The Fisherman's Story: A Study of the Gospel of John

November 13, 2011   Part One:  "The Beginning of the Fisherman's Story," John 1:1-18 Part Two:  "The Telling of the Fisherman's Story," John 1:19-12:50   I.  The Story Is an Unveiling of  the Redemptive Promise of God (Jesus), 1:19-4:54. II.  The Story Is a Record of the Rising Controversy Over Jesus' Claims and Demonstration of His Divine Nature and Power, John 5:1-47.   Bob Deffinbaugh, a pastor and contributor to The Biblical Studies Foundation sponsored by Dallas Theological Seminary, summarizes John chapter 5.   As we read the Gospel of John, we know that everything happened according to God's plan. Jesus came as Israel's Messiah, and He was rejected and crucified by the Jews. What "went wrong"?15 How could the Messiah come and Israel miss His coming? What caused the Jewish religious leaders to resist and reject Jesus as the Messiah? These men had spent much of their time in the Old Testament Scriptures. They heard John the Baptist and knew he had identified Jesus as the Messiah. These men personally witnessed our Lord healing the sick, casting out demons, and even raising the dead. How could they possibly fail to get the message? Our text in the Gospel of John may be one of the most informative passages in the New Testament concerning this matter. Here, our Lord not only defends Himself, but diagnoses the problem which prevents the religious leaders from trusting in Him as the Messiah. http://bible.org/seriespage/why-jews-are-against-jesus   A. Jesus' Healing of the Paralytic Demonstrates His Divine Power, John 5:1-15.   1.  The plight of the helpless paralytic, John 5:1-5   (John 5:1-5 NIV)  Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. {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. {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.   [A pool was discovered in 1888 while repairing St. Anne's Church that is believed to be this pool in John 5.]   Dr. Merrill C. Tenney writes in his commentary on John concerning John 5:4:   Verse 4 is omitted by all MSS dated prior to the fourth century, though the rest generally include it with numerous variations. It is generally regarded as a gloss that was introduced to explain the intermittent agitation of the water, which the populace considered to be a potential source of healing. There is no question that they congregated at the pool, hoping to be cured of their ailments. The explanation of the moving of the water was probably added later.   --Merrill C. Tenney, The Expositor's Bible Commentary:  John   Edwin Blumm notes that "The Bible nowhere teaches this kind of superstition, a situation which would be a most cruel contest for many ill people."   2.  The compassion of the Great Physician , John 5:6-9a    (John 5:6-9 NIV)  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." {8} Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." {9a} At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.   3.  The criticism of the religious Jewish authorities, John 5:9b-15   (John 5:9b-15 NIV)  The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, {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.'" {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. {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.   B. Jesus' Healing of the Paralytic Leads to His Explanation of the Unique Father/Son Relationship He Has with God the Father, 5:16-47.   1.  Jesus' healing is a unified work of the Father and Son, John 5:16-17.   (John 5:16-17 NIV)  So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him. {17} Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working."   2.  Jesus' declaration leads the Jews to seek to kill Him on two grounds of justification:    a.  They charged Jesus with a disregard for the Law by breaking the Sabbath, John 5:18a.   (John 5:18a NIV)  For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him.   b.  They charged Jesus with an even greater charge of blasphemy by claiming equality with God, John 5:18b.   (John 5:18b NIV)  He was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.   3.  Jesus' reply to the charges are clear and straightforward, John 5:19-30.     a.  Jesus claims a unique relationship with Good the Father, John 5:19-20a.   (John 5:19-20a NIV)  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. {20} For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does.   1)  It is unique in that whatever the Father does, the Son also does. 2)  It is unique in its love and joint knowledge.   b.  Jesus claims equality with the Father, John 5:20-23.   (John 5:20-23 NIV)  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. {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.   1)  Jesus has power over life and death just as the Father has. 2)  Jesus has power of judgment over all as assigned to Him by the Father. 3)  Jesus deserves the same honor and worship due the Father.   c.  Jesus claims the right to give eternal life to those who believe and eternal condemnation to those who do not, John 5:24-29.   (John 5:24-29 NIV)  "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. {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. {27} And 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 {29} and come out--those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.   d.  Jesus claims that His ministry and judgment are administrated in absolute accordance with the Father's will, John 5:30.   (John 5:30 NIV)  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.   4.  Jesus presents the sources of testimony concerning Himself,  (5:31-40).   a.  The testimony of John the Baptist, John 5:31-35.   (John 5:31-35 NIV)  "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. {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. {35} John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.   b.  The testimony of Jesus' works, John 5:36.   (John 5:36 NIV)  "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.   c.  The testimony of the Father, John 5:37-38.   (John 5:37-38 NIV)  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.   d.  The testimony of the Scriptures, John 5:39-40   (John 5:39-40 NIV)  You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, {40} yet you refuse to come to me to have life.   5.  Jesus assesses the state of the Jews' heart, John 5:41   a.  Their interest in Him is based on His signs, not on love for God, John 5:41-42.    (John 5:41-42 NIV)  "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.   b.  They are more willing to obtain the praise of others rather than the praise of God, John 5:43-44.   (John 5:43-44 NIV)  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. {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 ?   6.  Jesus identifies Moses (the Law Giver) as the Jews 'accuser on the day of judgment, John 5:45-47   (John 5:45-47 NIV)  "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?"   The irony of all this is that the very Law in which the Jews had placed their hopes for God's favor will condemn them.  A true understanding of what Moses had written would have led them to believe in Jesus, not reject Him. Jesus was "the prophet" of whom God spoke in Deuteronomy 18.   (Deu 18:18-19 NIV)  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. {19} If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account.   God holds people accountable not only for what they know about and reject, but also for what they should have known but chose not to seek out.  What a warning to all those who ignore the truth that is before them!   For those who rely not on the Law for salvation but their own works, they should heed this warning.    (Titus 3:4-7 NIV)  When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, {5} he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, {6} whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, {7} so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.   Do you want to be saved from God's wrath?  Do you desire to inherit eternal life?  Then you must as one who has rebelled and ignored God, ask for His mercy and receive His grace for the forgiveness of your sins by faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.