Bible Study - Signs (3) - The Sign of HIS Authority - John 5:1-17 - March 16, 2025

 Bible Study – Signs (3) – The Sign of HIS Authority – John 5:1-17 – March 16, 2025

JESUS works in a way that goes beyond our expectations.

Our focus scripture is John 5:1-20.

Let’s read John 5:1-20:

We saw in last week’s study that JESUS healed the son of a certain royal official, as recorded in John 4: ⁴⁶ He (JESUS) went again to Cana of Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. There was a certain royal official whose son was ill at Capernaum. (Cana and Capernaum were about 17 miles apart) ⁴⁷ When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea into Galilee, he went to him and pleaded with him to come down and heal his son, since he was about to die. JESUS told this father that his son was healed, which the servants of the royal official confirmed the next day as the official and JESUS continued their journey.

JESUS makes it clear as recorded in John 5:19:

Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, the Son is not able to do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son likewise does these things.

Clearly the FATHER and The SON are ONE and since the Passion of JESUS, all who place their faith in JESUS are ONE with GOD and JESUS, as confirmed by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

The passion of JESUS and a person’s faith in JESUS, through the miracle of being Spirit-born, results in the “Born-again” person’s body being the Temple. WHY?

JESUS paid for the price of sin, in full, by HIS sinless life and by the shedding of HIS blood. JESUS paid for all sin, but every person must accept HIS gift through faith in JESUS. JESUS is the redeemed person’s High Priest. All who seek salvation come to GOD through faith in JESUS. There is no longer a need for those born-again to go to an earthly priest because every Spirit-born person has direct access to GOD and JESUS 24/7. But those Spirit-born need human counseling from a trusted source.

We who have been Spirit-born are called to go into all the world, as led by the indwelling Holy Spirit, and use the Spiritual Gifts GOD has given us.  

Caution: It is easy for those who are Spirit-born to seek Spiritual Gifts and not focus upon the giver of Spiritual Gifts or use it or them as HE leads.

Those called must do as JESUS did, “Only do what you see the FATHER doing.” FATHER, open the Spiritual eyes of all who are Born of YOUR SPIRIT to see YOU at work and then to join YOU in YOUR Work.

Let’s explore!!!

The Third Sign: Healing the Sick

5 After this, a Jewish festival took place, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ² By the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem there is a pool, called Bethesda^[a] in Aramaic, which has five colonnades. ³ Within these lay a large number of the disabled—blind, lame, and paralyzed.^[b]

⁵ One man was there who had been disabled for thirty-eight years. ⁶ When Jesus saw him lying there and realized he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to get well?”

JESUS may have seen this lame man early that day or over a number of days, either way, JESUS saw him and his need. JESUS approached the lame man with a very important question, “Do you want to get healed?” That seems like a strange question but if JESUS healed this man, JESUS knew that this man’s lifestyle would change; he no longer had an excuse.

There are some people who enjoy their poor circumstances life brings their way.

⁷ “Sir,” the disabled man answered, “I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I’m coming, someone goes down ahead of me.”

Often, we are misled by notions rather than truth. Notice, this poor soul was among other poor souls who were also in need of healing. Those gathered thought if they got into the water when it was “stirred” they would be healed. Did the stirring of the water result in healing or was it a placebo?

This man had been disabled for thirty-eight years.

⁸ “Get up,” Jesus told him, “pick up your mat and walk.” ⁹ Instantly the man got well, picked up his mat, and started to walk.

Now that day was the Sabbath, ¹⁰ and so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “This is the Sabbath. The law prohibits you from picking up your mat.”

¹¹ He replied, “The man who made me well told me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’”

¹² “Who is this man who told you, ‘Pick up your mat and walk’?” they asked. ¹³ But the man who was healed did not know who it was, because Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.^[c]

JESUS circled back to find the man HE had healed. The healed man was enjoying being healed and walking carrying his mat. JESUS went looking for this man and found him ----

¹⁴ After this, Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well. Do not sin anymore, so that something worse doesn’t happen to you.” ¹⁵ The man went and reported to the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. ¹⁶ Therefore, the Jews began persecuting Jesus^[d] because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.

The healing of this lame man was a sign to the Jews and JESUS made sure the healed man knew who had healed him.

We have to be careful not to get caught up in rituals and miss the blessing. The Law versus Grace. JESUS fulfilled the Law and established GRACE through HIS shed blood and HIS Passion.

The Jews began their search for this person who dared to heal this former lame man that made him so happy that he picked up his matt and was walking around the temple complex.

Honoring the Father and the Son

¹⁷ Jesus responded to them, “My Father is still working, and I am working also.” ¹⁸ This is why the Jews began trying all the more to kill him: Not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal to God.

¹⁹ Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, the Son is not able to do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father^[e] does, the Son likewise does these things. ²⁰ For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing, and he will show him greater works than these so that you will be amazed. ²¹ And just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son also gives life to whom he wants. ²² The Father, in fact, judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, ²³ so that all people may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

This is why all who desire to be saved from the consequence of sin, which is eternal death, must place their faith in JESUS and HIS Passion.

When a person places his/her faith in JESUS, a miracle takes places quicker than the twinkle of the eye. GOD’S Spirit joins with the human spirit and that person in “born-again.”

JESUS healing this lame man is the third miracle of JESUS.

Turning water into wine reveals HIS power over material things.

The healing of the royal official’s son without placing HIS hands on him reveals that JESUS does not have to be present to heal.

The healing of this man who had been lame for a long time and helpless to get into the waters by his own strength when the water stirred.

JESUS told the lame man:

⁸ “Get up,” Jesus told him, “pick up your mat and walk.” ⁹ Instantly the man got well, picked up his mat, and started to walk.

Keep in mind that this lame man did not know JESUS. JESUS spoke and the lame man was healed as he responded to the command of JESUS.

When we, who have been Spirit-born, respond to the command of GOD through the prompting of the Holy Spirit, we are strengthened as we put into action what GOD reveals to those who respond to HIS command.

Blessings!!!