???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????JOHN 5:1-18 ?????????????????????????????????????????????????Lesson # 9

???????????????????????HELPING PEOPLE EVEN WHEN IT IS POLITICALLY INCORRECT

I.? Introduction:

???????????Note:? Our text tonight is an amazing example of who Jesus is!!? Before we start reading John 5, I want to ask two questions….

???????????????????????Question number One.

???????????Q? Where does the New Testament idea of the “Fatherhood of God” originate?? Is it original with Jesus or did it start in the Old Testament?

????????????? An =? One of the key metaphors in the Old Testament used to talk of God in the human category of “Father”.? Turn to Exodus 4:22 (first-born), then Deuteronomy 32:6 (who created you).

???????????Q Is God by nature masculine?

????????????? An = Actually, no!? Sometimes God is called “mother”, rather the key idea is God is our origin.? Fundamentally this is seen in creation, but also when he redeems or calls us into being spiritually like He did to Israel.? In the New Testament, He creates in us a new creation, through the work of salvation.

???????????????????????Question number Two.

???????????Q? Has anyone ever helped you at great cost to themselves? ??Have you ever gotten into trouble for helping someone else?

????????????? An = Let them share.

???????????Note:? We are going to see Jesus get into trouble on both of these issues:? the fatherhood of God and getting in deep trouble for helping someone.? We will deal with the “helping” issue first….

II.? Introduction to the Scene:? In A Public Place.? John 5:1-5

>>>> Have someone read John 5:1-5.

???????????Q? Where is the location of this story?

????????????? An = In general terms the story takes place in Jerusalem.? In specific terms it takes place at the Sheep Gate near the pool called Bethesda.

???????????Q? What is the situation at the Pool of Bethesda?

????????????? An = In general there are many sick there;? in specific there is an afflicted whose illness has spanned 38 years.

???????????Q What is the time reference??

????????????? An = In general the story takes place at a feast time.? In specific terms the author wisely waits awhile before giving us that information.? It is crucial information and he wisely withholds it.? We shall soon see why….

III.? Scene Proper:? A Healing and the Reaction It Causes.? John 5:6-14.

?? A.? The Healing of the afflicted man.? John 5:6-9.

>>>>? Have someone read John 5:6-7.

???????????Q? What is Jesus’ question and why does He ask this?

????????????? An = Let them give their answers.? He could be making the man articulate his need.? He could be just opening the conversation and guiding it where He wants it because that is what He intends to do.

???????????Q? What is the afflicted man’s answer?

????????????? An = In essence his answer to the question is yes, but his focus is on the negative conditions that his life contains.? He points out his sick condition and therefore his slowness and his lack of resources, i.e. no help is available.

???????????Q? Does God want us to tell Him about our lack of resources, our disabled conditions not only physically, but economically, emotionally, psychologically?

????????????? An = Let’s see if Jesus is offended or put off….

>>>>? Have someone read John 5:8

???????????Q? How does Jesus respond to the man’s report of all the “lacks” in his life?

????????????? An = He does not discuss the lacks but offers another solution.? He makes a demand on this man, an impossible demand!?

???????????Q? How many demands or commands does Jesus make of this man?? What are they?

????????????? An = Three:? arise, pick up your mat, and walk.? It is going to be very significant that Jesus mentions these three specific commands.

>>>> Have someone read John 5:9

???????????Q? What are the results?

????????????? An = The man is healed, helped, changed.

???????????Q? What does this mean for us in our lives today?? Will God act the same way today, what could this possibly look like in light of your particular “lacks”?

???????????Q? One last question before we move on…what is the specific time reference given by the author as he concludes his description of the healing?

????????????? An = It was on the Sabbath.

?? B.? The Response To The Healing:? A Storm of Protest, Not Joy or Gratitude.? John 5:10-14.

>>>>? Have someone read John 5:10-13.

???????????Q? What do the religious authorities, the elders, deacons, priests or ministers of that time center on?

????????????? An = They center not on the man’s good fortune, his healing, his deliverance, but the mere fact that he is carrying his mat on the Sabbath.

???????????Q? Is the man intimidated?

????????????? An = It is unclear, but he seemingly is.? He is seemingly not a particularly brave or strong individual.

???????????Q? Why did the man not know his healer was Jesus?

???????????Q? Could Jesus have healed the man, shown compassion, done a good deed, done it anonymously (like a good Christian should according to Matthew 6:1-18)?

????????????? An = Yes, Jesus seems to do miracles out of compassion.? He saw this hurting man.? He could have expressed that compassion and just slipped away, but Jesus is a bit of a “trouble maker”….? In fact, Jesus is seemingly looking for trouble.

???????????Q? Why didn’t Jesus just tell the man to arise and walk, why add the bit about “carrying the mat”?? It was that issue that got Jesus in trouble, why did Jesus add that third command?? Jesus knew it was the Sabbath.

???????????Q? Are we not to be like Jesus?? Are we to be trouble makers?? How so?

>>>>? Have someone read John 5:14.

? ?????????Q? What seems to be Jesus’ motivation for contacting the man?? What is Jesus’ agenda?

????????????? An = Jesus does not work a crowd for His own benefit.? He does not heal for the building up of His own image.? He heals because He cares and His care drives Him to worry about the man’s soul as well as about the man’s body.? Jesus knows physical health is one thing, spiritual health is another.? What good is it for a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?

???????????Q? Is God still like that?? What could that mean for us today?

???????????Note:? Jesus acknowledges the man’s health then warns and follows the warning with a threat.? Jesus is not nice here, but He certainly is loving.? Niceness is not always the best way to love.

???????????Q? What does Jesus’ helpful warning, His concern for the afflicted man’s spiritual condition cost Him?

????????????? An = It exposes Him.? He is found out.?

???????????Q? Have you ever gotten into trouble for helping someone?

IV.? Conclusion to the Scene:? Betrayal and Persecution.? John 5:15-16.

>>>>? Have someone read John 5:15-16.

???????????Q? Do you think the man was appreciative?

???????????Q? Do people sometimes act this way?? Does having good goals, and doing good things mean people will respond positively and see our motives?

???????????Q? What is the reaction to Jesus’ power to deliver a man bound by illness for 38 years?

????????????? An = They begin persecuting Jesus because He seems to be a Sabbath breaker.? There seems to be no joy over the healing.? Rather it is a perceived threat to their religious categories.? Is there an Old

Testament law against healing on the Sabbath?

???????????Q? Did Jesus break the Sabbath?

???????????Q? Why did Jesus do this??

???????????Q? One last question, what does the God of the Old Testament think?? Was God the Father pleased?

?????????????

V.? Jesus Adds to the Storm:? Sources Are revealed?? John 5:17-18

>>>>? Have someone read John 5:17-18.

???????????Q? Why did Jesus say more?? What was His goal?

???????????Q? Is Jesus specifically saying He is co-equal with God?

????????????? An = Technically no.? He is using the familiar “God is our Father” metaphor that is so prominent in the Old Testament.? In essence the Jews were probably correct in sensing Jesus was going beyond the normal understanding of being a “son of God”.

???????????Note:? The opposition to Jesus was becoming deadly.? Jesus was not just “ticking them off” He was enraging them.? Jesus seems to be looking for trouble.

???????????Q? Can Jesus prove God is pleased with His decision to heal and His decision to do so in such an irritating manner?

????????????? An = The proof is in the miracle.? The man was healed.? God heals, not man and the power flowing through Jesus is that of His Father.? He is like His Father.

???????????Q? Will God back up our actions like this??

????????????? An = If our goals are Jesus’ goals.? The key is are we willing to face the opposition He faced.? Are willing to be compassionate, to be spiritually challenging and caring and are we willing to be unappreciated and hated?

???????????Note? The question that challenges me is one of wanting to let people know the truth, even at the cost of disturbing false religion so folks can get real religion, so they can live.? The challenge is for me to love people like Jesus loved people.? He is amazing.

???????????

?