As Jesus presented Himself to be God in the previous chapters, the reactions were somewhat reserved. Over the next three chapters that reservation turns into rage and into plans to kill Jesus.
To begin, Jesus finds a guy next to this pool who is lame and who has been superstitiously trying for 38 years to get healed. Jesus asks him if he wants to get healed, and even though he doesn’t answer Jesus’ question, Jesus says “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." And, as always, he is healed. This upsets the Jews because it happened on the Sabbath, a holy day of rest, so, as a result, they persecuted Jesus. Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working." 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.”
Jesus goes on to explain further His oneness with God the Father: “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.” Then comes one of the most profound statements summarizing the Gospel: “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.” What an amazing verse on what happens when someone truly believes!
Jesus then gives testimony to His claims. In the old testament, all claims had to be substantiated by 2 or more witnesses, so Jesus give these proofs:
1 – John the Baptizer (32-35)
2 – Jesus’ Works (35-36)
3 – The Father (37-38)
4 – OT Scriptures (39-47)
Our chapter then finishes with these two verses: “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.”
SO WHAT?!
*Myths, superstitions, fables, false beliefs will never lead us to the Jesus of the Bible who is God. There is only one way to come to God!
*Memorize verse 24 – it will be a blessing to us if we do AND to those whom we come into contact! Eternal life begins the moment we believe & receive! It is at that point when we cross over from death to life – whoohoo!!!
*Verses 39-40 are sobering. They warn us not to be so involved in religion that we miss the relationship with Jesus! Which of these would define your Christian life: Rules & Doing? Or Relationship & Being? The first two will drive you nuts and far away, the second ones will draw you near and give peace.
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