Tag Archives: Son

John 5:30-47

Fallout from the healing of the crippled man (vs 1-14)

In the first part of this chapter, Jesus heals a man who has been crippled for 38 years. He does this on a Sabbath day. Today we look at the conclusion of Jesus’ discourse with the Jewish leaders who found fault with him for healing on the Sabbath and calling himself God’s Son.

Jesus’ motivation (vs 30)

I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

See John 12:43, Matthew 23:5-7

  • What was Jesus’ motivation?
  • Why is this important?
  • Contrast Lucifer’s motivation (Isaiah 14:12-15)
The testimony of John (vs 31-35)

If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true [credible, trustworthy]. There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.

  • If I alone bear witness – see Deuteronomy 17:6
  • There is another who bears witness – probably a double meaning (both John the Baptist and the Father are in view)
  • He was a burning and shining lamp – John spoke the truth boldly
The Father’s testimony (vs 36-40)

But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

Jesus cites three forms of testimony which come from the Father

  • the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me (vs 36)
  • the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me (vs 37)
  • the Scriptures … bear witness about me (vs 39)

Jesus tells the Pharisees and Sadducees
His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen,

  • When he says this, what is he implying about himself?
  • How powerful is this?
  • To make a claim like this, He would have to be either completely deceived, a barefaced liar, or the true Son of God.
Glory from people or from God (vs 41-44)

I do not receive glory from people. But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

He was dealing with people who preferred to receive honour from humans than from God (and preferred to give honour to humans than to God).

  • How common is this?
  • Why do people operate this way, according to Jesus? (vs 42)
Moses is their accuser (vs 45-47)

Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?

Why does Jesus say that Moses will be their accuser?

Self-reflection
  • What is your motivation for doing good deeds?
  • How much do you care about the praise of people?
  • How much do you care about the approval of God?
Share Button

John 5:15-29

Fallout from the healing of the crippled man (vs 1-14)

In the first part of this chapter, Jesus heals a man who has been crippled for 38 years. He does this on a Sabbath day. After healing the man he finds him in the Temple and speaks to him of his need for repentance.  Today’s study looks at the fallout from this event.

Jesus is criticized for healing on the Sabbath (vs 15-18)

The man went away and told the Jews [NIV Jewish leaders] that it was Jesus who had healed him. And this was why the Jews [NIV Jewish leaders] were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” This was why the Jews [NIV Jewish leaders] were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

  • The Jewish leaders objected to Jesus healing on the Sabbath because it was contrary to their interpretation of the Torah.
  • Jesus replied that He was doing his Father’s work.
  • The Jewish leaders now had an additional reason to oppose Jesus. Not only did he heal on the Sabbath, he justified it by claiming unique authority as God’s Son.
The Son can do only what he sees the Father doing (vs 19-20)

So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.

  • Jesus’ defence basically is that he’s doing what his Father told him to do.
  • Jesus says that he can do only what he sees his Father doing.
    He says that His Father loves him and shows Jesus what He (the Father) is doing.
  • This is how Jesus went about his ministry – in complete dependence on the Father. He taught his disciples to do the same (John 10:4-5, John 10:27, John 15:15-16)
The Son has authority to give life and to judge (vs 21-24)

For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

  • The Son acts on the Father’s behalf
  • Anyone who truly honors the Father must also honor the Son
The dead will hear the voice of the Son of God (vs 25-29)

Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

  • The Son of Man (Daniel 7:13-14) is a human figure who appears in the heavenly throne room and is given special authority before God to rule and judge the nations
  • Jesus applied this title to himself (Mark 13:26) when he was on trial before the Chief Priests
  • In this discussion with the Jewish leaders, Jesus claims that he has authority from God to raise the dead, to call them to judgment or give them a free pass (resurrection to life)
To think about

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic that we are currently experiencing, what difference do the following spiritual truths make, if we truly take hold of them –

  1. What difference does it make to you that Jesus really is the rightful governing authority on earth, and one day will overthrow all earthly kingdoms and reign openly on earth?
  2. What difference does it make to you that we can hear Jesus’ voice just as He heard the Father’s voice (John 10:27), that he loves us just as the Father loves the Son, and shows us His plans, just as the Father does with Him?
Share Button

1 John 4:1-6

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. (ESV)

Review questions

Who were the gnostics and what did they teach?

Is there one antichrist or many? (See notes from April 24)

Main points in 1 John 4:1-6

Why is it important that Jesus came in the flesh?

Why is it important that he died a physical death? (1 John 5:6)

Why does John say that anyone who does not teach this is not from God?

How can we recognize demonic deception?

Application

What are some forms of false teaching in our time that contain the same errors as the gnostic deception?

What are the results of such false teaching?

How can we stay spiritually healthy?

  • believing the truth
  • practising the truth
  • genuine fellowship
  • genuine love for God
  • genuine love for one another

Share Button