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John 5: Authority of the Son
What caused the bubbling of the water at the Bethesda pool?
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John 5:1–4 Jesus went to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish feasts.
In the city, not far from the Sheep Gate, was the pool called Bethesda, with five covered colonnades. Here, a great number of blind, crippled, and sickly people waited for a stirring of the water. They believed an angel sometimes came and caused a bubbling of the pool, and the first one to notice and step into the water would be healed.
King James
John 5:1–4 Jesus went to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish feasts. In the city, not far from the Sheep Gate, was the pool called Bethesda, with five covered colonnades. Here, a great number of blind, crippled, and sickly people waited for a stirring of the water. They believed an angel sometimes came and caused a bubbling of the pool, and the first one to notice and step into the water would be healed.
Why did Jesus pick the one man at the pool and not anybody else who was afflicted?
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John 5:5–6 One man there had suffered from his affliction for thirty-eight years.
Jesus saw him lying there and knew he had been in that condition for a long time. “Would you like to be healthy?”
King James
John 5:5–6 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
How much faith in Jesus did the feeble man have?
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John 5:7–8 The feeble man said, “Sir, when the water is stirring, I have no one to help me into the pool. While I am trying, someone else always gets there first.”
“Stand up!” Jesus said to him. “Pick up your mat and start walking.”
King James
John 5:7–8 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
Why wasn’t the healed man concerned about the Sabbath?
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John 5:9–12 At the moment those words were spoken, the man was healed. He picked up his mat and walked, without regard for the Sabbath.
Some Jewish leaders saw him. “Don’t you know it’s the Sabbath? You are breaking the Law by carrying your mat.”
The man said, “But the one who healed me said, ‘Pick up your mat and start walking.'”
“What man told you it was all right to carry your mat?”
King James
John 5:9–12 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed. He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?
Why couldn’t the man identify who had healed him?
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John 5:13 The man who had been healed could not identify who it was, because Jesus had disappeared into the crowd.
King James
John 5:13 And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.
What “worse” thing might happen to one who sins?
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John 5:14 Later, Jesus found the man at the Temple. “Now that you are healthy, do not sin anymore, or something worse might happen.”
King James
John 5:14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
Why did the man tell Jewish leaders who had healed him?
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John 5:15 Then the man knew who had healed him and left to tell the Jewish leaders.
King James
John 5:15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.
Why was the hatred of Jewish leaders so intense?
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John 5:16 The Jews became hostile toward Jesus and wanted him dead because he had ignored their Sabbath rules.
King James
John 5:16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
Why wasn’t Jesus more sympathetic with the prejudice of Jewish leaders?
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John 5:17–20 Jesus offered this defense to the Jewish leaders who complained about his work on the Sabbath: “My father has always been at work doing good, and I must do the same.”
This response made the leaders even more determined to find a way to kill him. Not only had he broken their Sabbath law, but he called God his Father, claiming to be equal with God.
“I assure you,” Jesus said, “that the Son can do nothing by his own initiative but will only do what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son will do likewise, because the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he does. The Father will reveal in the Son even greater works than you have seen, so you will be amazed.”
King James
John 5:17–20 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. 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. Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
For what reasons might the Father give life to some and not to others?
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John 5:21 “Just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, the Son gives life where he chooses.”
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord isn’t slow in keeping his promise, not like some people think. He is patient, not wanting anyone to perish, giving time for everyone to repent.
King James
John 5:21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
If the Father and Son are of one mind and Spirit, how does the Father not judge anyone?
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John 5:22–23 “The Father does not judge anyone, but has given the Son authority to judge so people will honor the Son as much as the Father. Those who do not respect the Son have no regard for the Father who sent him.”
5:26–27 “Just as the Father has power to give life, he has made the Son to be the source of life. He has given me authority to judge, because I am the Son of Man.”
King James
John 5:22–23 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
5:26–27 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
What evidence proves when people hear Jesus’ words?
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John 5:24 “Listen. Those who hear what I am saying and believe on him who sent me have eternal life. They will avoid condemnation, passing from death to life.”
King James
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
How can the dead hear the Son of God?
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John 5:25 “Truly, the time has come for the dead to hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.”
5:28–29 “Do not be surprised, for the voice of the Son of Man will soon be heard by those who are dead and buried, and they will rise from their tombs, the righteous unto life and the evil unto damnation.”
1 Peter 4:6 The good news was preached to those who are now dead so their fleshly deeds will be judged and they can live with God in the spirit.
King James
John 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
5:28–29 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
1 Peter 4:6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
Why couldn’t Jesus do something on his own initiative?
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John 5:30 “I can do nothing by my own initiative. I listen and judge rightly because I seek to please the Father, who sent me, not myself.”
King James
John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
What evidence do we have that Jesus’ words are true?
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John 5:31–37 “If I were to testify on my own behalf, you would have no proof that what I say is true. But someone else supports me with his testimony, and what he says about me is true. You sent men to inquire of John the Baptizer, and his testimony was true. I do not need another man’s testimony for my words to be true, but I point out the fact so you may believe and be saved. John was a blazing, bright lamp, and for a while, you were happy with his light. But I have a witness greater than John. The tasks my Father has given me to complete, the message and the miracles, prove he has sent me. In this way, the Father has testified concerning me, although you have neither heard his voice nor seen his face.”
King James
John 5:31–37 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. But I have greater witness than that of John: for 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. And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
Of what value is the truth if we don’t believe it?
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John 5:38–40 “You do not have God’s message in your hearts, because you have not believed the one he has sent to you. You search the scriptures, thinking you will find eternal life, but those words testify concerning me. Still, you refuse to come and receive life from me.”
King James
John 5:38–40 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
In searching the scriptures, what had people found? What had they missed?
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John 5:39 “You search the scriptures, thinking you will find eternal life, but those words testify concerning me.”
King James
John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
What makes people’s approval important?
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John 5:41–42 “I do not need your approval, because I know God’s love is nowhere in your hearts.”
King James
John 5:41–42 I receive not honour from men. But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
Who were religious leaders accepting while Jesus was rejected?
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John 5:43–47 “I have come representing my Father, and you have rejected me. But you will readily receive another man who comes representing himself. How can you believe when you lavish praises upon one another but care nothing about seeking the highest honor that comes from God alone? Even so, I am not the one who will accuse you before the Father. Moses will accuse you, because you say you put your trust in him. If you really believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. Since you have not believed what Moses wrote, it’s no wonder that you do not believe me either.”
King James
John 5:43–47 I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?