< John 5 >

The third miraculous sign recorded by John is Jesus healing an impotent man, representing the salvation of Israel which could not be achieved through the law of Moses. Israel’s condition in the days of Jesus is described in the scriptures as: impotent, blind, halt, and withered, like the people at the poolside.v.3John 5:3XWaiting for response The law of Moses was ordained of angels v.4John 5:4XWaiting for response and if they had kept it they they would have been healed of all their diseases v.4John 5:4XWaiting for response but, because of the impotence of the flesh they could not keep the ordinances of the law.vs.5-7John 5:5-7XWaiting for response However, Jesus came to do what the law could not do. Romans 8:3Romans 8:3XWaiting for response He gave the impotent man instruction which when obeyed made him whole;vs.8-9John 5:8-9XWaiting for response and he gave Israel instruction which if obeyed would give them life, provided they “sinned no more”.v.14John 5:14XWaiting for response So many of them, however, preferred to cling to the law of Moses which only brought death. This is illustrated by the attitude of the Pharisees who objected to Jesus healing on the Sabbath day v.10John 5:10XWaiting for response and persecuted him.v.16John 5:16XWaiting for response

They falsely accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath law. In fact, he kept the law of God perfectly, and he told them: “It is lawful to do good and save life on the Sabbath days”. Luke 6:9Luke 6:9XWaiting for response The Pharisees falsely accused Jesus, not only regarding the Sabbath, but also that he made himself equal with God v.18John 5:18XWaiting for response Jesus immediately refuted this charge, saying: “The Son can do nothing of himself” v.19John 5:19XWaiting for response and “I can of myself do nothing”.v.30John 5:30XWaiting for response Certainly his Father highly exalted him,vs.20-23John 5:20-23XWaiting for response but Jesus always submitted himself to God’s will. The Pharisees interpreted Jesus’ declaration that he was the Son of God as making himself equal with God, but this is an incorrect interpretation which, unfortunately, many make today and join with the Pharisees in their false accusation of Jesus. He was not only the “Son of God”, but also the “Son of man”. It was because he was the Son of God that the Father gave him such power to do great works v.20John 5:20XWaiting for response including raising the dead,v.21John 5:21XWaiting for response and it was because he was the Son of man, and of our nature, that he gave him authority to execute judgment upon men.v.27John 5:27XWaiting for response

Jesus saves from death those who believe and obey him - they pass from death to life v.24John 5:24XWaiting for response - and are counted “the living” by God. When he returns he will call these men and women from the grave v.28John 5:28XWaiting for response unto the resurrection of life v.29John 5:29XWaiting for response thereafter to enjoy everlasting life. Others will come out of the grave to condemnation v.29John 5:29XWaiting for response and thereafter return to the grave, being subjected to the “second death”. Revelation 2:15Revelation 2:15XWaiting for response

Jesus invited all who heard him to respond to his teaching and receive life, and there was abundant witness that he came from God:v.32John 5:32XWaiting for response that of John the Baptist,vs.33-35John 5:33-35XWaiting for response of the Father,vs.36-38John 5:36-38XWaiting for response and of the scriptures which spoke of him beforehand.vs.39,46John 5:39,46XWaiting for response Verse 37 should be a question: “Have ye neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape?”, as it refers to the baptism of Jesus when the Father’s voice proclaimed from heaven that he was his beloved Son and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in the shape of a dove. Matthew 3:16-17Matthew 3:16-17XWaiting for response

He urged the people particularly to accept the witness of the scriptures because they could give life eternal.v.39John 5:39XWaiting for response They claimed to trust in the writings of Moses, v.45John 5:45XWaiting for response the first five books of the Bible, and Moses wrote of Jesus beforehand. But the Jews did not really believe what Moses wrote, otherwise they would have believed Jesus,v.46John 5:46XWaiting for response therefore Jesus challenged: “If ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?”.v.47John 5:47XWaiting for response Many today claim to follow Jesus but at the same time reject the Old Testament, especially Genesis which Moses wrote, but Jesus says it is not possible to receive his teaching acceptably while rejecting the writings of Moses.