December 6, 2009
Morning Service

St.Jn. 5: 15-47

 

Review:

1.       Last Sunday morning we saw Jesus heal the lame man by the pool of Bethesda.  This was on the Sabbath, and it upset the Jews, because He healed on the Sabbath.

2.      Later Jesus told the man healed, “Sin no more, lest a worst thing come upon you.”  This would indicated to me that the man’s sinful life style could have possibly caused his previous condition, or could contribute to his future condition if he went back to practicing sin.

 

This morning we want to look at how Jesus explains to all of us His equality with the Father.

 

Joh 5:15-47 KJVR  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. 

• Jesus is saying it’s my Father, and your God, that heals on the Sabbath, and so I do too.

(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. 

• Do not be deceived, it is the spirit of satan that wants to kill, hurt, and destroy, not the Spirit of God.  Discern the spirit of satan, it is the spirit of; Gal 5:19-21 KJVR   adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,  (20)  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,  (21)  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
• As far as Jesus calling Jehovah God His Father, Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Our Father,”.  John also tells us, 1Jo 3:1 KJVR  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:
• Jesus was on an equal with God, for He was God.  You and I are not on an equal with God, as the new age movement would suggest, but are adopted into the family of God, by accepting the atoning work that Jesus did for mankind on calvary.  Paul said, “By grace are you saved, through faith, not of works, lest any man should boast.”  Upon hearing, believing, and receiving the gospel message, then on through the waters of baptism, and then living a faithful life to the Lord’s teachings, we shall be saved.  

 

(19)  Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. 

• I always think of Oppie on the opening of the Andy Griffith show.  Does everything Andy does.
• This is only too true for everything in life.  We have to ask ourselves, who is my Father, and what kind of acts am I showing forth to my children, and the world?  The acts of satan, or of God?  Paul said, “be not deceived God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”  If we sow a life of corruption, then we will reap a live of corruption, but if spiritual, then we will reap the things of God.

(20)  For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth him all things that himself doeth: and he will show him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.  (21)  For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. 

• Quicken means to make alive.

(22)  For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:  (23)  That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which hath sent him. 

• This was hard for these Jewish leaders to accept.  They did not want to relinquish any of their power that they had in the Synagogue.  
• Jesus will not only judge at the last judgment, but judgment comes in the mind of those that were around Him.  Just as the leper’s proclaimed, “unclean, unclean,”  that’s how all Godly people would react in His presence.  Just His very presence would create a feeling of unworthiness in people.  He was perfect.  The very image of what all spiritual people want to be.

(24)  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.  (25)  Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.  (26)  For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;  (27)  And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.  (28)  Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,  (29)  And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 

• How enlightening, and powerful is that statement?  How would you have reacted if you had been there?  HOW WILL YOU REACT NOW UPON THE WORD REMINDING US OF THIS?
• Do you see how important it is to study the Scriptures?  It reminds us of the things that God considers important in this life, and also let’s us know what His will is for mankind.

(30)  I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. 

• Just as we are to strive at growing up into the full stature of Christ, the things we do in life should be patterned after this thought, “because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father.”

(31)  If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.  (32)  There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.  (33)  Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.  (34)  But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.  (35)  He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.  (36)  But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. 

• The ultimate witness, our works.
• When we are reading this with guidance of the Holy Spirit, He would quicken to our hearts, “what does your works show to the world?”  You see how it works.

(37)  And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me.

• It is God Who gives us the ability to live the life we live.  Paul said, “in Him we move, and have our being.”  Jesus said, “whatsoever you ask the Father in My name, He will give it to you.”  James said, “you have not because you ask not.”  
• If we are not living a life of overcoming, then it is because we don’t want too.  God will help us do the things that will bring happiness, and joy to our lives, and will please Him.

Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.  (38)  And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. 

• Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes Lord;  you see when Christ abides within us, when His Word is spoken we will be excited, and thrilled to listen to what He has to say.  We are His disciples, we are eager to hear from Him.

(39)  Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.  (40)  And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.  (41)  I receive not honor from men.  (42)  But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. 

• How sharp is that? 

(43)  I am come in my Father's name, ( or in His authority ) and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.  (44)  How can ye believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only?  (45)  Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.  (46)  For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.  (47)  But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

• You see the people Jesus is talking too are still under the laws that God gave to Moses to give to the children of Israel.  Jesus Himself is under this law also.  But what Jesus is referring to is the statement that Moses made concerning a Prophet that God would raise up in the last days.  Moses said Him shall you hear.

 

Again this morning we have strengthened our faith that Jesus is the very Son of God, and that by believing we understand that He spoke in all authority of Almighty God. 

 

There is nothing any more important in your life than to have confessed your faith at the waters of baptism, that Jesus is the Son of God.  Doing this we can be assured that we have passed from death to life.