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Today we are continuing to look at John 5. Let’s start by reading the passage together.
Last week we read it in the NIV.
Today, we will read it together in the New Living Translation.
Setting
As we discussed last week, Jesus was in Jerusalem for one of the festivals of the Jews.
It was a time when people were to be worshiping the Lord, and remembering their God who did so much for them.
Know and Remember
One command God gave to Israel that stands out over and over is that they were to know and remember.
God wanted the people to KNOW Him, that He is the LORD their God.
The miracles He did were done so they would know Him.
But after the miracles, God knows how forgetful we are, so He told the Israelites to Remember...
And so many more.
God wanted His people to Know Him and Remember Him, so that they would worship Him, and Obey Him.
He wanted them to remember so they would not sin.
But what to remember?
What was it about God they needed to remember at these feasts?
Remember the God of Grace
Why did God save them out of Eqypt?
Were they worshipping Him, and Him alone?
Were they so good?
No.
God did not save them because they were deserving.
He did it because He made a covenant with their ancestors, and He is faithful.
God is Gracious and Faithful.
That is why he saved Israel from Slavery.
They needed to remember the God of Grace.
They also needed to remember His Power.
Remember the God of Power
They were powerless to gain their freedom from the Eqyptians.
But though they were weak, He was strong, and delivered them with a mighty hand.
The Jews then were commanded to celebrate festivals and worship the Lord together to remember the Almighty God who saved them when they were slaves, when they were powerless.
Is it any wonder then, that as we saw the story unfold last week, we saw Jesus going in grace to a man who was powerless to save himself, and Powerfully saving Him?
Jesus is the God of Grace
Out of all the people gathered, Jesus chose this lame man.
A man who did not know Him.
A man who was hopeless, and nothing to offer.
Jesus is the God of Power
This man was powerless to help himself, but then came Jesus.
Jesus gave power to the powerless, and made him walk.
Just like God gave grace to Israel, something they were to remember during this festival, Jesus showed himself to be the God of Grace.
Just like God displayed his might power to bring Israel out of Egypt, to feed them, provide water for them, and keep them, so, too, Jesus displayed his mighty power in making a man who was lame for 38 years to walk!
He fulfilled the scriptures and showed His power!
Jesus is the God of Grace, and Power.
Last week, that was our focus.
Jesus the God of Grace and Power who came to this lame man, and asked, Do you want to get well?
When this man said, “I can’t,” Jesus said, “Get up!”
When we say, we can’t; we’ve tried and it won’t get any better, when we have lost hope, He comes and shows His grace and power to restore our hope.
He did it for this man, He will do it for us.
Now, Let’s dig into the story as it continues.
The key verse I focused on was John 5:14.
Big question: Why did Jesus say, “Stop sinning?”
As I read this passage over and over, I came to this question.
Why did Jesus say, “Stop sinning?”
If he said it, then the lame man must have been doing what?
Sinning.
But what was the sin?
Let’s look at the passage again, and look for how he was sinning.
Let’s pick up in verse 8 where Jesus told the man to, “Get up!”
Failure to see God at work
These Jewish Leaders did not ask why he was carrying a mat.
They just jumped on this guy condemning him.
What were they condemning him for?
Breaking God’s law?
What does the law say?
Failure to see God at work
Was this man working?
Did the law say to not carry your bed mat?
No.
But the Jewish leaders, the Pharisees, had some up with hundreds of laws of their own, their way of doing things so as to avoid breaking God’s law.
They were so worried about their laws, their priorities, their rules and ways of doing things that they did not even see God at work!
They did not see a man who was lame for 38 years who had been healed by the grace and power of God because they were more worried about their way of doing things.
What is sinful about this?
What should have happened?
They should have worshiped the Lord, and rejoiced in His provision.
But instead of worshipping the Lord, they were complaining.
Failure to see God at work, and worship Him is sin.
It would be like the Israelites not knowing that He is God after all the miracles He did to bring them out of Egypt.
It is not knowing, not recognizing God and His grace and power.
What about the Lame man?
Did he do this too?
We will see, but for now, let’s keep going in the passage.
He knew he had been made well.
But what is going on here?
Blame-shifiting
Notice, the Jewish leaders did not even ask why he was carrying his mat.
What could this man have said?
He could have said, “I have been healed!!
I was lame for 38 years, and I was healed!
You are missing the point!
I couldn’t carry this mat for 38 years, now I can!
I am not working, I am showing off what God has done!!
The Sabbath is for glorifying God, and let me tell you what He has done!
But instead of rejoicing in God, I believe the lame man failed to see God at work, and instead, blamed Jesus for his ‘breach’ of the Pharisaic rules.
“The man who made me wall said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’
”
Why would he say that?
He didn’t want to be in trouble himself, so he put the blame on this other guy.
Is this sin?
Yes.
Even if he was doing something wrong, he should have owned up to it.
“I am...” I was wrong.
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