< 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.3Waiting for response for John 5:3 The law of Moses was ordained of angels v.4Waiting for response for John 5:4 and if they had kept it they they would have been healed of all their diseases v.4Waiting for response for John 5:4 but, because of the impotence of the flesh they could not keep the ordinances of the law.vs.5-7Waiting for response for John 5:5-7 However, Jesus came to do what the law could not do. Romans 8:3Waiting for response for Romans 8:3 He gave the impotent man instruction which when obeyed made him whole;vs.8-9Waiting for response for John 5:8-9 and he gave Israel instruction which if obeyed would give them life, provided they “sinned no more”.v.14Waiting for response for John 5:14 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.10Waiting for response for John 5:10 and persecuted him.v.16Waiting for response for John 5:16

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 6:9Waiting for response for Luke 6:9 The Pharisees falsely accused Jesus, not only regarding the Sabbath, but also that he made himself equal with God v.18Waiting for response for John 5:18 Jesus immediately refuted this charge, saying: “The Son can do nothing of himself” v.19Waiting for response for John 5:19 and “I can of myself do nothing”.v.30Waiting for response for John 5:30 Certainly his Father highly exalted him,vs.20-23Waiting for response for John 5:20-23 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.20Waiting for response for John 5:20 including raising the dead,v.21Waiting for response for John 5:21 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.27Waiting for response for John 5:27

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

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.32Waiting for response for John 5:32 that of John the Baptist,vs.33-35Waiting for response for John 5:33-35 of the Father,vs.36-38Waiting for response for John 5:36-38 and of the scriptures which spoke of him beforehand.vs.39,46Waiting for response for John 5:39,46 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 3:16-17Waiting for response for Matthew 3:16-17

He urged the people particularly to accept the witness of the scriptures because they could give life eternal.v.39Waiting for response for John 5:39 They claimed to trust in the writings of Moses, v.45Waiting for response for John 5:45 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.46Waiting for response for John 5:46 therefore Jesus challenged: “If ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?”.v.47Waiting for response for John 5:47 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.