Rsbc 5/2/04
Sunday Morning
Subject: “ The Opposition To The Work Of Christ”
Text: John 5: 1-25
Intro: I need not labor the point this morning that Christ was opposed from the very day of his entrance into this world. I will show conclusive evidence that he was opposed. (1.) He was opposed by Herod in his birth: Go search for him and when you have found him bring hither to me that I may worship him, the wise men departed and God warned them in a dream...
Matthew 2:12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
(2.) He was opposed by all the religious leaders of that day: They felt in their hearts that Jesus Christ and his teachings and what he did was a threat to their religion and their ruling power over the people of Israel.
Luke 19:14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this [man] to reign over us.
(3.) He was opposed by the devil through men:
Matthew 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard [it], they said, This [fellow] doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
I... “ THE PROBLEM IN OUR TEXT: VS 3-5
We have said previously many times that Christ did not heal people just to heal them, but there was a divine reason in doing what he did. He had previously turned water into wine: John 2:1 he had previously to this occasion healed the Nobleman’s son in John 4:43 now he is faced with a great number of people sick.
Seasonally, an angel troubled the water and the first in was healed of whatever disease they had. Christ now coming into the place where this great pool was and all these sick people is going once again to display his awesome power.
We have seen the word found in vs 5: “ Certain” through out the ministry of Christ. He would use it in his teachings, certain woman, certain king. This means that Christ is going deal directly with them.
This man had been sick for 38 years. He was impotent, which meant his chances were very slim that he would ever make it to the water as we will see later. How this pictures the sinner without Christ.
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Several pictures of sinners in the Bible: The leper, the blind, the impotent, the dead, all of these tell of the hopelessness and the inability of the sinner. Paul said in Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. He said in the Ephesian letter: Ephesians 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
To be without Christ means you are dead in sins and trespasses: Eph 2:5
To be without Christ means you are lost and undone: 2 Cor 2-4
To be without Christ means you are condemned right now: John 3:18
To be without Christ means that if you die like that you will go to hell. John 8:24
II... “ THE SOLUTION TO HIS PROBLEM: VS 6-9
Since I am saved, since I am a voice for the Lord, since I know what it is to pass from death to life, I am here to announce to you this morning that Christ is the only solution to your dilemma this morning. We shall see the mercy and grace of Christ displayed on this man and on his condition.
1st. It is seen in his fixing his eyes on this man: vs 6 “ When Jesus saw him”
This is a type of all that the LORD fixes his eyes on to save us. It was in the early part of this great book of John that we see this in reality again. John 1:48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
Never be mistaken as to the fact that God is watching looking with intensity to set his eyes upon his elect people. Proverbs 5:21 For the ways of man [are] before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings. The setting of his eyes upon sinners is dictated by his all wise decree.
2nd To be seen by Christ means that he loved him.
The love of Christ is so demonstrated in this passage as well as many more in the bible. Christ has a intimate love, Christ love for us is real love, Christ love for us beneficial love, Christ love for us permanent love, Christ love for us is a saving and keeping love.
3rd. To be seen by Christ means that he knows what the problem is: “ knew that he had been now a long time in this case”..vs 6
God that made us, loves us, died for us, lives in us, knows all about us. One of my favorite Psalms declares that.
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Psalm 139:1‑3 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known [me]. 2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted [with] all my ways.
4th. To be seen by Christ means that he will communicate with you. Vs 6 “ Wilt thou be made whole”
In this man’s answer to Christ is seen that he had know idea who he was communicating with. He thought he was another gazer at what was happening in and around this pool. Sinners are like that. They are told that if they believe they can be healed of their sins, but they are profited momentarily by their sins. Some did not want healing because they make money off their illness.
A. His dilemma..vs 7 I have no man to help me..
B. His solution..vs 8 “take up thy bed”
c. His healing: vs 9 “ He was made whole”
Listen to me this morning if you are lost, Christ can save you today providing he sees you, communicates with you, and then provides for you the ability to come to him and repent of your sins...
Come unto him and he will give you rest: Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Come unto him and yours sins will white as snow: Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Come unto him and you will be forgiven: Acts 13:38‑39 Be it known unto you therefore, men [and] brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Come unto him and you will be saved and saved forever: John 10:28-29
If you are at the pool this morning Christ is present to heal you of your sin sickness, your deadness, your depravity, your hopelessness, Come and welcome to Christ. Come and leave a new creature in Christ, come and leave a different person this morning.
III... “ THE GREAT OPPOSITION TO THE WORK CHRIST DID”..VS 10-25
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1st. The opposition to Christ was in light of religious tradition...vs 10 “ It is not lawful to carry thy bed”.
It did not matter that God was in their midst, it did not matter that this man was made whole by Christ. What matter to them, was their interpretation of the law. They changed the law to suit their own ideas.
In the Book of Numbers: A man was gathering sticks on the Sabbath and he brought to Moses and they put him in jail till they decided what to do. Numbers 15:35‑36 And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. 36 And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.
Once again it was their interpretation.
This man did not know who it was that had healed him, so he could no give them a proper answer at this time. Christ had hid himself from them. He shows back up, and communicates once again with this man that he had wholly healed. In verse 14.
2nd. The opposition revealed the true nature of these men:...vs. 16
They hated him: John 15:25 But [this cometh to pass], that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. The word cause in this verse means: they freely hated him, which means he did not deserve to be hated. He had not broken the law, he had not done evil. He had done good and they refuse to see this wonder in the day of their visitation by God.
3rd. Christ verifies that he had not broken the law: vs 17-23
a. Christ was only doing that which his Father had determined for him to do: vs 17
b. Christ acknowledges his complete union and inability without the Father: vs 19
c. Christ declares the love of his Father for him..vs 20-21
John 17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
d. Christ declares that the Father reveals to him all things..vs 20
e. The Sovereignty of Christ in giving life: vs 20
John 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
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f. Christ preaches the gospel in closing: vs 24-25
This is what this was all about, the opportunity to preach the gospel. It was that same word that Christ preached that was going to judge them one day. They would be without excuse. They are without excuse.
1st. He that heareth my word: vs 24
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life.
Christ speaks in that still small voice and it works brother and sister. Not my words, not the words of a preacher, but the words that Christ spoke. Can you hear them this morning. They are precious and priceless.
2nd. Believeth on him that sent me:
The fact that a sinner believes proves that he or she has eternal life. To believe in God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit is evident that you are saved.
3rd. The great benefit of believing: no condemnation and has passed from death to life.
4th. The great conclusion: vs 25