John 5 Studies

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each chapter is divided into a number of studies and each study or passage has a simple four-Part, verse-by-verse approach, to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: John 5:1-9: Jesus heals at the Pool

A. Find Out:    

1. To where did Jesus go next? v.1,2
   • Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades.
2. Who were the people round the pool? v.3
   • Here a great number of disabled people used to lie – the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.
3. What were they apparently waiting for? v.4
   • and they waited for the moving of the waters. ⁴ From time to time an angel of the Lord would come down and stir up the waters. The first one into the pool after each such disturbance would be cured of whatever disease they had. [these verses not included in all old manuscripts).
4. How long had this man been sick? v.5
   • One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.
5. What did Jesus ask the man? v.6
   • When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?’
6. What was the man’s answer? v.7
   • ‘Sir,’ the invalid replied, ‘I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.’
7. How did Jesus heal him? v.8,9
   •  Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’ 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath,

B. Think:

1. What were all these sick people relying upon?
2. What did this sick man’s reply to Jesus indicate about his hope for the future?
3. What does the nature of this man’s sickness teach us about Jesus?

C. Comment:

  This passage is packed with points for meditation:

First, the invalids rely upon a superstitious event rather than upon God. People will rather be superstitious than be godly.

Second, they are all out for themselves. There is no orderly helping one after another in a queue effect. Sinful man is always out for himself first.

Third, Jesus chooses a lifelong invalid. No one is impossible for Jesus.

Fourth, Jesus challenges the man as to his genuine desire. Acceptance of a bad situation often robs us of any faith or hope.

Fifth, the man has a combination of hopelessness and desire. He does at least try to get healed but can never make it because he has no help. He has a sufficient glimmer of desire for Jesus to move.

Sixth, it didn’t take any great counselling or anything else from Jesus, just a word of authority.

Seventh, when God commands us to do something He always gives us the enabling to do it at the same time. As soon as we move to respond He enables us to do the thing in question.    

D. Application?

1. There is no situation too difficult for Jesus.
2. In the light of that truth, continue to pray for change.

Passage: John 5:10-16: Consequences

A. Find Out:

1.  What apparently was the man doing wrong? v.10
   • The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10 and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, ‘It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.’
2. What excuse did he give? v.11
   • But he replied, ‘The man who made me well said to me, “Pick up your mat and walk.”’
3. What question did they ask of him? v.12
   • So they asked him, ‘Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?’
4. Why wasn’t he able to give an answer? v.13
   • The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.
5. What instruction did Jesus give him? v.14
   • Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, ‘See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.’
6. What did the man then do? v.15
   • The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.
7. With waht outcome? v.16
   • So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him.

B. Think:

1. What strikes you about the Jews from this passage?
2. What things do we learn about the healed man?
3. What do we learn about Jesus here?

C. Comment:

It is in Jerusalem, the heart of Judaism, that this happens and we have an illustration of the obtuse hardness of men’s hearts. A man is spotted carrying his bed.

In the eyes of the legalistic Jews of Jerusalem this is work and it is forbidden to do any work on the Sabbath day (Exodus 20:8)! The fact that God gave that command to bless and protect mankind completely evaded these Jews and they spent more of their time working out human application of it than realising the real purpose for which God gave it.

Consequently when they see this man with his mat, they care nothing about the wonder that he has just been healed by God from a lifelong invalidity, but simply focus their hard heartedness on foolish and petty law keeping.     Jesus meanwhile has slipped off-stage, perhaps because he saw them coming and didn’t want the conflict yet. Later in his care for the man he finds him and brings guidance for the future. There is obviously sin in this man’s life which is linked to his sickness. If he continues to sin the sickness or worse will return. This is one of the few occasions when we are allowed to see Jesus’ counsel that goes with the healing.

D. Application?

1. It is easy to focus on petty “religious issues” and miss the whole wonder of what Jesus is doing.
2. Sickness can be linked to sin. Healing may be given but, without repentance, sickness may return.

Passage: John 5:17-23: Father & Son 

A. Find Out:

1. When was Jesus’ Father at work? v.17
   • In his defense Jesus said to them, ‘My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.’
2. Why did the Jews try to kill Jesus? v.18
   •  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.
3. What did he say the Son can only do? v.19
   • 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.
4. What does the father do? v.20a
   • For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does.
5. What does Father and Son do? v.21
   • 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.
6. What has Father entrusted to the Son? v.22,23
   • Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honour the Son just as they honour the Father. Whoever does not honour the Son does not honour the Father, who sent him.

B. Think:

1. What things do we learn from Jesus about his Father’s work?
2. How was Jesus saying he was limited in what he did?
3. What claim is Jesus clearly making here?

C. Comment:

This is an exciting and challenging passage!

First of all, let’s note what Jesus said about his Father’s work: Father is ALWAYS working, or always active and on the move. This means we don’t have to push God to move but to come in line with what He IS already doing. We need to learn to see what God IS doing around us.

Second, let’s note what Jesus tells us about his own activity: he only does what His Father is doing, he joins in with what his father is doing. Because throughout the Gospels we see Jesus constantly healing and ministering to people, we can see that GOD is constantly wanting to move in people’s lives and bring healing and freedom. He hasn’t changed and He is still moving!

The main activity of God and His Son Jesus is clearly to bring new life to people who are spiritually dead. He does this today to all those who honour the Son by believing in Him, because as they do this they honour God the Father also. Those who thus receive His new life go on (or are supposed to) to do the work of Jesus, that which God the Father initiates. The Father is thus looking for those who will respond to His call and follow in the ministry of Jesus.

D. Application?

1. We need to learn to look and discern what God the Father is doing on His earth today.
2. We need to learn to discern His heart and mind, to be available to Him to do His works.

Passage: John 5:24-30: Father & Son (2)

A. Find Out:

1.  What twofold thing is necessary for life? v.24
   • ‘Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.
2. When will the dead hear? v.25
   • Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.
3. What authority has the Father granted? v.26,27
   • For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.
4. Who also will hear his voice? v.28
   •  ‘Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice
5. What two things will happen? v.29
   • and come out – those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.
6. On what basis does Jesus judge? v.30
   • By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.

B. Think:

1. Jesus obviously talks about two sorts of death. What are they?
2. How does he speak about past and future resurrection from the dead?
3. How is the Father and Son relationship shown here?

C. Comment:

People who are physically alive can pass from death to life according to Jesus. The death and life referred to must, therefore, be spiritual. The transfer takes place when people HEAR Jesus’ word and BELIEVE God. When that happens He imparts spiritual life and the person comes alive in a spiritual dimension.

We must always remember, therefore, that the non-Christian is spiritually dead and cannot understand spiritual things until God makes them alive. Then Jesus also speaks about another coming-to-life from the dead, a physical resurrection.

The purpose of this will be for people to receive what they deserve. Some will rise to live and some will rise to be condemned. But what is the purpose behind all that? Why should God ordain this to happen? May we suggest the following: the Lord wants there to be a time when EVERYONE consciously knows the truth and KNOWS that what is happening is just.      We are treading on unclear ground here but a future resurrection is a clear expectation of Scripture. The fruits of it are determined by how a person responds to God and the good news of Jesus, and carries on responding, today!

D. Application?

1. Natural man without God, is spiritually dead and needs the Lord to be    brought alive.
2. A time will be coming when there will be a separating of the good and the bad, for eternity.

Passage: John 5:31-40: Testimonies to Jesus

A. Find Out:

1. What is this passage all about? v.31,32
   • ‘If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is another who testifies in my favour, and I know that his testimony about me is true.
2. Who was the first witness Jesus mentioned? v.33-35
   •  ‘You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. 34 Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. 35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.
3. What is the second testimony he mentions? v.36
   •  ‘I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish – the very works that I am doing – testify that the Father has sent me.
4. Who brought the third testimony? v.37
   •  And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form,
5. What is the fourth area of testimony? v.39
   • You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,
6. Yet what was their response? v.38-40
   • 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. 39 You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

B. Think:

1. What is a testimony?
2. Who or what are the persons or things in this passage that testify to Jesus?
3. What should be the response to such a wide range of strong evidence?

C. Comment:

In this passage Jesus speaks clearly about the evidence that points to who he actually is. He could simply tell them who he is but personal testimony, he says, is not really valid. You need to rely upon other witnesses, and so he points them out.

First, he reminds them of the testimony of John the Baptist, who they had accepted for a while. John is a human figure, but they may accept what he had said about Jesus. However, there are better witnesses.

So, he says, second, there are the very things I am doing, the things God the Father has given me to do. If these don’t show who I am, what does?

Well, third, the Father has Himself testified to Jesus publicly, at Jesus’ baptism, but of course most of them weren’t there.

The fourth witness is the Scriptures themselves, that speak and speak and speak about the One who is to come. However, despite all these witnesses, it is still possible to not believe. However, Jesus hints, it is more of a case of you “refusing” to believe, i.e. it is an act of will whereby you refuse to accept because if you do believe, it means your life, attitudes and outlook will have to change as well (that is the implication!).

D. Application?

1. Believing – or unbelieving – is an act of will!
2. The evidence is quite adequate – for anyone!

Passage: John 5:41-47: Glory & Belief

A. Find Out:

1. What doesn’t Jesus do? v.41
   •  ‘I do not accept glory from human beings,
2. But what did he know? v.42
   •  but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts.
3. What was incongruous about their behaviour? v.43
   • I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.
4. What ought they to have been doing? v.44
   •  How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
5. Who is their accuser? v.45
   •  ‘But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set.
6. Why? v.46,47
   •  If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. 47 But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?’

B. Think :

1. What two reasons are given why they should believe in Jesus?
2. What were the Jews doing instead?
3. Why do people not believe today?

C. Comment :

Jesus continues speaking about believing in him. Look, he says, I’m not out to get praise from you but you ought to be believing in me. I’ve come from the Father and if you were godly you would recognise that and respond to me. Instead it is quite clear to me that you do not love God and you do not believe I am who I am. Then Jesus shows them how foolish their position is.

Look, he says, you accept human leaders and you praise them but when one who is so much greater comes you refuse to acknowledge him. Then he goes on, look, don’t think I’m accusing you, you’re already being accused by Moses. He wrote about me (see Genesis 3:15, 22:18, 49:10, Numbers 24:17, Deuteronomy 18:15-18) and you have been looking for the one of whom he wrote but now refuse to see that I am that one.

In this passage Jesus clearly EXPECTS them to believe and SCOLDS them for not believing. Their excuse might have been, well we want to be sure, we don’t want to acclaim an impostor, it’s not very clear, but obviously any such excuse is not acceptable to Jesus. God was looking for and expecting childlike simple faith that sought Him and accepted Jesus as coming from Him.

D. Application?

1. Are we too intellectual in our approach to God, or will be respond with    simple faith to what He shows us of Himself?
2. Eyes of faith receive God’s blessing.