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YOUY SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES…THEY BEAR TESTIMONY OF ME

Text: John 5
27 April 2008

(I) PERSECUTION OF JESUS

“For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.” John 5:16

“Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.” John 5:18

1. The Sabbath issue

a) To the Jews the Sabbath was sacred

b) When Jesus healed a paralytic man they deemed Him a law-breaker

c) They wanted to prosecute Jesus to the full extent of the Jewish law- Death!

2. The blasphemy issue

“But Jesus answered them, ‘My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.’ ” John 5:17

a) Jesus spoke of God as Father

b) He spoke of God working all the time (including the Sabbath)

c) Jesus explanation concerning why He worked and how He worked was rejected

d) The Jews deemed Him guilty of blasphemy, because He made Himself equal with God

(That is, Jesus claimed full Deity rights)

(II) APPEALING TO WITNESSES

1. Witness of John the Baptiser

“You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.” John 5:33

2. Witness of the works of Christ

“But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish- the very works that I do- bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.” John 5:36

3. Witness of God the Father

“And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.” John 5:37

4. Witness of the Scriptures

“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.” John 5:39

(III) THE DARK TRUTH FOR THE REJECTION OF JESUS

1. A long history of Rejection of the Word of God

“But you do not have His word abiding in you…” John 5:38a

“For if you have believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.” John 5:46

2. A long history of unbelief

“…because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.” John 5:38b

“But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” John 5:47

3. A long history of unwillingness

“But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.” John 5:40

4. A long history of being loveless

“But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.” John 5:42

(IV) EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE IN JESUS

1. For the paralytic man

2. Reasons for his faith in Jesus

a) Jesus as his Friend

“…Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up…” John 5:7

b) Jesus as his Healer

“Jesus said to him, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk.’ And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked… ” John 5:8-9

c) Jesus as his Defender

The paralytic man must have been there with Jesus as He spoke in defence of the healing of the paralytic man.

d) Jesus as his personal Messiah-Saviour

All that he had heard must have convinced the paralytic that Jesus was no ordinary man, but the Messiah, the Anointed One- his Saviour!