Note for 20241207 - The Gospel of Jesus Christ - Part 08 - John 5 - Am I Like That

 

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

According to John

Read Through The Bible

“As it Happened” Bible Reading Plan

Day 021

Genesis 27 to 29

Part 08 - John 5 - Am I Like That

The Audio Version of today’s note

The House of Bread · Voice Note for 20241207 - TheGospelofJesusChrist-Part07-John5-Am I LikeThat

John 5:1-47 KJV

[1] After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. [2] Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. [3] In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. [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. [5] And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. [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? [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. [8] Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. [9] And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. [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. [11] He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. [12] Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk? [13] And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place. [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. [15] The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. [16] And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. [17] But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. [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. [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. [20] 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. [21] For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. [22] For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: [23] 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. [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. [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. [26] For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; [27] and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. [28] Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, [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. [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. [31] If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. [32]  There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. [33] Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. [34] But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. [35] He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. [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. [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. [38] And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. [39]  Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. [40] And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. [41] I receive not honour from men. [42] But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. [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. [44] How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? [45] Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. [46] For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. [47] But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

https://bible.com/bible/1/jhn.5.1-47.KJV

Note for 20241207

Surely by now, this is not the first time you hear about the healing of this man. The interesting thing for me is that Jesus did not reveal to this man at first who He was. He knew this man had a measure of faith, for all the years that he was laying in wait for the opportunity to slip into the water to be healed. Indeed, when He said to the man to take up his bed and walk, he did and was healed, not knowing that it was The Christ that had healed him. His faith healed him, but not without Christ Jesus. No, without Christ he would have remained here waiting for the angel to trouble the water. That in itself, the angel troubling the water, is something to consider. Was it based on grace or competition, here in the heart of Jerusalem?

As we have come to see so clearly in the New Testament, when trouble is stirred up about a work that came from GOD, those who received the Law from Moses scrutinize the work. By the Law man is condemned and may know what iniquity is. Serving the outer man, they bring charges against one another, forgetting that the Law also says to love thy neighbour as thyself. So these "law abiding" men investigate the man who carries his bed on the Sabbath, but where were they when he needed a man to help him to the water?

Now, if you permit me, let me teach you something about mankind. My hope is that you know this already, and do not make yourself guilty of the same. We look at the concept of oppression. You see, when a man seeks honor for himself, by that self-interest he brings others low so he himself will stand out higher than others. If their heart was for the healing of their brethren, they would have had joy with him for being healed and not condemn him for carrying his bed on the Sabbath. Instead, the iniquity they saw was greater than his healing. Essentially, these Pharisees were projecting that others had to be like them to be holy and blessed by the Lord. They looked at the law, maybe forgetting the merciful kindness of the LORD. In that, they were blind to the miracle and intent on condemning their follow man.

Now there is much to be said about the interaction of these with the Lord Jesus Christ as it is written here, but undoubtedly you may have heard sermons on that before. Let us then look at that which may have been missed in previous readings, or sermons you may have heard.

In response to the Word of GOD, we ask ourselves the question: "Am I like that?" So can we compare ourselves for measure against the man that was healed or against those that brought accusations against him and Jesus Christ. So, for a change, let us ask ourselves this: "Can I be filled with joy for the gain of my brother?" This man was healed miraculously, there should be joy for how he was blessed. Yet will you get those who ask in themselves, "the Lord has helped this man, why has He not helped me?" And right there, self-interest is identified again. We see the same when others are blessed with fortune in this world, does anyone have anything which the Lord has not permitted? Even if it is by theft, then was it permitted unto condemnation by the Lord. The workers of iniquity will continue doing their works of iniquity, and by their iniquity they condemn themselves. Without repentance, our sin "sticks" to us and remains until we either repent or are found in sin at the day of judgment. He that repents, brings the judgement forward. Essentially saying, "LORD, look at me I am a sinner. I have sinned against Thee and my fellow man, and now I have found this fault in me and repent of it. Forgive me." When we repent, the LORD is swift to forgive. Then the judgment is done, and you are pardoned of your sin. 

Look in this section of scripture what Christ said to the man that He healed when He found him later again, that he has been healed and should sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto him. This brings our infirmities directly in relation to our sin. The wise man then searches in himself when he suffers such infirmities, whether he has repented before the Lord. Now, this matter is somewhat complex, because we know from the account of the man that Christ healed that was cripple from birth, that Christ said that it was not for his sin or that of his parents that he was a cripple, but that GOD could be glorified in him. The wise man thus tests all things, if it be of GOD. When Paul prayed to the Lord to remove the thorn from his flesh, the Lord answered him and said that His grace was sufficient for him. Sometimes, we are restrained by something, so that we will not think too highly of ourselves and forget to Honor God in all. To trust the Lord is like Abraham trusted the Lord when he bound Isaac upon the altar. For if the Lord did not provide the substitution ram, Abraham believed that GOD would raise Isaac from death. This then a foresight of the faith in God, that He could raise one from the dead as He did for His only begotten Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ of Whom we read here in the text.

So, today, I have taken you through some considerations you might not have considered before. The message on this day is in the question, whether we will be joy filled for the sake of a brother when He is blessed by the Lord, or condemn him in envy? Either way, the fruit is not the same, and by the fruit of the tree shall we be known. By the fruit we can know others and ourselves. While we still draw breath, we can come to the Lord and bring judgment forward seeking His mercy and grace. For He that repents before the Lord shall be forgiven by what Christ did upon the cross. But he that continues on in his sin, a worst thing will befall him.

So also is the text confirmed, that wisdom starts in the fear of the Lord. For it is a frightful thing to fall into the hand of the Living GOD.

Shalom

The House of Bread

Verse of The Day

From the YouVersion Bible App (expanded from verse 8)

Romans 5:8-11 KJV

[8] But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. [9] Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. [10] For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. [11] And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

https://bible.com/bible/1/rom.5.8-11.KJV