Obey

 

Introduction

In the first two Bible studies from Mark 1, you learned God had a plan from the foundation of the world to save humanity from their sin, make them righteous, and give them an eternal home in His kingdom when time is fulfilled. Added to this, you learned Mark’s intention in writing this gospel was to show Jesus to be the Son of God, the Messiah, come to save believers from their sins and eternal death. Mark’s other goal for this gospel was to teach people the cost of discipleship through Jesus’ life. John the Baptist came before Jesus, proclaiming a baptism for repentance. He came to fulfill the prophecy of God that Isaiah proclaimed, “The voice of one calling out in the wilderness ‘Prepare the way of the Lord.’” People prepare the way in their lives to believe in Jesus by confessing and repenting of their sins. John, as the messenger from God telling of the One who is greater than him, proclaimed the Messiah was coming. God introduced His plan for saving humanity from their sins and the punishment of death each person is deserves because of those sins. With Mark 1:9-13, God shows the world how He will save them.

Obey

In those days, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately, coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon Him; and a voice came from the heavens: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.” And immediately, the Spirit brought Him out into the wilderness. And He was in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild animals, and the angels were serving Him. (Mark 1:9-13 [NASB])

Mark began this section by reminding the readers/hearers of the time in which it was set. He said, “In those days.” Why was it important for Mark to make sure people understood the timing? Because God’s timing is perfect. He sent His Son to earth at the right time to save humanity. The Romans ruled a large kingdom, which included Europe and the Middle East. They required payment of taxes by any means, even indenturing one’s children. It was the right time to show the Messiah coming from a small town raised as a carpenter’s son. A Carpenter would not have excess money. Jesus knew about being poor and being ruled over by self-serving political leaders. Mark showed it was the right time because many people listened to John the Baptist and repented of their sins, too. Even King Herod liked to listen to John preach. People in all walks of life (rich, poor, young, old, slave, and king) heard John or about him and what he proclaimed. The people’s hearts were ready to hear about salvation. They had prepared the way of the Lord in their hearts because of John’s preaching and the Spirit’s convicting/ They awaited salvation only God could give.

More than creating the right setting for suspense, Mark ensured the readers/hearers were eager to understand why God stressed “preparing the way of the Lord.” Why should people repent? For Jews, repentance and sacrifice were normal. They sacrificed ceremonially clean animals night and day at the temple for cleansing from their sins. What differed from John’s proclamation of repentance and the repentance the Israelites sought at the temple? Why did John stress the timing to be now? Why should the people get right with God? Because God was opening the curtain of the era of an eternal and righteous relationship with Him. After John the Baptist had preached a while (“in those days”), God knew the time was right. “Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan” (vs. 9). He was raised as a carpenter’s son from Nazareth and would be shown as more than a carpenter’s son to the Israelites. Jesus came into the public eye where John baptized in the Jordan River, in the lower Jordan River valley. He revealed Himself to the sizeable crowd of people who watched and listened to John. To this large crowd of people, Jesus came to be proclaimed by the Father that He is His Son, “with whom He was well pleased.” These people who came to listen to John would see the Father confirm His Son in two ways and Jesus would become known as shown to be the salvation from the foundation of the world, which God had prepared.

 Mark liked to use adverbs like “immediately” and “as soon as” to grab people’s attention. He used them to create intensity. Mark used “immediately” over twenty times in his gospel. With that starting in verse ten, he grabbed the attention of the people who read and heard about John baptizing Jesus in the Jordan River. What was so important about Jesus being baptized? Many people traveled to John to be baptized. Some people say Jesus was just a man, so it is obvious why He went to be baptized. God clarified Jesus’ baptism for the people of that moment and for eternity. He did not wait any longer to reveal His plan for salvation. The time was right to fulfill the prophecies.  John did not baptize Jesus for the forgiveness of His sins; Jesus was sinless. Jesus’ baptism was His submission to the Father’s will to be the Head of the body, the Church.

At that ripe time, God revealed Jesus as the fulfillment of the prophecies in two ways. First, He disclosed Jesus as special with “the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon Him” (vs. 10). A dove symbolized peace, gentleness, and innocence. This dove came down from heaven, gently riding the winds of heaven. This dove represented the Spirit of God coming upon Jesus. Besides this, the heavens had never opened before that day. Jesus was the one to open the heavens then and He will be the one who opens them the next time, when He returns from heaven to claim His disciples Let’s consider the metaphors in this verse. The dove was like the Spirit who is gentle, peaceful, and innocent, as is Jesus as part of the Trinity. This dove symbolizes Jesus’ innocence and that He came to the world to bring peace by reconciling humanity to God. The opening of the heavens is a metaphor of the curtain being torn when Jesus died on the cross.

Jesus makes God accessible to each person who believes in Him. His rising from the river at His baptism foreshadowed His rising to life again after His death. Jesus showed Himself to the people of Israel when He walked to John to be baptized and begin His revelation of Himself as the promised Messiah. His opening the heavens, gave a preview of the end times. The Spirit descending upon Him showed the people this man they knew as a carpenter’s son is the Son of God, about whom John spoke and the prophets foretold. If the people watched and understood, Jesus’ baptism and God’s conformation of Him, to the people there and later hearers and readers that Jesus came innocently and brought peace to a hurting and broken world.

God made sure people understood these symbols and Jesus’ actions with what Mark recorded in verse eleven. Mark said, “And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.’” Many people throughout history have wanted and sought the approval of their fathers. They wanted to know they pleased these important men in their lives. God’s pleasure in Jesus was more than His approval for what He would do. It revealed Jesus as His Son, the Messiah. God had always been with the Israelites. He became “God with us,” literally, when He declared Jesus to be His Son living with them on earth. Isaiah proclaimed the prophecy of God in Isaiah 7:14. He said, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” Matthew 1:23 explains that Immanuel means “God with us.” With the Spirit coming down like a dove, God had a message for the people. With His voice, God proclaimed to each person nearby that Jesus is His Son. He declared Jesus consecrated (set apart) to His role as Redeemer. God inaugurated Jesus’ public ministry at His baptism. He did it visually so people would believe.

With that triumphal burst upon the consciousness of humanity, the Spirit took Jesus to the wilderness alone. Verse twelve says, “And immediately the Spirit brought Him out into the wilderness.” Notice Mark used one of his favorite writing tools again. He began this verse with the word “immediately.” Mark emphasized Jesus did not wait for another time to begin His ministry. The Father announced His identity at His baptism with His words. The Holy Spirit sent notice of who Jesus is with the dove. Time was ready. So, promptly, the Spirit took Jesus into the wilderness. The wilderness in Israel was typical of most wilderness areas. It held very little water and food. This arid place was probably hot during the day and cool at night. It was located below the salt flats of the Dead Sea. Notice, Jesus did not bargain with the Father and Spirit to say, “Hey, not yet. I’m not ready to minister. Can we hold off just a bit? Let me go pack clothes and put water in skins so I can stay warm at night and hydrated during the day.” Jesus said nothing according to the gospel writers. According to Mark, John the Baptist baptized Jesus, the heavens split, a dove came down and alighted on Jesus, the Father said He was pleased with Him, and then, immediately, the Spirit took Him to the wilderness. Jesus had and took what He needed–the clothes He wore, the Father, and the Spirit. How many of us try to bargain with God to put off or not obey what He told us to do? Jesus is part of the Triune Godhead. The plan God made from the foundation of the world included the three persons of the Trinity. Jesus recognized He did not need to settle things with His family and friends before He went into the wilderness because, knowing all things, He understood, everything was done, and the time had come for Him to be “God with us” and “God for us.” Jesus began showing His divinity in His baptism and being willing to go to a harsh place, where Satan tempted Him. Jesus, the Son, readily ventured with the Spirit into the wilderness.

Jesus’ plan was the Father’s plan. Mark’s primary goal was to show the divinity of Jesus. People understand now. Jesus submitted to baptism, took part in the revelation at His baptism, followed the Spirit to a harsh place, and now would be tempted. He faced situations each person faces. Yet, Jesus kept with the plan He, the Father, and Spirit had to save humanity. He submitted to do and be a part of what would happen to Him on His way to saving the world. Maybe you are thinking being in the wilderness for a couple of days would not be so terrible. The wild animals would be neat to see. You could learn to dig tubers for liquid and food. Jesus stayed in the wilderness much longer than two or three days. He was there forty days and nights. Jesus was tempted by Satan three times (most likely over several days). He knew the animals were wild. Jesus had no place to lay His head. In the Bible, forty days denotes completion. Until His purpose of going into the wilderness was complete, Jesus would stay. He had a mission in the wilderness. The Son of God would be victorious over Satan’s temptations of food and drink, status, and a kingdom. He knew the angels would give Him food and drink. Jesus knew who He was and had no jealousy of the Father and Spirit. His kingdom would not be over a portion of the earth only, like the portion of ground with which Satan tried to tempt Him. Jesus already was King over the entire earth, everything under it, and in the heavens. Until Jesus completed the full-testing period, His wilderness experience would continue. It eventually ended with Jesus the victor over bodily, status, and leadership temptations. One other thing to learn in this verse is about the angels who served Jesus. The word “angels” comes from the word diakanos. This word means to serve actively and practically, as the Lord leads, by caring for other people. The word deacon comes from diakonos. Angels served Jesus by taking to Him what His body needed to survive. The other gospel writers say they brought Jesus food and drink. What’s important to remember about the angels is they are servants to God. They do as they are commanded. Angels are messengers, like each believer in Jesus. Where God sends them, they go.

Application and Conclusion:

As we study Mark, we will see Jesus prove He is the Son of God, the Messiah. Jesus will show Himself having authority in teaching and over illnesses, demons, and manmade religious laws. Sometimes what He does, people will see as negative and sometimes positive. In this lesson, Jesus showed Himself as part of the “now and not yet” scenario. His coming to earth and being baptized initiated the start of the “now,” salvation. No one was saved then because He had not been killed by the Romans and arisen from death. Jesus was heralding salvation for humanity. He made known to the listeners exactly who He is and why He was in the world. The “not yet” part of the scenario is understandable. Because Jesus had not died and arisen yet, salvation by faith in Him was not available. Get what Jesus was doing. He was the Son of God, proclaiming by teaching and actions why He came to live on earth as a man. Jesus was a herald of sorts. If Jesus was a herald, we, as His followers, should respond by being His messengers. A messenger is not a negative thing or a low-status job. Since Jesus is the Savior, the Son of God, who was consecrated for a purpose, endured temptation without sinning, and was a herald, we should have no qualms with obeying God when He tells us to do something. Because Jesus endured Satan’s testing without sinning, then we can have His power to triumph over temptation and obey God, too. We Christians have no reasonable excuse for not obeying God. Jesus commanded us to be heralds and tell other people about Him (Matthew 28:18-20). As Christians, God tells us to go to people, speak to him/her, and help him/her without regard for ourselves. Our consecration came at our baptism. At that point, God told Satan, “This is My daughter/son; you cannot have her/him as I lead her/him to go into the world being My messenger telling people about the salvation I give to each person who believes. Satan, you lose. This one is mine.”

1    1. Will you obey God? Jesus aligned Himself to the Father and Spirit for their plan of salvation of people. Will you take the call Jesus gives each of us and align your life with Him in obedience?

2    2. Are you giving God excuses why you cannot do what He says now?

3.     3. Are you trying to bargain with Him?

An angel of the Lord appeared to him (Joseph) in a dream saying, “The child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son, and you shall name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Now all this took place, so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet (Isaiah) would be fulfilled: “Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they shall name Him Immanuel, which translated means ‘God with us.’” (Matthew 1:20-23 [NASB])

“In those days,” Jesus came.

He came to earth at the right time.

Now is the right time to believe in Jesus and to confess and repent of your sins. Today is your day to commit your life to Jesus.

Today is your day to align yourself with God.

God is with us even now.

Prepare

 

Introduction

In the study on Mark 1:1-3, Mark told the Roman Christians about the prophecies by Jewish prophets, Isaiah and Malachi, of a message sent from Yahweh God about a Messiah He would send to the earth. He explained what this Messiah meant for them and for all people. Mark said each person must prepare the way of the Lord in their lives. They must prepare to see Him, repent, and confess, and accept Him as the Savior of their souls from sin and an eternal death separated from God. Mark referred to the one about whom God called to prepare the way for the Messiah to begin His ministries on earth. This study will lead the readers of Mark 1:4-8 to understand who God chose as the messenger “preparing the way of the Lord” (Mark 1:3).

Preparer of the Way

John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. (Mark 1:4 [NASB])

Mark began his gospel writing about Old Testament prophecies. He then went linearly to the next step toward introducing the good news by showing the prophecy’s fulfillment. The first step of that fulfillment was introducing the prophesied “preparer of the way.” John the Baptist was the first man who preached to people about preparing the way. He was the forerunner to Jesus’ ministry of salvation and reconciliation. A forerunner is an announcer. He is the one who goes before the one about whom he/she speaks. Other words for a forerunner are messenger and herald. Each of these describes the person who enters a city, town, or village before the one whom he/she announces. The one whom the herald goes before is a dignitary or person who comes with an important message or important work to do. Think of a king of bygone days. When he traveled, he sent a messenger in advance telling the village or town he was soon to be with them in their town or village. A messenger/herald/forerunner prepares the way for a person of great stature. Mark told the readers/hearers of this gospel John the Baptist was the preparer of the way. John was the one who would go before the Messiah, telling people to get right with God and be ready, for the Messiah is coming imminently.

Who was John the Baptist? What made him important enough to be the herald of the Messiah? John’s parents were Elizabeth and Zechariah, both of whom were from the tribe of Levi, descendants of Aaron. The tribe of Levi was the tribe from whom the priests came. Elizabeth and Zechariah were in their old age when God informed them they would have a son. Zechariah was in the temple and did not consider it possible, so the angel of the Lord told him he would not speak until his son was born (Luke 1:9-17). This reminds us of another couple from Israelite forefathers to whom God gave a promise. Abraham and Sarah had no children and in their old age, God promised Abraham more descendants than all the stars of the sky or sand of the seas. He fulfilled that promise beginning with Isaac’s birth (Genesis 12:1-4 & 21:5). Elizabeth was the cousin of Mary, Jesus’ mother. That means John and Jesus were cousins. Like Jesus, angels proclaimed John’s birth. John grew up in the wilderness (Luke 1:80). His public ministry came after almost 400 years of silence from prophets. John was called the Baptizer because of his practice of baptizing people. When people repented of their sins, he baptized them. John was no great king, seer, or leader of the people. He did not live as most people did. Still, God used him to be the preparer of the way for the Messiah.

What else did Mark say about John in his gospel? In verse four, he said John appeared on the public stage when God gave him a word to proclaim. He lived and ministered in the Judean wilderness in the lower Jordan River valley, just north of the Dead Sea. John preached the word God gave to him to say. He baptized by submerging a person under the water. He wore clothes made of camel’s hair and a belt made from animal skin (Mark 1:6). John ate locusts and wild honey (Mark 1:6). He was no one special in the eyes of man. To God, he was His child and servant, willing to do as He commanded.

What did God tell John to preach/proclaim? Verse four tells readers/hearers that he preached a “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” Baptism was commonly used by Jews when a person from outside the faith converted to Judaism. It was not an unusual act for the Jews. John used it for another reason. He used it to symbolize a person’s cleansing of sins when he/she confessed and repented of them. Sin comes from the Greek word hamartia. It means missing the mark. When one missed the mark in target practice on an archery or shooting range, it means the person did not do what was required to be perfect. The same occurs in life when you sin. You strive to do and be good, but you can never do or be good all the time. You are human with freewill. The Jewish religion became bounded by many manmade laws that each Jew must keep. By doing this, they could be in God’s presence at the temple and could enter heaven, hopefully, when they died. Yet, each Jew knew he/she was not holy. He/she was unclean daily. Because of this, God told them to offer a sacrifice for their sins each morning and night. John proclaimed to the Jews a new way to repent. Instead of using an animal as a scapegoat for their sins, the Jews could offer themselves directly for cleansing. John told them if they sincerely repented of their sins, they could be baptized for forgiveness of their sins. The Jewish religious laws never taught a permanent forgiveness of sins. The religious leaders would have spoken against what John preached. John, though, was “the preparer of the way.” He helped the people prepare their hearts to see, listen about, and believe in Jesus and what He taught. Confession and repentance are part of being a Christian. Jesus brought what only He could give for salvation, the sufficient sacrifice.

Mark noted for his readers/hearers that “all the country of Judea was going out to him (John the Baptist) and all the people of Jerusalem, and they were being baptized by Him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins” (Mark 1:5 [NASB]) John did what God called him to do. God told him to prepare the way. He told the people about the Messiah who was coming. John preached about repenting of sins and being baptized for repentance, too. Baptism for salvation is what Jesus gives to everyone who believes. This baptism is symbolized in two parts. The going down under the water symbolizes a person dying to him or herself. A person’s rising up out of the water means becoming a man/woman born anew by Jesus. The baptism John performed symbolized a person’s sincere repentance of sin. Repentance prepared a person’s heart for listening to and accepting the salvation Jesus taught about and gave through His sinless life, death, and resurrection.

In Mark 1:7, John preached One mightier than him would come after him. He said he was unworthy to serve Him by untying the straps on His sandals. The most menial work a servant could do, even John was not good enough to do this for the Messiah. Mark used the Greek word ischuros in this verse. This word means a power/might that comes from God and is greater than what a human has. John recognized his humanity and the divinity of the One who would come after him by using this word, “mightier.” He prepared the way for the people to hear about the One whom God would send to them, the Messiah about whom the prophets proclaimed. This Messiah, John realized and proclaimed, is greater in stature, being, and might than him. He, a man to whom the people of Judea flocked and held in esteem, could not be His servant because he was too low in stature.

John prepared the way of the Lord with his words and ministry. He helped the people prepare their hearts and minds to hear about the salvation God gives through Jesus. John helped them prepare to pay attention to the man all knew came from a tiny village called Bethlehem because He came to be the greatest of all. He explained in more detail how great this Messiah would be. John told his listeners in Mark 1:8, “I baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” He said the Messiah sent from God can save people from their sins, but he himself could not save them or empower them not to sin again. Only Jesus, the Son of God, could do this.. John’s baptism was for the forgiveness of sins. It was just a symbol. He knew people needed a sacrifice that was lasting to make them righteous. Cleansing from unrighteousness means cleansing a person eternally from sins and the guilt of their sins. Eternal righteousness only comes from God. Nothing a person could do would ever clean himself/herself from sins and guilt. The temple sacrifices did not give an eternal cleansing and make a person eternally righteous. For this reason, Mark told his readers/hearers that John said, “I baptize with water. He will baptize with the Holy Spirit.” Water just makes the outside of a person clean; it does not touch the inner person-the heart. All actions and words of a person come from the inner disposition of that person. To cleanse and change the heart requires something far beyond what humanity can do. God knows the heart of a person and only He can reach the heart. His Spirit enters a person when he/she confesses and repents of his/her sins and trusts in Jesus Christ as his/her Savior from sins. From that point, the Spirit of God lives in the person giving direction for the right way to live, think, and be. Only the baptism of the Holy Spirit that comes at the point of profession of faith, as Mark wrote, gives a person salvation from sins, guilt, and eternal death. The recounting of John’s proclamation and baptism for repentance disclosed to the readers/hearers of Mark’s Gospel that John’s baptism was nothing compared to the baptism Jesus offers. John was unworthy to untie the Messiah’s sandal, just like his baptism was not good enough to give permanent removal of sins and give salvation.

Application

The Jews considered their actions would be good enough for God to forgive them of their sins and make them righteous. This did not keep them in a close relationship with God, though. They very often lived contrary to God’s way. They sinned and ran away from God like we all do at points in our lives. God prepared a way for each person to receive salvation. He planned this from before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:17-21). God provided judges, priests, and prophets to continue to call the Israelites to stay in a close relationship with Him. He told the Israelites, when He gave them the Promised Land, that they were to be a light to the nations so that all nations would come to know Him as their God (Isaiah 49:6). Each of these people were to be the messengers of God, though the Israelites, as a nation, did not follow God consistently. After four hundred years of silence, God called a man, John, about whom His prophets foretold was to proclaim about the One whom God would send. John was God’s first New Testament messenger. He told John to proclaim, “prepare the way of the Lord.”

Today, we who are believers in Jesus the Messiah are God’s messengers. He commands us to tell people to prepare the way of the Lord in their own lives and then to tell more people. Jesus commissioned His disciples by saying,

All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. God, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:18-20 [NASB])

For people to prepare the way, they must be told about Jesus, their sin, and their inability to be good enough to earn righteousness and eternal life with God. For this reason, God sends messengers to herald Jesus’ arrival and declare, “Behold.” Added to hearing the good news of Jesus, people need to prepare to receive the salvation God offers. They do this by confessing and repenting of their sins. Unconfessed sins are like bricks stacked on top of one another, creating a wall between us and God. The more we sin, the easier it is to sin. This wall makes it harder for us to want to turn to God. Preparing the way of the Lord is confessing and repenting, as John taught. It is listening to the message of good news about God’s salvation offered to everyone who trusts in Jesus. Preparing the way of the Lord is affirming Jesus is God’s Son and accepting the salvation He provides. It then must involve preparing the way by proclaiming about the salvation Jesus gives. He gives it through His life, death, and resurrection so other people will listen to, accept, and experience salvation for themselves.

This reflects the “now and not yet” of God’s good news of salvation. We are saved at a point in time and are being saved from our sins every day until the day we arrive in heaven with God. At that time, Jesus perfects us in His image. He makes us complete; our salvation is complete because we will sin no more. The point of our salvation reflects a “now and not yet” scenario in that God’s salvation plan of humanity is not complete until His kingdom comes in its fullness. While we are alive on earth as His children, we become His messengers of His good news of salvation for each person. We become like Isaiah, Malachi, John, the disciples, and other Jesus-followers since Jesus’ arrival on earth. We are God’s messengers who prepare the way of the Lord by telling others about Jesus and the salvation He gives to each person who trusts in Him. As Jesus-followers, the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20 is our command from Jesus.

As we study these verses, we should ask ourselves questions. 

1     Do you realize you are a sinner?

2.     Do you recognize nothing you do is good enough to remove the judgment of your sins and the guilt?

3.     Have you recognized Jesus is God’s Son, and that He died to save you from the penalty of your sins?

4.     Have you professed your faith in Jesus and confessed and repented your sins to Him?

5.     If you are a Christian, are you “preparing the way of the Lord” by living as God’s messenger, telling people about Jesus?

6.     Does your life point toward Jesus so that people will see your works and heed your words, then seek Jesus to be their Savior?

7.     Do your words and actions seek attention for yourself? Do they point to Jesus so other people will come to know Him as their Savior instead of admiring you as great, strong, smart, and wise?

The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (John 3:36 [NASB])

Are you living life as a “preparer” called by God?

Or are you living as a ”hider” trying to avoid Him?

How Can You Learn to Believe?

          John chapter 5 ends with Jesus main question of the resistant unbelievers, the Pharisees. The main question.

How is it possible for you to believe [how can you learn to believe], you who are content to seek and receive praise and honor and glory from one another, and yet do not seek the praise and honor and glory which come from Him Who alone is God?” (John 5:44, AMP).

This chapter begins with Jesus going to Jerusalem for a Jewish festival. While in the city, He noticed a man at the pool of Bethesda, which means “mercy,” who was lying on a pallet waiting for the angel of God to stir the curative waters. In this way, we hear from Jesus regarding who He is and what His purpose is. In this chapter, Jesus moved from one witness/testimony to another and ended with a searching question to the religious leaders.

            Jesus’ encounter with the sick man began with Him noticing the man and asking him, “Do you want to become well?” (vs.6, AMP). We notice that the man did not answer that question but answered with a reason why he had not become well. He replied with a statement of disbelief in his ability to get to the curative waters because no one helped him. Jesus did not ask why he was not well. He knew why the man was sick and what kept him from being well. Jesus asked if he wanted to become well. After the man’s response, Jesus commanded strongly, “Get up! Pick up your bed (mat) and walk!” (vs.8). Jesus left him with no excuse but unbelief. The man chose to believe, get up, and walk. Jesus walked off after that and the man did not know Jesus performed the miracle. The previously ill man encountered Jesus again in the temple a while later (vs. 14). The man identified Jesus. Jesus told the man, “See, you are well! Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” Jesus knew this man, though the man did not recognize Jesus as the Son of God. After the second encounter, the man may have begun wondering more about Jesus. What is more important is that, with Jesus’ second comment to the man, we see the possibility that the man was ill because of God’s disciplining him for some sin in the past. Jesus, by making the man well, showed that He has the power to judge, give mercy, and offer pardon. Jesus also stated a warning to the man.

            The Pharisees entered the scene after the man was healed by Jesus. Notice they did not ask who made him well. Instead they confronted the man about his working on the Sabbath by carrying his mat. They chose not to confront the man about his healing, a miracle, but about his working, a man-made rule. The man then passed the blame for his “working” on the Sabbath back to the unknown man. The man did not declare the miracle of his health either. It was only after he learned of Jesus’ name that he told the Pharisees who made him well. The man was no longer thinking in terms of blaming someone since Jesus approached him about his sin. This man now admitted that Jesus healed him.

            After this healing and admission that Jesus was the One who did it, the Pharisees were more determined to persecute and kill Jesus because He was “working” (healing) on the Sabbath (vs. 16). This feels a bit of an extreme reaction for just healing someone. These Pharisees were brewing over something far bigger than this issue. The next encounters with the Pharisees show us their hearts and minds. In verse 18, John tells us that they were willing to kill Jesus. He was working on the Sabbath and He was making Himself out to be equal with God, to be God’s Son. Verses 19 and 20 state that Jesus can only do what the Father does, as He learns from the Father. Jesus even went so far as to say He would do even great work so they (the people) would marvel. He was able to do this because He and the Father are one and love each other. The next statement by Jesus irritated the Pharisees more. Jesus said that just as the Father gives life to the dead, so the Son gives life to whomever He wills. Jesus was claiming power over life and death. (The Pharisees only heard the literal side of this.). Jesus next stated that the Father does not judge, but Jesus has the sole responsibility to judge. There are three things Jesus has already said to the Pharisees: 1) Jesus is equal to the Father because Jesus is the Son; 2) Jesus has power over life and death; and 3) Jesus has the sole responsibility of judging people.

            Why are these three facets of Jesus’ so difficult for the Pharisees? Let us start with the first one. Jesus equating Himself with the Father, that He is the Son and has the same power and authority, was difficult for them because that meant the Pharisees  would have to honor and praise Jesus, this man from Galilee. Remember, it was said that no good thing came from Galilee . (John 1:46). They looked down on people from Galilee. In actual fact, they looked down on anyone who was not a Pharisee and they built themselves up. They did not want someone to usurp their power and authority. If they recognized Jesus as being special, then they would have to honor and praise Him, which meant they would get less praise and would not be the leader of the Jewish people. That just could not be.

            Second, Jesus statement that He has power over life and death was significant because it definitely showed His authority is from God. Who, in their knowledge, could bring someone back from the dead except God? This was testified in Ezekiel with the valley of dry bones returning to life. It also occurred when God created Adam and Eve; He formed them out of nothing, ex nihilo, and blew His breath, His Spirit, into them. Here Christ goes farther than the Pharisees were willing to understand. Jesus said that He will give them Life, eternal life. For this to occur, that meant Jesus has to be the Messiah, the Savior, because the Pharisees knew that no one would have eternal life until the Messiah came. This they did not want to acknowledge for the same reason as number one above. Also, they did not want to recognize it because it meant they had to acknowledge that Jesus is what He stated next, the judge of mankind.

            For people to have eternal life through Jesus, they must pass through judgment by Jesus. Jesus stated in verse 27 that God gave Him the sole task of judgment. If the person believed Jesus is the Son of God, then he or she would have forgiveness for their sins and eternal life in heaven. If, however, they did not believe Jesus is God’s Son, then they would also have eternity, but one of unforgiveness, one of eternal punishment. Jesus is the judge. He has provided the forgiveness for sins to those who believe He is the Son of God. For those who do not believe, there is no forgiveness of sin and they cannot be in the presence of God for eternity. They must go to eternal hell.

            These three things Jesus brought immediately to the attention of the Pharisees. Jesus did not dance around the topic. He was pointed with them. The question though is why does He do it this way. Well, the reason is Jesus knows the urgency of people needing to believe He is God’s Son. He stated it Himself in verse 34, “I simply mention all these things in order that you may be saved.” (AMP). In just 15 verses, Jesus made it plain so they could not say they did not know. What is difficult comes next; they chose not to believe. In verse 31, Jesus stated, “If I alone testify in My behalf, My testimony is not valid and cannot be worth anything.”

            From this statement by Jesus, He set forth how they can know He is who He says He is. Also from this statement, He put holes into their faith in themselves and humanity. Jesus gave four ways people could know He is the Son of God: through John the Baptist’s testimony, through Jesus’ works, through the Father, and through Scriptures. Jesus went from least important to most important. Basically, Jesus told them to put less weight on the testimony of man and the works/signs of which they hear and put more weight on what the Father and Scripture say. This will be a common theme throughout John’s writing.

            First, John states in verses 33-35 that John the Baptist was the voice in the wilderness. Jesus called John the Baptist a lamp in the wilderness in whose shine they delighted (AMP). Jesus stated that their faith should not rest on the testimony of a mere man.

            Secondly, Jesus said that the works to which the Father called Him are witness to who He is. He said that this witness was greater than that of a man, even John the Baptist (vs. 36). The testimony of man is good and Jesus encouraged us to go and preach the Gospel in Matthew 28. Even better is witnessing the signs that Jesus performs. These signs point to something, as all signs point to something. That something is Someone, Jesus Christ.

            Third, the testimony of the Father is even greater than the signs, because the Son can only do what He has seen the Father do (vs.19). Jesus said,

And the Father Who sent Me has Himself testified concerning Me. Not one of you has ever given ear to His voice or seen His form. And you have not His word  living in your hearts, because you do not believe and adhere to and trust in and rely on Him Whom He has sent. (vv.37-38, AMP)

Jesus basically stated that the Father told mankind about Jesus, His Son, but because they did not hear the Father and they did not have His Word living in their hearts, they did not believe in whom He has sent, Jesus. I am sure this came as a slap to their faces. Jesus was saying they, the Jewish religious leaders (Pharisees) did not know Yahweh or His Word. They did not have His Word in their hearts. When we jump to verse 42, Jesus told them they do not have the love of God in them. This most likely was an affront to their sense of esteem as religious leaders and as men who are supposed to be part of the chosen children of God. No wonder they wanted to kill Jesus. He was attacking their faith, their personal integrity, and worth.

            The fourth testimony comes through Scripture. Jesus said they pore over Scripture as if it will give them eternal life, when it is those Scriptures that testify about Him. The Scriptures speak of the Messiah as being the One who brings eternal life. The Scriptures cannot give eternal life. Isaiah, Moses, and David, as well as others of Old Testament times, prophesied of the Messiah’s coming to earth and in what manner. They also spoke of what He would do and how the people would know it was Him. The Pharisees chose not to acknowledge these or that they pointed to Jesus. Instead, they would rather  have been seen poring over the Scriptures.

            From this point in John 5, Jesus pointedly showed that Jesus did not come in His own name, but in the Father, nor did He do miracles in His own power, but the Father’s. The Pharisees and other people chose not to believe He is the Son. Yet, if another man arrived talking about himself and touting his abilities, the Pharisees and people believed him and flocked to hear and see him. Jesus told them that their seeing him showed they accepted and approved him, but they would not approve Jesus who is witnessed of and testified to in these four ways, not by Himself. Jesus said then, “How is it possible for you to believe; you who receive praise and honor and glory from one another, and yet do not seek the praise and honor and glory which come from Him who alone is God?” (vs.44, AMP). How will you be able to believe if you do not trust the testimony of these four witnesses, but will trust the testimony of a person for himself? What will it take for you to believe that I am God’s Son? If they would not believe in the Son, then they knew from the Scripture that Moses would judge them. Moses believed that Jesus would come. Why could they not? It would be Moses who judges their unbelief because they did not believe his testimony either. (See Genesis 3:5, 12:3, Deuteronomy 18:15.) By their not believing Jesus is the Messiah, they were not believing Moses whom they hold up as their standard. It will be Moses who will accuse them. If they cannot believe the man who testified to them, who led them out of Egypt, who spoke with God for them, and who brought the Ten Commandments to them, how would they believe Jesus with all those witnesses?

            It all comes back to that one verse. Verse 34 brings it all back to the main point. Jesus says, “I simply mention all these things in order that you may be saved.” Jesus, like the Father, does not want anyone to be lost to eternal hell. He made each of us so we could be in relationship with Him. He desires to have a relationship with us. Yahweh provided a way for us to return to Him through the life, death, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus. Through the witness of these four, Jesus tells us three things about Himself: 1) Jesus is equal to the Father because Jesus is the Son; 2) Jesus has power over life and death; and 3) Jesus has the sole responsibility of judging people. The question comes to each of us in Jesus’ own words in verse 44, “How is it possible for you to believe?” (AMP). What will it take for you to believe?