Step 31: From Capernaum to Jerusalem
In Capernaum, Jesus attended a banquet and performed 4 Miracles. He answered John’s doubt by confirming his deity. There he also preached 2 sermons, made a prediction, and taught 2 parables. Now He goes to Jerusalem to celebrate a Feast Day. But we are not told which Feast Day. This is also the first time we have been in John in a while, and the entire Step is taken from the Gospel of John 5:1-47.
- John 5:1-4. This passage leads to several questions. Did this pool have actual healing properties, or was it superstition? What caused the stirring of the waters? Was it an angel or something else? Did people actually receive healing here?
- John 5:5-8 Miracle- healing of a 38-year invalid. The fact that he had been an invalid for 38 years seems well known, suggesting the man himself made sure everyone knew it.
- V.6 Jesus asked the man, “Do you want to be healed?” What kind of question is that? Perhaps this suggests that some people enjoy their infirmities and might not want healing!
- V.7 The man says he wants to be healed, and he believes that if he could get to the pool in time, he would be.
- Was his faith misplaced? Are there people today whose faith is misplaced?
- V.8 Jesus heals the man and tells him to take up his bed and walk.
- Does this show us that, Yes Jesus can heal? However, we have responsibilities in the healing process.
- V.9-13 Wicked Pharisees are angry because Jesus healed the man on the Sabbath. They were more concerned with the law than they were with the man. Are there times today when some religious people are more concerned with cultural norms and appearances than they are with lost souls?
- V. 14 Jesus later meets the healed man in the temple and tells him to sin no more. Does this mean that all sickness and infirmity are caused by sin? No. Sickness is not always caused by sin, but sinful actions often cause sickness. We ultimately have responsibility for our own health.
- John 5:16-18: The Jews keep seeking to kill Jesus. Not only because He healed on the Sabbath, but also because He calls God His own Father.
- John 5:19-47: A Sermon on judgment and resurrection.
- V. 19-20 Jesus says that the Father loves Him and instructs Him in all things.
- V.21-23 He tells us that the Father has committed all judgment to Him. God desires that all men honor Jesus as they do the Father. (What does this tell us about Jesus’s relationship with the Father?)
- V.24 A promise of eternal life. We see here that although Jesus has the right to judge us, He also offers us a way to escape judgment.
- V.25-30 A promise: one day we will be resurrected. Focus on v. 28-29
- Other verses in the Bible show two different resurrections. These are separated by a thousand years. The first resurrection happens just before the millennium and includes all saved Old Testament and tribulation saints. The second will take place after the millennium and will consist of all unbelievers who have ever lived. (The evil dead will be resurrected to live a life of eternal dying.)
See Mark 9:42-48, Daniel 12:2; Rev.20:4-6
- V.31-47 Four witnesses to the Deity of Christ
- V.31-35 John the Baptist
- V.36 The many miracles
- V.37-38. The Father Himself.
- V.45-47 The Old Testament, especially the writings of Moses.
- V.39-44 Jesus knew that there were and are some who will never believe in Him. No matter who testifies about Him.
