Jesus Is Authority and Judge John 5:19-29 SS Lesson for 01/14/2007

Transcription

1 Devotional Scripture: 2 Thess 1:5-12 Jesus Is Authority and Judge John 5:19-29 SS Lesson for 01/14/2007 OUTLINE INTRODUCTION OVERVIEW AND APPROACH TO LESSON LESSON INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND From the NIV Standard Lesson Commentary From the Bible Expositor and Illuminator MAJOR THEME ANALYSIS JESUS' AUTHORITY IN POWER AND WORKS (JOHN 5:19-21) Jesus has same power as God (vs 19) Jesus has same power as God because God put all things under Jesus' power (John 13:3) Jesus has same power as God because Jesus has all authority (Matt 28:18) Jesus has same power as God because God exalted Jesus above all powers (Eph 1:20-21) Jesus has same power as God because Jesus is Lord of all (Phil 2:9-11) Jesus has same power as God because Jesus created all things (Col 1:16-17) Jesus has same knowledge as God (vs 20) Jesus has same knowledge as God because He has the Spirit and Mind of God (1 Cor 2:10-16) Jesus has same knowledge as God because all things were committed to Jesus (Matt 11:27) Jesus has same knowledge as God because Jesus is the only One who knows what God knows (John 17:25-26) Jesus has same sovereignty as God (vs 21) Jesus has same sovereignty as God because His kingdom is in heaven (John 18:36) Jesus has same sovereignty as God because Jesus has control of all things (John 10:17-18) Jesus has same sovereignty as God because no one has authority over Jesus (John 19:10-11) Jesus has same sovereignty as God because Jesus is the very nature of God (Phil 2:6-8) Jesus has same sovereignty as God because Jesus chooses as He pleases (Matt 11:27) JESUS' AUTHORITY IN JUDGMENT AND HONOR (JOHN 5:22-23) Jesus has been appointed as Judge (vs 22) Jesus is the judge who will reward according to what has been done (Matt 16:27) Jesus is the judge of the nations (Matt 25:31-33) Jesus is the judge of the living and the dead (Acts 10:42) Jesus judges men's secrets (Rom 2:16) Jesus is the judge at the judgement seat of Christ (2 Cor 5:10) Jesus deserves honor (vs 23) Jesus deserves the honor of love and leadership (Matt 10:37-38) Jesus deserves the honor of acknowledgement (Luke 12:8-9) Jesus deserves the honor of trust (John 14:1) Jesus deserves the honor because we belong to Him (Rom 14:8) Jesus deserves the honor of confession of being Lord (Phil 2:10-11) JESUS' AUTHORITY IN GIVING ETERNAL LIFE (JOHN 5:24-27) Eternal life through belief (vs 24) Belief in the Name of Jesus (John 3:16-18) Belief that Jesus is the Son of God (John 3:36) Belief that Jesus is the Christ (John 20:31) Belief through being born of God (1 John 5:1) Eternal life through hearing (vs 25) Hearing and Living (from the NIV Standard Lesson Commentary) Hearing the gospel (Rom 10:14) Hearing about the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:2) Hearing the Word of God (1 Thess 2:13) Jesus Is Authority and Judge Page 1 of 11 SS Lesson for 01/14/2007

2 Hearing the Holy Spirit (Rev 2:7) Jesus is eternal life (vs 26-27) Jesus is eternal life because no one comes to the Father except through Jesus (John 14:6) Jesus is eternal life because Jesus is the bread of life (John 6:33) Jesus is eternal life because Jesus has the words of eternal life (John 6:67-68) Jesus is eternal life because He is the resurrection (John 11:25) JESUS' AUTHORITY OVER DEATH AND RESURRECTION (JOHN 5:28-29) Jesus defeated death (vs 28) Jesus defeated death through the gospel (2 Tim 1:10) Jesus defeated death through grace (Rom 5:17) God gave us the victory over death through Jesus (1 Cor 15:54-57) Jesus is coming back to resurrect His Church (vs 29) Jesus is coming back to resurrect after He prepares our places (John 14:2-3) Jesus is coming back to resurrect through the rapture (1 Thess 4:16-17) Jesus is coming back to resurrect and bring salvation (Heb 9:28) CONCLUSION AND OTHER THOUGHTS CONCLUDING THOUGHTS FROM THE NIV STANDARD LESSON COMMENTARY CONCLUDING THOUGHTS FROM THE BIBLE EXPOSITOR AND ILLUMINATOR PRACTICAL POINTS FROM THE BIBLE EXPOSITOR AND ILLUMINATOR HEART OF THE LESSON FROM THE BIBLE EXPOSITOR AND ILLUMINATOR Jesus' authority in power and works (John 5:19-21) Jesus' authority in judgment and honor (John 5:22-23) Jesus' authority in giving eternal life (John 5:24-27) Jesus' authority over death and resurrection (John 5:28-29) Jesus Is Authority and Judge Page 2 of 11 SS Lesson for 01/14/2007

3 Introduction Overview and Approach to Lesson The lesson's major outline came from the Bible Expositor and Illuminator. The lesson examines Jesus, His authority and judgment. The study's aim is to learn about Jesus' unity with God and specifically in issues of life and judgment. The study's application is to understand and appreciate the unique unity of the Father and the Son and how that affects the Christian life. Lesson Introduction and Background From the NIV Standard Lesson Commentary We often say that someone is a chip off the old block when a child is very much like a parent. In such cases we can learn a lot about someone just by looking at his or her children. This fact is evident to teachers and youth workers, who often see kids do and say things that they could have learned only at home. Jesus frequently appeals to this principle in the Gospel of John to discuss his sonship his unique identity as God s only-begotten Son. While we often think of Jesus sonship in terms of his virginal conception, etc., Jesus usually mentions the sonship issue to highlight his complete unity with, and obedience to, the Father. As such we learn what God is like by looking at Jesus. Our text today follows the story of the healing at Bethesda (John 5:1 9). While in Jerusalem for a feast (v. 1), Jesus visited a pool where many sick people gathered for medical care. There he met a man who had been lame for 38 years. To the great surprise of the crowd and especially to the surprise of the man himself Jesus commanded him to rise, take his cot, and walk. The miracle generated controversy, however, because it took place on the Sabbath. That was the weekly day of rest (v. 9). Some Jewish authorities who believed that carrying cots and healing were works prohibited on the Sabbath confronted the man and learned what Jesus had done. When those authorities challenged Jesus, he justified his actions by noting God s power at work (v. 17). If God chooses to work on the Sabbath, who can object? The Jews considered this blasphemous. So they conspired to kill Jesus for making himself equal with God (v. 18). Jesus comments in our text are a response to this persecution. From the Bible Expositor and Illuminator Those who have carefully studied the chronology of Jesus' life tell us that John 5 recounts events near the beginning of His second year of public ministry, For the first six months, He was in Jerusalem and Judea. After that He took a tour of Galilee. By that time, He was quite well known in both the northern and the southern areas of Israel. Most of His second year was spent in Galilee. In John 5 we find Jesus making a visit to Jerusalem to attend a feast that is not identified. He faced antagonism there, where He was not as popular as He was in Galilee. It began after He miraculously healed the man beside the pool of Bethesda who had been crippled with an infirmity for thirty-eight years (vs 5). Once the man told the Jewish leaders who had healed him, they determined to kill Jesus, primarily because He had done this work on the Sabbath (vs. 16). When they confronted Jesus, He told them that He was simply carrying on the work that His Father had been doing (vs. 17). That inflamed them even more. Now, along with working on the Sabbath, He had made Himself equal to God. The deity of Jesus Christ is the foundational doctrine of our Christian faith. The Apostle John's purpose was to reveal Jesus Christ as the Son of God. This week's lesson reinforces the deity of Jesus by revealing aspects of His unique relationship with the Father. Major Theme Analysis (Scriptural Text from the New King James Version; cross-references from the NIV) Jesus Is Authority and Judge Page 3 of 11 SS Lesson for 01/14/2007

4 Jesus' Authority in Power and Works (John 5:19-21) 19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. 20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. Jesus has same power as God (vs 19) Jesus has same power as God because God put all things under Jesus' power (John 13:3) 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; Jesus has same power as God because Jesus has all authority (Matt 28:18) 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Jesus has same power as God because God exalted Jesus above all powers (Eph 1:20-21) 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. Jesus has same power as God because Jesus is Lord of all (Phil 2:9-11) 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Jesus has same power as God because Jesus created all things (Col 1:16-17) 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Jesus has same knowledge as God (vs 20) Jesus has same knowledge as God because He has the Spirit and Mind of God (1 Cor 2:10-16) The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: 16 "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ. Jesus has same knowledge as God because all things were committed to Jesus (Matt 11:27) 27 "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Jesus Is Authority and Judge Page 4 of 11 SS Lesson for 01/14/2007

5 Jesus has same knowledge as God because Jesus is the only One who knows what God knows (John 17:25-26) 25 "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." Jesus has same sovereignty as God (vs 21) Jesus has same sovereignty as God because His kingdom is in heaven (John 18:36) 36 Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place." Jesus has same sovereignty as God because Jesus has control of all things (John 10:17-18) 17 "Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father." Jesus has same sovereignty as God because no one has authority over Jesus (John 19:10-11) 10 "Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?" 11 Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin." Jesus has same sovereignty as God because Jesus is the very nature of God (Phil 2:6-8) 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death even death on a cross! Jesus has same sovereignty as God because Jesus chooses as He pleases (Matt 11:27) 27 "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Jesus' Authority in Judgment and Honor (John 5:22-23) 22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. Jesus has been appointed as Judge (vs 22) Jesus is the judge who will reward according to what has been done (Matt 16:27) 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. Jesus is the judge of the nations (Matt 25:31-33) 31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Jesus Is Authority and Judge Page 5 of 11 SS Lesson for 01/14/2007

6 Jesus is the judge of the living and the dead (Acts 10:42) 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. Jesus judges men's secrets (Rom 2:16) 16 This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares. Jesus is the judge at the judgement seat of Christ (2 Cor 5:10) 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. Jesus deserves honor (vs 23) Jesus deserves the honor of love and leadership (Matt 10:37-38) 37 "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Jesus deserves the honor of acknowledgement (Luke 12:8-9) 8 "I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. 9 But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God. Jesus deserves the honor of trust (John 14:1) 14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. Jesus deserves the honor because we belong to Him (Rom 14:8) 8 If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Jesus deserves the honor of confession of being Lord (Phil 2:10-11) 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Jesus' Authority in Giving Eternal Life (John 5:24-27) 24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. 25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Eternal life through belief (vs 24) Belief in the Name of Jesus (John 3:16-18) 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but Jesus Is Authority and Judge Page 6 of 11 SS Lesson for 01/14/2007

7 whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. Belief that Jesus is the Son of God (John 3:36) 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." Belief that Jesus is the Christ (John 20:31) 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. Belief through being born of God (1 John 5:1) 5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. Eternal life through hearing (vs 25) Hearing and Living (from the NIV Standard Lesson Commentary) A couple of years ago, there was a series of television commercials featuring cell phones and phone service. In numerous variations a man talking on a cell phone would move to different locations and ask, Can you hear me now? The commercials thus depicted the technician trying to discover locations where the cell-phone transmission wouldn t reach. The point of the commercials was that that particular phone service was superior to that provided by other companies having inadequate technology or equipment. That Can you hear me now? phrase became a cultural staple for a brief time. To hear, however, means more than merely listening. When a parent is laying down the law to a child, the parent may say, Do you hear what I m saying? This is not a question of just hearing. It means, Do you recognize the significance of what I am saying, and is it going to change your behavior? The old message from the herald, Hear ye, hear ye, meant more than just mere listening. The herald was providing information that should result in action. The U.S. Army uses the phrase HUA (pronounced who-ah). This stands for Heard, Understood, Acknowledged. To hear properly leads to obedience. That is the impact of what Jesus is saying: They that hear shall live. Merely listening is not sufficient. If we properly hear the words of Jesus, we will incorporate them into our thinking and modify our behavior accordingly. Those that hear appropriately shall then live because their actions will be in tune with God s will. Hearing the gospel (Rom 10:14) 14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? Hearing about the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:2) 2 and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." Hearing the Word of God (1 Thess 2:13) 13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. Hearing the Holy Spirit (Rev 2:7) 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. Jesus Is Authority and Judge Page 7 of 11 SS Lesson for 01/14/2007

8 Jesus is eternal life (vs 26-27) Jesus is eternal life because no one comes to the Father except through Jesus (John 14:6) 6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Jesus is eternal life because Jesus is the bread of life (John 6:33) 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." Jesus is eternal life because Jesus has the words of eternal life (John 6:67-68) 67 "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. 68 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Jesus is eternal life because He is the resurrection (John 11:25) 25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; Jesus' Authority over Death and Resurrection (John 5:28-29) 28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. Jesus defeated death (vs 28) Jesus defeated death through the gospel (2 Tim 1:10) 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Jesus defeated death through grace (Rom 5:17) 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. God gave us the victory over death through Jesus (1 Cor 15:54-57) 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." 55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is coming back to resurrect His Church (vs 29) Jesus is coming back to resurrect after He prepares our places (John 14:2-3) 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. Jesus Is Authority and Judge Page 8 of 11 SS Lesson for 01/14/2007

9 Jesus is coming back to resurrect through the rapture (1 Thess 4:16-17) 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Jesus is coming back to resurrect and bring salvation (Heb 9:28) 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. Conclusion and Other Thoughts Concluding Thoughts from the NIV Standard Lesson Commentary A good friend of ours is a police captain. I once asked him what we should do if a policeman came to our house or we were stopped for a traffic violation. He said, In one word, cooperate. You re not going to argue with a cop, so don t. My wife very recently profited from this advice when she parked momentarily in a fire lane to pick up a large item in a store. A police officer came in looking for her, and she avoided an expensive fine by listening quietly and following his orders. Jesus offers similar advice in our passage today. God is the boss, and he has given Jesus all authority to judge us. We re not in a position to argue with him or to question what he says. If we want to stay out of trouble, our only hope is simply to follow his instructions. Make no mistake: there won t be any arguing about the situation on Judgment Day! But people foolishly try to argue with God, don t they? Such arguments can take several forms. The most serious way we argue with God is through sin itself. God, the judge and lawgiver, has defined what sin is. He has commanded us to avoid it. When we go ahead and commit sin anyway, we are saying, in effect, I know better than you do, God. Thus our sin becomes our argument against him and his will. Such sin is obvious when we break one of the Thou shalt not commandments. A less obvious way to argue with God is in resisting his will for us after we become Christians. Jonah knew God s direction for his life but chose to do something different (Jonah 1:3). Is God calling you into a particular ministry or service? Don t argue go! Concluding Thoughts from the Bible Expositor and Illuminator To not honor the One to whom all authority and ultimate judgment have been given is not at all a wise thing to do. Yet it happens all the time today, seemingly with increasing intensity and hatred. Christians are told to be tolerant, yet sincere believers in Christ are treated with intolerance by a world that acts much the same as the religious leaders of Jesus' day. What made matters worse for the hostile crowd that shadowed Jesus and sought to kill Him was the fact they had incontrovertible evidence before them of His divinity but still could not bring themselves to believe in Him. To not believe in Jesus, then or now, is to lose out on the very thing the soul of mankind so desperately wants and needs life that never ends and the absence of judgment. Jesus told those so vehemently against Him that the one they hated with great passion was the very one they should listen to and honor by believing in Him. Let us look at how He expressed Himself. John 5:24 begins with a double amen (in the original), which is translated "Verily, verily." meaning "Truly, truly." Every word Jesus spoke is important, and the same can be said for the entire Bible. But when Jesus says, "Verily, verily," the reader/hearer should pay close attention. What Jesus wants any and all to know is that it is extremely urgent to hear what He has to say. To hear means not only to hear with the ear but also to do with the will. It is to be obedient to the words one hears. A motivating factor to get people to want to listen to Jesus is contained in the truth that Jesus was highly honored by the Father when He gave Him the gifts of authority and ultimate judgment. Jesus has the authority to give everlasting life to those He wills. The way to receive the gift from Christ is certainly not by criticizing Him, let alone by seeking His death. Yet that is how the crowd of religious leaders felt in that day, and those seeking to remove God from the public square, schools, and areas where someone might be offended are no different today. To seek to eradicate God is just like trying to kill Him. The way to receive the gift of life from Jesus is the way of Jesus Is Authority and Judge Page 9 of 11 SS Lesson for 01/14/2007

10 faith. One must hear His word and believe in the One who sent Him, in other words, to believe Jesus was sent from God as the One the Scriptures promised would come. To hear His word and believe (obey) is to receive everlasting life. The life Jesus gives is not doled out at death or on Judgment Day. It comes at the time of belief. That is clear by the statement that there is no condemnation in the future for the believer (Rom. 8:1). Jesus stated that the believer has already passed over from death to life. That is the present case for believers, but it has future implications. The believer will not come into judgment on the last day, either. It is a blessing to be among those who have heard the Word of God and, with sorrowful repentance for sin, embraced Him. For the believer, that was his judgment day and the day when everlasting life was imparted. Because of this, we should honor Christ with our worship. Practical Points from the Bible Expositor and Illuminator 1. Just as Jesus was dependent on the Father, so we must recognize our dependence on Christ (John 5:19; John 15:5) 2. Our love for someone will be evident in our desire to share with that person (John 5:20) 3. The wonderful things Jesus did should prompt us to honor Him as God (John 5:21-23) 4. Because we cannot believe what we never hear, we must earnestly study the words of Christ (John 5:24) 5. Life natural, spiritual, and eternal is a precious gift from God (John 5:25-26) 6. The judgment after death is as certain as death itself (John 5:27-29; Heb. 9:27) Heart of the Lesson from the Bible Expositor and Illuminator The pious Jews of the New Testament persecuted Jesus. They wanted to kill Him because He healed a man on the Sabbath Day. Jesus' good deed and His statement about being equal to God greatly frustrated the Jews. The Jewish leaders did not believe Jesus. They were not willing to accept Him. Rather than believe Jesus is the Son of God, the Jews preferred to believe He was of Satan. Since they really did not know God, they did not realize Jesus spoke the truth. Jesus only did what His Father told Him to do. It is very important for us to believe in Jesus Christ and obey Him. Jesus, the only begotten Son of the Father, was sent to do His Father's will. Jesus always speaks the truth. His word is the final authority. We must hear Him! We must accept Jesus if we want to be saved. Jesus' authority in power and works (John 5:19-21) The Jewish leaders repeatedly tried to find fault with Jesus. Jesus told them that His power and authority came from His Father. It is not possible for Him to work on His own. Jesus is obedient to His Father. He only does the works of His Father, who sent Him. The Father made it possible for Jesus to turn water into wine (2:2-9), heal the nobleman's son (4:50), and heal the man who was an invalid at the Pool of Bethesda (5:9). Jesus informed the Jewish leaders that He would be shown greater works by His Father, and they would marvel at them (vs. 20). Jesus and His Father are one. Blessed are they who believe and receive God's Son. Jesus was in perfect harmony with His Father when He healed the man on the Sabbath Day. What state would the world be in if our heavenly Father refused to help us because of the Sabbath Day? Although the Jewish leaders' responses to Jesus were unfavorable, He did not allow them to hinder Him from doing the will of His Father. Jesus' authority in judgment and honor (John 5:22-23) Jesus is the righteous Judge who will one day judge the world. Just judgment requires the judge to know all facts and the intent of the heart of the person who is being judged. Jesus is omniscient (all-knowing). He knows the motives of everyone's heart. He is just, fair and impartial. Jesus will fairly judge everyone. Honor, glory, and praise belong to Jesus, our Lord and Saviour. Jesus' authority in giving eternal life (John 5:24-27) Jesus made it possible for us to have eternal life. We are promised eternal life if we believe in Him. Jesus is the Saviour of the world. He died in our place. "The wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23), but the Jesus Is Authority and Judge Page 10 of 11 SS Lesson for 01/14/2007

11 punishment we deserved for our sins was accepted by Jesus Christ. Life is in Jesus, and He gives life abundantly. He gave His life for us. Jesus' authority over death and resurrection (John 5:28-29) Jesus has power over life, death, and resurrection. One day, at the time appointed by the Father, Jesus will resurrect everyone from the grave. We must have the righteousness of Christ by faith in order to be resurrected to eternal life. Those who do not have faith in Christ Jesus will be resurrected to eternal damnation. We should never doubt Jesus' power and authority. He has dominion over all creation. The fact that He was resurrected from the dead assures us that we too will be resurrected. Jesus Is Authority and Judge Page 11 of 11 SS Lesson for 01/14/2007