Gospel of John - Authority in the Son

                                                               Authority in the Son

John 5:16-23

Many are quick to accuse, judge, and execute in our world today. I am watching this on several fronts in the world today. Governments and citizens, and even family and friends are condemning one another because of the vaccine, to do it or not to do it. There are controversies over just about everything, the only thing that everyone seems to agree on is the world is coming to an end, but they just can’t agree on the means and about how soon. Jesus came into a world of darkness and he shone the light of the gospel, the love of God for a lost and sin-filled world, and they didn’t realize it, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” Isa. 9:2 and “The true Light who gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” Jn. 1:9-11 

The truth that this message brings is that God is in charge, and has given His Son full authority to give life and to judge according to the will and purpose of God.

Jesus was working miracles of healings, signs and wonders, and revealing the light of God’s Word (Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path…The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. Ps. 119:105,130) and was now in the crosshairs of those bound by darkness because darkness doesn’t want the authority of God and they are blind to the truth. Let’s look at the first part of the text, “So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” For this reason they tried 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 with God. 

Application - I remember having a messianic rabbi stay with us at our home while he taught at our church. My children were all in elementary school. They asked him a question, Is God still working or is he still resting? The rabbi laughed with a belly laugh as he explained that the Father is always at work doing His will. Today, my children are in their forties with children and grandchildren of their own. They know that God is still working his plan and will even though the darkness doesn’t like it. Many in the world are still held captive to the darkness and blindness by the god of this age (The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Cor. 4:4) 

Many of our leaders in the world do not believe that Jesus has absolute authority  just like in Lk.8:22-56. Jesus has all authority to protect from natural and demonic attacks, heal the infirmed, to raise the dead. The leaders desire the authority to do their own will, but they don’t realize that there is a power that even controls their impure motives. If this pandemic has taught us anything as believers, it should be to trust in the authority of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. He works even when men have tried to ban him too. So are you going to trust the one who controls nature, can heal the most impossible diseases (even man-made ones), and who has defeated the god of this world, and promised to set the captives free with the truth of his Word?

Last, Jesus knew God the Father, and God the Father knew His Son. It was because of the man-made rules, laws, and personal opinions of the leaders that Jesus was now having to defend himself for doing good, even on the Sabbath. Let’s look at the next part of the text, “Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. 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. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.”

Jesus, who is the truth, begins his answer with the truth. “Very truly I tell you”. The teachers of the law and government leaders didn’t want the truth, they wanted to have control and authority. So when Jesus began to do the work of the Father, it totally rubbed them the wrong way. 

 They began to plot out to murder Jesus, and flew in the face of the command of God, “You shall not murder!” 

Jesus responded in wisdom and love, “the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does.” Jesus knew the leader’s hearts, for later he would tell them that their father was the devil (Jn. 8:44). Jesus wanted all those in the temple area during the feast to hear the truth, that he knows the Father, and the Father loves his Son, and all that Jesus does is because he is following his Father’s way as his Father shows him his plan and will. Jesus continues to explain the Father through the history of the Jewish people, “Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. 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.” Jesus uses the past to help them understand the present. God used the prophets to raise the dead, the prophet Elisha prayed and the Shunammite woman’s son raised from the dead (2 Kings 4:32-35) and the prophet Elijah prayed and God raised a young boy from death (1 Kings 17:17-24). Jesus now proclaims that the Son has the authority to do as the Father does, and to whom Jesus desires to give it. Jesus later tells his disciples that He has come to give life and have it to the full (Jn. 10:10). 

The leaders were learning a lesson on the justness of the Father. Let’s look at the text again, “Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.” The Father gives authority to whom He desires, and He gives the Son the authority to judge in truth, honor, and righteousness. The leaders had held that they were the ultimate authority because of their previous works and lineage to other religious leaders. Jesus points out that He comes entrusted by the Father to judge, for those who honor the Father will honor the Son as well. The leaders were learning that honor was not something one conferred on oneself, but to be bestowed only by God. Jesus then placed the sword of the Spirit (Heb. 4:12) at the hearts of the leaders, for they had not honored the Son nor the Father in their hearts or their oral laws.

Application - The world is full of laws pertaining to justice in every aspect of life. Almost all of these laws are man-made and directed in keeping authority in the hands of the few, either self-appointed or pier-appointed leaders. Most do not recognize the Word of God as authoritative in the halls of politics or courts of justice. Even in most of the courtrooms in the United States, they no longer use the Bible in the swearing in of witnesses or as the authentic source of truth . In the halls of Congress, they no longer pray nor will allow prayer to God for wisdom, guidance, or to honor God with the decisions on how to rule this country. Like the leaders in Jesus’ day, they believe that they have the final authority, whether to give life or death, to free or to bind, to promote truth or perpetuate a lie. 

In contrast to the leaders in the world, Jesus is still sitting on the throne of heaven and earth with all authority. He is still giving eternal life and that to the full to all who believe and trust in him for salvation. He is ruling with justice, honor, and righteousness and he is interceding for those that he created. He is doing greater works of signs and wonders, healing and raising the dead, and most of all he is the light to this world through those that he has empowered by His Holy Spirit and has called mankind, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” Rom. 8:28-30

Just like God, who sent Jesus, he has called and sent us to do the work of the Father, and like Jesus, if we are in Him, we will hear and do his will. Jesus will work the impossible through us according to the Father’s good purpose. Jesus came into this world to save it, and he did! We are called to be faithful, obedient, and yielded to the work of the Holy Spirit, as we share the truth of the gospel, we too will see greater works of righteousness until the day he calls us home.

I’m again including the ABC’s of salvation (JD Farag). Please, Jesus, God the Son, came to this world to save all who would believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you, He is the Light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and all authority in heaven and earth have been given to him. He will answer you if you will truly believe. If you haven’t asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

 First, A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Second,

 B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Third, 

C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis

 

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