Father & Son
SERMON OUTLINE:
• Claim #1: "I am equal with God" (vs 19-20).
• Claim #2: "I am the giver of life" (vs 21 & 26).
• Claim #3: "I am the final judge" (vs 22-23).
• Claim #4: "I determine man's destiny" (vs 24).
• Claim #5: "I will raise the dead" (vs 25-29).
• Claim #6: "I am always doing the will of God" (vs 30)
SERMON BODY
• This section in John’s gospel that you have asked me to speak on;
• Really divides into two distinct sections.
• Verses: John chapter 5 verses 16-29.
• The authority of the Son.
• This is the section I want to focus on and speak on.
• Verses 30-47:
• Testimonies about the Son.
• Where five witnesses are introduced to verify his claims.
• They are God the Father (vs 32), John the Baptist (vs 33-35),
• Jesus’ own works (vs 36), The Old Testament scriptures (vs 39-44), Moses (vs 45-47).
The section I want to focus on and speak on is verses 16-29.
• The authority of the Son.
• This section also fits in well with the title you gave me: ‘Father & Son’.
• Notice: in these section the religious leaders are focussed on the Sabbath.
• Yet, Jesus doesn’t directly refer to the Sabbath but to his Father.
Ill:
• We were invited to a wedding reception at the Solent Hotel in Whiteley.
• We arrived early as the bride and groom went off to have additional photos taken.
• When they drove down the driveway to the front of the hotel,
• There was a crowd of guests ready to greet them.
• The car they came in was a vintage white Rolls Royce,
• And as the couple stood next to the car while more photos were taken,
• All the ladies present were saying; “Wow! Doesn’t the bride look fantastic?”
• While all the men were says; “Wow! Doesn’t the car look fantastic?”
• TRANSITION: Somebody had missed the point!
• And in this passage some people will miss the point.
• They will be focussed on the Sabbath and they will miss the Son.
• Now in this chapter Jesus is about to make some incredible claims:
• Claims that would divide his audience into two distinct groups,
• Those who were for him and those who were against him.
Note:
• The dialogue we are reading came out of an incident,
• You cannot really separate the two.
• In verses 1- 15 was the incident: a man was miraculously healed.
• He had been sick for thirty eight years,
• (Joke): Of course if you've been waiting on the National Health,
• For an operation you'll know exactly how he felt!
• But in verse 8 Jesus tells this man who was sick for thirty-eight years to:
• "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk".
• And to the astonishment of the man, the crowd around the pool;
• The man got up, picked up his mat and walked!
• It should have been a time for rejoicing, of celebration;
• After all, the life of this man had been transformed by Jesus,
• Now life could start all over again!
But as you read John 5; the reactions of the Jewish leaders was not one of joy,
• In fact the opposite was true,
• They were scandalized by this merciful act,
• Verses 9-17 tells us why.
• Because it took place on "The Sabbath".
• And so instead of rejoicing with this man:
• They interrogated him by asking him question upon question.
• They wanted to know the identity of this healer who broke the Law:
When the religious leaders found out that the 'Law breaking' healer was Jesus:
• They start to accuse and investigate him,
• And they also start to persecute him (verse 16).
Quote: Verses 16-18:
“So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him.
17 Jesus said to them, My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.
18 For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God”.
• The original accusation of being a Sabbath-breaker paled to this charge.
• And for them, there was only one conclusion to be made.
• It was a time to kill. Jesus had to die.
• On a purely human level;
• You could say the fate of Jesus was sealed at this point.
• In human terms this conversation in John chapter 5 cost Jesus his life;
• The Jewish leaders refused to believe him and they never forgave him!
ILL:
• There was an old man that witnessed a burglary and appeared in court.
• The defence lawyer asked him, "Did you see my client commit this burglary?"
• "Yes," the man said. "I saw him plainly take the goods."
• The lawyer anxious to disprove the witness said to him;
• "This happened at night. Are you sure you saw my client commit this crime?"
• "Yes, I saw him do it," the man said.
• The lawyer then said,
• "You are 80 years old and your eyesight probably is not as good as it used to be.
• Just how far can you see at night?"
• The old man said,
• "Well, I can see the moon. How far is that?"
• TRANSITION: When we are looking to prove something:
• The quality of the person who is the witness is obviously most important!
• In this passage the witness is Jesus Christ.
• He has allowed his actions to testify concerning himself;
• By healing the man at the pool.
• Now in these verses he will allow his words;
• To confirm exactly who he is and why he has come.
Claim #1: "I am equal with God" (vs 19-20).
“Jesus gave them this answer: I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.
20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these.”
• Notice in these verses and also through out the Gospel of John:
• The way Jesus talks about God.
• He never refers to God generally as "Our Father".
• But always specifically as "My Father" or "The Father".
• This is very important, because in referring to God this way;
• He is claiming a unique relationship with God:
• And the Jewish leaders of his day instantly understood the claim Jesus was making;
• And thought his three years of public ministry,
• He would go on to make the same claim again & again & again!
I like the phrase in verse 19, where Jesus says;
• "What God does, I see".
• "What God does, I do".
Quote: George McDonald:
• "Jesus did instantly what the Father is always doing slowly;
• For example, in nature;
• The Father is slowly turning water into wine,
• But Jesus did it instantly.
• Through the power in nature, the Father is healing broken bodies,
• But Jesus healed them immediately.
• Nature is repeatedly multiplying bread, from sowing to harvest;
• But Jesus multiplied it instantly in his own hands".
So in verse 19, Jesus is saying;
• "What God does, I see".
• "What God does, I do".
• In other words Jesus is saying; "I have the same power God the Father has":
• "And the reason I am on this earth",
• "Is to carry out God's plan".
• "I am doing his work and I do it with equal power".
ill:
• Like a shadow which is neither identical to, nor independent from,
• The substance from which it is cast,
• So the Son and the Father are distinct from,
• Yet dependent upon, each other.
God cast his shadow on the earth for 33 years:
• In the person of Jesus Christ.
• "The image of the invisible God".
• And in verses 19 & 20 Jesus declares an incredible statement;
• "I am equal with God".
Claim #2: "I am the giver of life" (vs 21 & 26).
Verse 21:
"For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it".
Verse 26:
"For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself".
• In order to give life,
• You must be the source of life,
• e.g. You cannot light an old fashioned Olympic style torch, if your torch is not lit.
• e.g. I cannot give you money if I am skint.
• In order to give life, you must be the source of life,
These Jewish leaders would have known;
• That declaration of being the source of life is claimed only by God:
• It is one of his attributes, his characteristics!
• e.g. Deuteronomy chapter 32 verse 39.
• e.g. 1 Samuel chapter 2 verse 6.
• Any Jew knew, especially a Jewish leader;
• That God alone is the "Giver of life".
ill:
• Think for a moment about death, about funerals.
• As someone who takes funerals for both believers and unbelievers,
• The contrast between the two is immense, it is gigantic!
• Because one dies without hope and one dies in hope!
Quote:
"Man can give medicine when sickness comes,
Food when hunger comes,
Help when weakness comes,
Love when loneliness comes,
But when death comes, man can give
Only sympathy,
Only compassion,
Never the gift of life.
Only God can do that!"
Many have claimed too or actually been able to heal people:
• Yet, none but God can raise the dead,
• Especially by a simple command of their voice.
• Yet Jesus Christ did it:
• Physically; e.g. Lazarus (John chapter 11).
• Spiritually: e.g. John 1 verse 4: "In Jesus was life, and that life was the light of men".
Claim #3: "I am the final judge" (vs 22-23).
“Moreover, the Father judges no-one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son,
23 that all may honour the Son just as they honour the Father. He who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father, who sent him.”
In verse 22 Jesus delivers his most striking claim thus far:
• By doing so he really curls the toes of his accusers,
• And he really gets his hearers hot under the collar with this one
ill:
• Suppose at the start of the service I had given you a test:
• I handed out some pens & paper, & asked you one question,
• "Who is the final judge of mankind?"
• Most of you, if not all of you, would probably have given the same answer:
• "God is" - Meaning, "God the Father".
• But according to verse 22: You would be wrong!!!
• All judgement will be done by God the Son.
And verse 23 tells us why it is the Son who will do the judging:
• "That all may honour the Son just as they honour the Father".
• There is yet another reference to equality with God:
• He (the Son) deserves equal honour with God!
• He deserves the same honour that is given to God the Father.
Question: So, what does it mean to honour God?
Answer:
• To honour God means to give Him the regard, respect, reverence,
• Admiration, adoration, awe, praise, submission, and obedience which are due to Him.
• To honour God means to worship Him in all our attitudes, affections, and actions.
• The essence of what it means to honour God;
• Is revealed to us in what Jesus called the first and greatest commandment:
• (Matthew chapter 22 verse 38).
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
• TRANSITION: Verse 23 is clearing teaching us:
• That Jesus Christ deserves that sort of honour & respect.
• That you would give to "God the Father".
• Men & women have the opportunity now to do that willingly;
• Or one day they will have to do it anyway.
• It is never of case of will they or won’t they;
• It is a case of when!
• We can bow the knee willingly now and own him now as saviour,
• Or we will bow the knee later after death, & face him as judge.
Claim #4: "I determine man's destiny" (vs 24).
“‘Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”
This verse is such an important announcement:
• "I tell you the truth" says Jesus.
• "Make sure you understand this!!!"
• “Not only am I the judge in the court room of eternity:
• But I am also the ticket to freedom, for anyone who stands guilty!”
• Our ultimate destiny is not in our own hands – it is in his!
• True for both believer and non-believer.
But to benefit from this good news, two things are required:
• And notice you don't read a word about....
• Good works or Church attendance.
• About doing good or about keeping the law.
• Nothing about trying your best or being moral upright & paying your bills.
• They might reflect the Christian faith,
• But they don't qualify you for it, they don't save you!!!
Jesus said in verse 24, two things are required.
• A hearing ear: "Hears my word".
• And a believing heart: "Believes him who sent me".
Quote: Martin Luther the great reformer who said:
“God our Father has made all things depend on faith so that whoever has faith will have everything, and whoever does not have faith will have nothing”.
Claim #5: "I will raise the dead" (vs 25-29).
“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.
25 I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.
26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself.
27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.
28 Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice
29 and come out— those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.”
In another statement declaring, that what he says is the truth:
• Jesus makes another incredible statement,
• This time regarding resurrection from the dead.
• As you scan over verses 25-29,
• Notice three crystal-clear facts surface regarding the final judgement:
Ill:
• Fact 1: There will definitely be life after death.
• Fact 2: Every person will be affected by it.
• Fact 3: Mankind will fall into two and only two categories.
• i.e. The saved and the lost, depending on our response to Jesus Christ.
Personal: Let me get personal and let me state the obvious:
• These verses refer to you and I,
• As much as to the people of Jesus' day.
• Which group will you be in?
• Are you sure?
Claim #6: "I am always doing the will of God" (vs 30)
“By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me”.
• Jesus is clearly implying in this verse:
• That he consistently is seeking and doing the will of God.
• Jesus will go on to enlarge this idea later on in John's gospel,
• (John chapter 8 verse 28).
ill:
• Just as a shadow does not move on its own initiative:
• So with Jesus, he moves only in rhythm with the Father's footsteps.
In closing:
Question:
• Can you name me another person in history;
• Who can claim just ONE of these six statements?
• Have a think while I run through them again:
• (1). "I am equal with God" (verse 19-20).
• (2). "I am the giver of life" (verse 21 & 26).
• (3). "I am the final judge" (verse 22-23).
• (4). "I determine man's destiny" (verse 24).
• (5). "I will raise the dead" (verse 25-29).
• (6). "I am always doing the will of God" (verse 30).
Answer:
• There is not a single one, not a single person;
• Only Jesus Christ is able to fulfil these claims!
Quote: C.S. Lewis:
"You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon,
or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God,
but let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about him being a great human teacher,
he has not left that open to us, he did not intend to".
ill:
• In his book, ‘Loving God’
• Charles Colson tells about a Russian Jewish doctor;
• By the name of Boris Nicholayevich Kornfeld,
• He was a Russian Jewish doctor who committed a minor political crime in the 1950s.
• As a result he was sentenced to serve time in a most inhuman Russian prison.
• He suffered much abuse.
• But because he was a physician he did receive some privileges in the prison;
• In return for treating other prisoners.
• His treatment in prison would have been unbearable;
• Except that he developed a friendship with another prisoner;
• This prisoner was a Christian;
• Who through the quality of his witness brought Kornfeld to faith in Christ.
Kornfeld had a patient, he was a cancer patient, who was awaiting surgery:
• Kornfeld shared with him what Christ had done in his own life.
• Late into the night, the doctor stayed with his patient,
• And continued showing care and sharing with him the gospel.
• Later that night someone slipped into the doctor’s quarters;
• And brutally beat him to death.
• From a human standpoint that should be the end of the story, but, it is not.
• The cancer patient recovered from his surgery,
• But he was a changed man.
• Because of Kornfeld’s testimony, he too became a Christian,
• And what a Christian he became.
• His name--Alexander Solzhenitszyn,
• Who not only won the Nobel prize for Literature in 1970,
• But even more importantly,
• Became one of the world’s most influential voices for Christ.
Kornfeld and Solzhenitsyn both learned that the claims of Christ:
• Are meant to radically change our lives;
• And make radical changes in the lives of those around us.
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=zA7SlZeeIQrCim8slm5wkiuGiVoDb2l9
