JOHN 5: 17 THRU 32

Important Question

What gives a person authority?

WEBSTERS DICTIONARY: "AUTHORITY"

• The power to influence or command thought, opinion or behavior.

• Freedom granted by one in authority.

John 5:16-18

[16] So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. [17] In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” [18] For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

• What was it that "Jesus was doing"?

• Healing a lame person. A broken human being.

• When Jesus said "My father is always at his work"; what did that have to do with His healing of the man?

• He was making the point that God never sleeps and has control of everything at all times.

• Jesus as God makes the same claim.

•

*Remember: All of scripture is the account of God wanting a relationship with mankind and what He does /did to make that possible. (It starts in Genesis and the account is completed in Revelation). Examples: 1."The earth was without form and void". He took something that was worthless / broken and made it whole or complete. 2. The great flood. God said, "He regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled." 3. Children of Israel being set free from Egyptian bondage. Then the wilderness journey and the crossing over to the

Promised Land. 4. The life, death and resurrection of Jesus. *Everything, not just part, but everything in scripture is about God wanting a relationship with mankind and what He does / did to make that possible.

• Why were the Jewish leaders more concerned about the LAW than the healing of the man?

They were totally oblivious to God's intention.

• This healing tells the story of God's redemption through Jesus. There are no "WORKS" required.

• The religious leaders were the only authority.

• Jesus said and acted as the authority and this really angered them. So much so, that they wanted him dead.

Read: John 5: 19 thru 23

• Jesus basically states that HE (Jesus) is equal to God.

• He uses the AUTHORIY of God to prove the point.

• Verse 20 talks about the love a father has for his son. In life, we can relate to this. The " son" of a father is a " blood" relationship. You can't just say that you aren't physically or spiritually attached. There is no denying it.

Read: John 5: 24 thru 27.

• This is the story of salvation.

• Jesus had not yet died and risen but he is laying the ground work and actually telling them that it will happen.

Read: John 5: 28 thru 32

• Only through the salvation offered by Jesus will a person find eternal life.

• Verses 31 and 32 are a lead-in to the message on 28 December by Tucker.