Series- Beholding The Lamb “THE CLAIM THAT STOPPED HIS FAME” John 5:15-29
Intro- ILL camper- In the mountains of the Northwest, a man was sitting beside a campfire while he roasted some kind of bird over the fire with eager anticipation. About this time, a forest ranger came upon the camp and asked the camper what he was preparing for dinner. The camper replied that it was a seagull. A frown came over the ranger’s face as he informed this fellow that it was against the law to kill that particular bird, and that he would have to give him a citation.
The camper responded by telling the ranger how he had lost his way and had consumed all of his food. In desperation, he had managed to kill this seagull to maintain his strength. After listening sympathetically, the forest ranger told the fellow he would let him go this time with just a warning, and the camper thanked the ranger profusely. Just as the ranger was about to leave, he asked the camper, "Just out of curiosity, what does seagull taste like?" Thinking for a moment, the camper responded, "Well, I would place it somewhere between a spotted owl and a bald eagle." Have you ever been guilty of saying More than you should have said?
The same also might be said of the text we are preaching on today.
As I was studying this message I had the thought that it would have been better for Jesus to say less rather than more. But Jesus doesn’t hold back. The whole purpose of John’s gospel was to present Jesus as the Son of GOD! John 1:1 says “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. John stated from the beginning who Jesus was! GOD.
The earthly ministry of our Lord, created an unprecedented sensation in Israel. For three and a half years Jesus performed miracles like never seen before. Jesus taught about the Kingdom of God with boldness and authority. Even his enemies said :Never a man spake like this man.” His miracles & powerful preaching drew multitudes of people from all over.
But in chapters 5 – 7 we note the beginning of the end. Jesus popularity was about to take a turn. Here in chapter 5 we see the nation’s shift in attitude toward Jesus. It went from Reservation to outright Rejection of Jesus.
What was it that made the crowds so angry? What stirred up the religious crowd so much they sought to kill Jesus? Verse 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.
Jesus made 3 claims:
- THE FIRST CLAIM WAS JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD
- The Indictment Raised- (vs.16)that Jesus healed on the Sabbath
- The Indictment Refuted- (vs.17-38)
Jesus had 3 witnesses to back up His Claim:
1- The Witness of His FATHER- (vs. 17-32)
Regarding the Sabbath, Jesus said, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
The Problem was not that Jesus healed a man; but that he healed him on the Sabbath. The Sabbath was to be a day of rest.
Not a day of rest for God- But for man! God doesn’t need any rest! He’s not tired and worn out! What if God took a break on the Sabbath? WHO would make the Sun to Rise? Or give the grass & flowers to drink?
Mark 2:27-28- Jesus said unto them, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath: Therefore the Son of Man is Lord also of the Sabbath.
Jesus was saying, Just because it’s the Sabbath God does not shut down and neither do I. As my Father is continuing to work- so am I.
2-The Witness of His FORERUNNER- (vs. 33-35)
Vs. 33- Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.
John 1:23 John said,” I am the voice of one crying in the
wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord,…”
John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and
saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the
sin of the world.
Jesus said- John bare witness of the truth… vs.34-…
3-The Witness of His FRUITS- (vs. 36-38)
Jesus spoke of “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 works”when Jesus turned the water into wine,
It spoke of His power over Difficulty!
When Jesus healed the Nobleman’s Son,
It spoke of His power over Disease!
When Jesus raised the daughter of Jairus-(Mk. 5:21-43)
When Jesus raised the son of the widow of Nain-(Lk.7:11-17)
When Jesus raised Lazarus from the grave- (Jn.11:1-44)
It spoke of His Power over Death!
ALL these works were pointing to the One Work He was going to do on the Cross…In dying for man’s sin…
- THE SECOND CLAIM WAS JESUS IS THE SAVIOR-(vs21-24)
- As Savior He Delivers Men from DEATH- (vs.21)
Vs. 21-For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
The word quickeneth means “to make alive”.
Man that is lost & not saved is spiritually dead. They don’t know they are dead. They have No Spiritual Heartbeat!
But Jesus has the Power to Save and Make them Alive.
How are men saved?
#1- By HEARING the Word
Vs.24- Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word,
Are you Listening? The Only way to be saved is by Hearing the Word of God.
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Is it enough to simply Hear the Word? No We Must:
#2- By HEEDING the Word
and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life,
Many have heard the Gospel and yet many are still Lost! It’s not enough to Hear the Word! You must HEED the Word. What is the word that we are to believe? That Jesus is The Son of God! That Jesus is The Savior of Man!
Do you believe that? Have you responded to the call of God to repent & believe on Jesus?
- As Savior He Delivers Men from DOOM
“and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.”
Do you know of the Doom that awaits you that are not Saved? It’s Condemnation; it means “sentence has already been passed” acknowledging judgment will follow.
But as Savior, Jesus Delivers us from Doom!
- THE THIRD CLAIM JESUS MADE IS SEPERATOR-(VS.26-30)
The task assigned to Jesus by God the Father is Judge!
Here Jesus describes Two Resurrections.
To the age old question:
“If a man die shall he live again?(Job 14:14a) Yes! All people, both believers and unbelievers will live forever! Some to everlasting life and some to everlasting damnation!
In these verses, Jesus speaks of a Spiritual Resurrection and a Physical Resurrection.
- The SPIRITUAL Resurrection- Vs.25
“The hour is coming” spoke of Pentecost. When the Holy Spirit would come and draw men to be saved.
“and NOW is”- while Jesus was present, he offered life to all who would heed his words.
There is a spiritual resurrection that takes place when a sinner is saved. He is quickened or made alive!
But the 1st resurrection will take place at the Rapture.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52Behold, I shew you a mystery, we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
- The PHYSICAL Resurrection- Vs. 28-29
- Jesus Has Absolute Authority in Judgment- vs.22 & 27
Jesus is the Final Arbitrator in human destiny! Every soul that has ever lived shall one day stand before Jesus Christ.
- Jesus Has Abundant Mercy in Judgment-