The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Pamphlet 1505
John chapter 5
 

Many people today have the very Word of God in their midst, right on their coffee table or book shelf. Of course they usually refer to it as the Bible, not the Word of God! Think about it!

In chapter 5 we are going to see Jesus heal an Impotent Man. This occasion will be the third of Jesus' eight miracles as recorded by the disciple whom Jesus loved.

John 5:1
After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

And although it doesn't say specifically, the feast for which Jesus went up to Jerusalem was most likely the Feast of Purim, which the Jews to this day celebrate in commemoration of Esther.

[2] Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.

Note: "Beth" is a Hebrew word which means "house". So Beth-esda means "house of kindness or mercy".  Beth-lehem means "house of bread", Beth-el means "house of God", Beth-saida means "house of fishing", Beth-aven means "house of vanity", etc. That's all, I'm out of beth!

[3] In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

Here's what was commonly believed and why they were gathered:

[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.

Now you can imagine this scene with people crowded all over the place and hanging around these 5 arches waiting to be the first to jump into the pool. Verse 13 let's us know that there was a great multitude, i.e. a huge crowd.

And the problem is, I can't find anywhere where it is written that there were any judges or referees to determine who was "numero uno" in the pool, but just knowing human nature, I'm sure there were problems. I can see it now... so here comes the water... 1, 2, 3... or "on your mark", "get set", "jump". "I'm healed, I'm healed!", screams hypochondriac number one. "No, I was first in the pool!"

Oh well, did we mention that the water was intermittent from the upper springs of the waters of Gihon?

Anyway, Jesus comes to the poolside and sees a cripple.

[5] And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

You should "see" this whole scene as people enslaved to the traditions of men, i.e. religion, believing that which is tradition and not documented in the Word of God. Actually when you look at some of the strange beliefs of certain denominations today, by comparison, this one concerning the angel at the pool is relatively shallow, so to speak.

John 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?

Of course Jesus was a realist and He knew this old boy was doing his best with the "religious knowledge" he was given by the religious system. It's just like Christianity today. Our people have a zeal for God, but they are ignorant of His Word. And just so you don't think I'm bashing our brothers and sisters [because I'm not, "There for but the grace of God go I"] here are the words of the apostle Paul:

Romans 10:2
For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

[3] For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

Meanwhile, back at the pool, Jesus has just asked the crippled man, "Do you want to be made whole?" Now you should know from previous studies that Jesus was speaking "deeper" than just the flesh being made whole. Verse 14 will document it!

John 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.

[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.

Hey, you can't carry your bed around on the Sabbath day!

[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.

Note: Many people today have the very Word of God in their midst, right on their coffee table or book shelf. Of course they usually refer to it as the Bible, not the Word of God! Think about it!

[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.

Of course, the "worse thing" that can come upon you is the "wages of sin", which is eternal death, i.e. to perish. So Jesus told the man to "sin no more".

[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.

Just remember that when Jesus heals someone, the healing is from within, i.e. to the inner man, and includes the opening of the eyes and the ears of those He so graciously touches:

Isaiah 29:18
And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.

The Jews have just accused Jesus Christ of breaking the "law" because He told the man He had "made whole" to take up his bed and walk. That meant the man would have to carry more weight than was permitted by the stupid "do's and don'ts rules" [traditions of men] of the Pharisees. Some things never change!

So the subject is the Sabbath day and here is what Jesus Christ had to say about it:

John 5:17
But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

John 5:17
"... My Father is still working and I am working." (R.S.V.)

John 5:17
"... My Father is still at work and therefore I work as well." (Phillips)

John 5:17
"... As my Father has continued working to this hour, so I work too." (Moffat)

And yet there are denominations who maintain that Christians should keep a Saturday Sabbath. Well, if you are a Christian, then you are a priest of God, and priests work on the Sabbath, don't they? In fact, if you are a Child of Light [1 Thes. 5:5 "Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.] then there is never even night!

So we will continue working in the field "all this day" until He who became our Sabbath [which means "Rest"] returns at the 7th Trump and ushers in the 7th Day, the Millennium. Then we'll work our buns off for that 1000 years too!

Rev. 20:6
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Note: If the Pharisees could have gotten our "Hate Crime" laws passed through the Roman Senate, they could have made the prosecution and crucifixion of Jesus even easier.

[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.

Luke 20:13-15
Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.

[14] But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.

[15] So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him...

And so the legacy of the first murderer, Cain, continues. We will document that the Pharisees are indeed the descendents of Cain when we get to chapter 8 of this Gospel of John.

John 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.

[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:

Perhaps we should hear the Son of God, the Word of God, explain it:

John 5:23
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.

Here's one example:

1 John 2:23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

Do not be deceived, there is only one way to receive eternal life and that's through "He who paid the price on the Cross!"

Here are Christ's words again:
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.

Now that you understand that, we will learn that since God is completely fair, non-interfering, and not a respecter of persons, that means that to be granted eternal life by Christ, i.e. to receive eternal life, is really TOTALLY UP TO YOU!

Remember that Jesus Christ has been given all authority in heaven and earth. Yet He came to this earth as the Lamb of God to make possible the salvation of the sons of God.

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.

Actually, it's pretty simple. If you are familiar with I Peter 3:19-20 then you know that as soon as Jesus was crucified and paid the price, He went to paradise and offered salvation to all those who had died [and were held captive by sin] from creation up to the crucifixion, and many washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb, meaning they accepted Him. And of course the Pharisees to whom He was speaking could have accepted Him, but they didn't.

The fact is we are all "dead" in sins until we accept Christ, and it is only He who can make us alive [grant us eternal life]. Read Ephesians chapter 2. Here are some highlights:

Ephes. 2:1
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Ephes. 2:5
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

John 5:26 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.

And it is written throughout the Old Testament of this One who would come, even the Son of Man, in whom all authority is vested:

Daniel 7:13
I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

[14] And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

John 5:28
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

Note: There was a miracle performed when Jesus rose from dead in which certain well-known-to-the-townsfolk people would appear to come forth from their graves and walk about town to document that the One crucified was indeed the Messiah. But verse 5:28 is not talking about that event as verse 29 clearly shows.

[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.

Notice though that two resurrections are mentioned in this verse: 1 = resurrection to life, 2 = resurrection to judgment [death].

Note: Though we don't have the space nor time to do an in-depth study about "resurrections" here, you should know that there is much confusion in the denominations of Christianity concerning the subject of resurrections. This is mainly due to the lack of scholarship and understanding about the original words and their English translations. A simple study of "rise", "raised", "resurrected", etc. will clarify things greatly.

In short, as Paul writes in 1 Cor. 15, all people when they die are "raised" [resurrected] to a spiritual [an incorruptible, non-bleeding, pain-free] body.This resurrection then is simply a change of bodies and has absolutely nothing to do with salvation or eternal life, i.e. mortality or immortality.

In addition to that change, as we just read in John 5:29, and again as Paul writes in 1 Cor. 15, some people receive eternal life, i.e. they are resurrected, elevated or raised, to eternal life [immortality], and some will remain mortal and eventually perish in the lake of fire.

And it is written that there are two (2) times that eternal life is granted. The first is called, you guessed it, the 1st Resurrection, which is when those who are Christ's at His coming [the elect] along with those who have overcome in this earth age are given, elevated, raised, etc. to the status of eternal life. There are many advantages to being in this first resurrection, like receiving a "double portion" of the inheritance.

The second granting of eternal life occurs after the Millennium and is for those who are saved during the Millennium.This is the second resurrection. It is also at this time that the lake of fire is brought into existence at which time Satan and those who don't make it will walk into it and perish, gone forever and ever.

Having read that, the next thought that comes to one's mind is that the choice is entirely up to the freewill of each individual. And that is exactly what Jesus addresses next.

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.

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.

There is an exception to this intervening, and that exception is God's elect who were chosen before the foundation of this world [Eph. 1:4], in the first earth age [II Pet. 3], to be used by Him to help bring about His plan of salvation. Since they, God's elect, already "decided" in the first earth age and were justified there (Rom. 8), our Father uses them as He will. That is why there was no altar call of the disciples. That is why Paul was knocked off his horse.  (If this is something new to you then we suggest you log unto this pamphlet) #4147   Paul was not saved by any alter call!  Paul was made an apostle by the "will of God", not by the "will of Paul".

However, the point Christ is making in verse 30, and it is a major point, is that Jesus is completely just [fair] in His judgment. In other words, He doesn't arbitrarily give eternal life to whomever He singles out. If you believe and trust in Him (John 3:16), the reward is yours. If you don't, you'll get what you deserve.

But I can tell you this: Your Father wants your love because you really love Him, not because you are afraid He will fry you. Just as you want your children to genuinely love you and hug you and warm your heart, so it is with our heavenly Father.

When you think about, He has given us so much our cups cannot contain it.

So think about it, and if you find it to be true then tell Him that you love Him.

Imagine having the very Word of God standing right in front of you, speaking directly to you. Would that be enough to convert you? Not if you don't want to listen!

Imagine having the very Word of God open on the table right in front of you. Would that be enough to convert you? Not if you don't want to listen!

Let's continue seeing what the Word of God has to say to the Pharisees, to whom He is speaking directly:

John 5:31
If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.

John 5:32
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.

John 5:35
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.

You see, the Pharisees then and their counterparts today did not and do not follow the scriptures, no, not even the Old Testament. They follow the Talmud, which are the traditions of men, and that is what abides in them, i.e. religion.

[39] Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

John 5:39
You study the scriptures diligently, supposing that in having them you have eternal life; yet, although their testimony points to me, you refuse to come to me for that life. (N.E.B.)

And as verse 39 says, the scriptures do testify of Jesus Christ. Here's just one example:

Deut. 18:15-19
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;

[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.

So God said, "I hear them LOUD and CLEAR"!

[17] And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken.

[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.

[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.

Let's return to the "message" being delivered to the Pharisees by the Messiah Himself.

John 5:40
And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

Jesus doesn't give up on them, but continues on:

[41] I receive not honour from men.

Too bad most ministers today don't have the courage to speak straight from the Word of God, regardless of who might not like it! Do you think Christ is impressed when they prance on stage and say, "Let's give a big hand to Jesus"?  He just answered that question in verse 41!

[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?

Let's bring it up to today's religious leaders. Who are they trying to impress when they say "the Lord told me this, and the Lord told me that?"  The scriptures declare "God didn't tell them" (Ezek. 13).

[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?

You see, to know the Written Word of God is to know the Living Word of God. Many claim to know the Living Word today, yet 95+% of professing Christians are Biblically illiterate, i.e. they don't know the Written Word. Go figure! Therefore as Christ warned, mass deception (due to lack of knowing His Word) would be the Number One sign of this generation:

Matthew 24:3
And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

[4] And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

[5] For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

You'd better know the Written Word in this final generation or someone has a big pair of clippers waiting to shear your soul!