prophet. He testified that Jesus was God.

• The Father testified to this as divine healing and restoration only come from God.

John, chapter 5

• Jesus’ words are very enciting. He is telling the religious that they are not religious t’all.

John, chapter 5

• 39 You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me,

John, chapter 5

• Repeatedly, Jesus states the whole Old Testament points to Himself.

• NIV Luke 24:44 He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."

John, chapter 5

• 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life. 41 "I do not accept praise from men, 42 but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts.

• Again, how one treats Christ is how one treats God. Jesus states what He sees.

John, chapter 5

• 43 I 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.

• What does this mean?

John, chapter 5

• In the Pax Romana, many were looking forward to the Messiah. People were not hated for claiming to be the Messiah, as long as they were friendly with the existing establishment. So you may have many “messianic hopefuls” (pretenders) that were uncontested.

• Jesus heals and teaches like no other, but threatens one’s position and understanding. This is why He is pursued.

John, chapter 5

• 44 How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?

• Jesus can provide FAVOR from and for God. He states His audience seeks FAVOR from fellow man.

John, chapter 5

• 45 "But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. 47 But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?"

• What does this mean?

John, chapter 5

• NIV Deuteronomy 18:15 The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him. 16 For this is what you asked of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, "Let us not hear the voice of the LORD our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die." 17 The LORD said to me: "What they say is good. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him.