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John 5
Joh 5:1 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up
to Jerusalem.
Some think this to be the feast of Pentecost and others the
Passover.
Joh 5:2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which
is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
A place of mercy and for the sick to be comforted. It could have
been similar to the sulfur springs in the United States except of
course the visitation by the angel. Apparently by the mercy of God,
an angel would visit the place on occasion and stir the waters
bringing healing to those who stepped in after the water was
touched.
Joh 5:3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind,
halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
Joh 5:4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool,
and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of
the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
It could have been a legend but I think if it was, John would have
explained it to us that it was a legend. I believe it was for real
and that the time before Christ, God just may have had mercy on
sickness and provided a way of healing until Christ came. Knowing
God, that would not surprise me.
This is my own thoughts and not necessarily scripture but perhaps
all were not healed because God may have wanted to see if anyone
would come and help the weaker ones.
Joh 5:5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty
and eight years.
Joh 5:6 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?
Joh 5:7 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.
This shows that people are really genuinely selfish in nature and
cared only for their own healing. Jesus was not limited to a certain
season and was able to heal on the spot.
Joh 5:8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
Joh 5:9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed,
and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
Joh 5:10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the
sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
This shows that Jesus is Lord and is also Lord of the Sabbath. No
other man could have changed the law in that respect.
It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day.
Joh 5:11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto
me, Take up thy bed, and walk.
Joh 5:12 Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee,
Take up thy bed, and walk?
Joh 5:13 And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had
conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.
Joh 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.
Again we see Jesus emphasizing what we like to gloss over. "Sin no
more" is a message that we have lost. This may be what is causing
Christians so many problems that we blame on the devil. While it is
true the devil tries to tempt and hinder all that believe in Jesus,
sometimes our own sins are what is causing us trouble.
We have lots of marriage seminars and special counseling sessions to
help people in the church solve their problems. I wonder, however,
if we actually have a sin problem. I believe sin may be what is
causing all the other problems. The message is the same, "Repent"
and make a change. The blood of Jesus cleanses us of all sin, yet we
still are having a problem with it. Maybe the problem is that we are
trying to come to Christ without repenting of sin. Perhaps we meet
to praise and worship to make ourselves feel good in our sin and we
are not seeking God to remove our sin. We can't get rid of sin by
accepting our sin as normal or only human. Jesus came to save us
from sin not save us in our sin. We do not just escape the
penalty for sin but Jesus came that we may be free from sin.
Joh 5:15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus,
which had made him whole.
I don't know if this man was ungrateful for his healing or he didn't
like Jesus telling him not to sin any longer. Perhaps the man was
ignorant to the motives of the Pharisees and told them what they
wanted to know not knowing that they were just out to find fault.
Joh 5:16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to
slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
They emphasized one part of the law beyond the original intent of
the Sabbath law. They forgot mercy and "Love thy neighbor." They
should have rejoiced that one that was sick could walk about freely
and be well.
Joh 5:17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I
work.
God has worked continually and Jesus is working also as the Father
directs Him.
Joh 5:18 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.
Whoever does not confess that Jesus has come in the flesh is
anti-Christ.
Most admit that Jesus was a man that once lived and was flesh. What
many do not admit is that Jesus was God in the flesh or God's Son
who came into the flesh and that Jesus is God who still comes in the
flesh in every believer who repents of sin and is born again by the
Holy Spirit.
Religions that deny this is anti-christ. There is no salvation if we
do not believe Jesus came into the flesh and comes into the flesh by
the means of the Holy Spirit. There is no other way to be saved and
have eternal life.
Jesus is the only way of salvation. We can't just believe He was a
person who once existed. He exists now literally at the right hand
of God His Father and exists within each and every believer as the
living water springing up unto everlasting life.
Joh 5:19 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.
Jesus came to us in full obedience to His Father. He does all with
full unity with the Father and does not act independently from the
Father.
Joh 5:20 For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth him all things
that himself doeth: and he will show him greater works than these,
that ye may marvel.
Joh 5:21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them;
even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
Jesus has power to raise the dead and make alive whom He wills. This
can happen literally and spiritually. A person who is saved from sin
passes from death into life.
Joh 5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all
judgment unto the Son:
The Father doesn't judge anyone apart from the Son. He gave the Son
the power to judge.
This may seem to contradict the verse where Jesus said that He did
not come into the world to condemn the world but that the world
through Him might be saved.
It does not contradict in truth. He didn't come to judge the world
at the first coming but those that reject His salvation will be
judged by the word which they reject. Judgment will come at the
Second Coming of Christ. The first time Jesus came, He came to save
and give His life as a sacrifice for sins. The Second coming will be
to judge the world and set up His kingdom.
Joh 5:23 That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the
Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which
hath sent him.
To those who say that Jesus never calls Himself the Son of God,
these verses prove the very opposite. Jesus is the Son and admits to
this many times. If we do not honor Him as the Son of God, there is
no salvation.
Joh 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.
He that hears the word and believes on the one who sent Jesus. We
must believe Jesus is the one God sent to save us from sin. We must
believe that Jesus is the Messiah or the Christ that comes from God,
came into the flesh by being born of a virgin, and comes in the
flesh by His spirit even now. Salvation is being born again by the
spirit of God. It is a change that takes place within each and every
one that believes in Him. Believing of course means more than just
believing Jesus once existed. Believing means to believe His word,
believe in Him as Lord and believe that He is the one God sent to us
to save us from sin.
Joh 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.
The dead in sin can hear and be saved from sin. The physical dead
will one day hear the voice of the Son of God and literally live.
Joh 5:26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to
the Son to have life in himself;
Joh 5:27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also,
because he is the Son of man.
We see here that Jesus will judge but prefers to save so that we
don't have to face judgment.
Joh 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which
all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Joh 5:29 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.
These two resurrections are separated by 1000 years as described in
the book of Revelation where it is written, "Blessed are they that
have part in the 1st resurrection on whom the second death has no
power."
Joh 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.
Joh 5:31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
John the Baptist bore witness to Jesus but there are many more. The
Old Testament prophets foretold of His coming. Jesus is the only one
that resembles the one prophesied that was to come. The disciples
witnessed His resurrection. God Himself testified of His Son the day
Jesus was baptized and the day Jesus was resurrected.
Joh 5:32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know
that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
Joh 5:33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.
Joh 5:34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I
say, that ye might be saved.
How much God wants us to be saved. Who would send their own Son to
die such a horrible death if not to save the lost and grant them
life eternal.
Joh 5:35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing
for a season to rejoice in his light.
Joh 5:36 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.
The works that followed Jesus was another witness that He was of the
truth. John the Baptist's sole purpose for being born and living on
the earth was to testify of Jesus and prepare the way for Him.
Joh 5:37 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.
Joh 5:38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath
sent, him ye believe not.
Joh 5:39 Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal
life: and they are they which testify of me.
The only scriptures Jesus had at that time were the ones in the Old
Testament. They testified of Him
Joh 5:40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
So sad that many today do not come to Him and receive eternal life.
Those that desire to remain in sin will not come to the light.
The people in that day wanted a hero to save them from the Romans
and exalt their position as a great nation. They were not interested
in repenting of sin. Even today people do not want to admit they
have sinned and do not want to repent. They prefer a feel good
about yourself religion that brings no inner change. They want
to hear good things and have positive thinking and get rich sermons
instead.
Joh 5:41 I receive not honor from men.
Joh 5:42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
Joh 5:43 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.
This speaks of the man of sin to be revealed in the future. People
want to hear someone who promised them religion without repenting of
sin or another way besides the only way of salvation through Jesus
Christ.
Joh 5:44 How can ye believe, which receive honor one of another, and
seek not the honor that cometh from God only?
We can't have the praise of men and the praise of God at the same
time. To please one, we have to give up the other for the two do not
mix.
Joh 5:45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is
one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
Joh 5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for
he wrote of me.
Joh 5:47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my
words?
They claimed to believe in Moses and adhere to the law, yet Christ
was here to fulfill the law and was the prophet that Moses wrote
about.
Deuteronomy 18:15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet
from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye
shall hearken;
Deu 18:16 According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God
in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again
the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any
more, that I die not.
Deu 18:17 And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that
which they have spoken.
Deu 18:18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren,
like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall
speak unto them all that I shall command him.
Deu 18:19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken
unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of
him.
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