THE RAGE AND ENMITY OF THE JEWS AGAINST JESUS
JOHN 5:15-18
Introduction:
The Lord had just healed a man who had an infirmity for 38 years. He was at the pool of Bethesda, but unable to help himself. Jesus had compassion on him and asked him, “Wilt thou be made whole?” The man related his problem about no one to help. The Lord’s reply was, “Rise, take up thy bed and walk.” The man was made whole immediately and took up his bed.
This was done on the Sabbath and the Jews reacted to what had happened.
I. THE JEWS PERSECUTE JESUS
A. The man that was healed testifies as to who healed him, v. 15, “The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.”
1. There was no intention to betray the Lord, but rather TO SHARE his blessing, John 4:29, “Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?”
2. However, the Jews TOOK ADVANTAGE of the situation, v. 16, “And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.”
a. Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath:
1) John later recorded the cure of a blind man on the Sabbath, John 9:1-14.
2) The grain picking by His disciples on the Sabbath, Mark 2:23-28.
3) The healing of a shriveled hand, Mark 3:1-5.
4) The curing a woman who had been crippled for 18 years, Luke 13:10-17.
5) The healing a man with dropsy, Luke 14:1-6.
b. Jesus’ theology of the Sabbath DIFFERED from that of His opponents.
c. Jesus’ opponents were PROGRESSIVELY HUMILIATED while the crowds FAVORED Him.
B. They could only see the supposed violation of the Sabbath, Isaiah 42:20, “Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.”
C. They took no notice of the fact that this man had been healed by God’s Word, Isaiah 28:14, “Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.”
II. JESUS RESPONDS TO THE JEWS
A. “MY FATHER worketh hitherto,” Isaiah 40:25-26, “To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. 26Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.”
B. “And I work.”
1. Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath, Matthew 12:8, “For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.”
2. Jesus had the Father’s authority to work.
a. He taught with authority, Matthew 7:29, “For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”
b. He healed with authority, Mark 1:27, “And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.”
1) This was NOT a new doctrine, but rather the Christ at Work.
2) With authority He COMMANDED unclean spirits, sickness, and even death to obey Him, Mark 7:37, “And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.”
III. THE JEWS REACTION TO HIS STATEMENT
A. They sought to kill the Lord, v. 18.
1. Because He has BROKEN the Sabbath, Mark 2:27-28, “And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: 28Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.”
2. Because He MADE God His Father, John 8:54, “Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:”
3. Because He made Himself EQUAL with God, John 10:30, 33, “I and my Father are one. 33The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.”
B. The main reason for their hatred of Christ was that their position was threatened, John 11:47-48, “Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. 48If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.”
1. Their fear was that all men would believe on Jesus, John 1:7, “The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.”
2. The Jews feared that they would lose their position, Matthew 21:40-41, “When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? 41They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.”
CONCLUSION:
The Jews continued to persecute Jesus to the very end. While He healed many on the Sabbath, as Lord of the Sabbath He saved many people from hell as well as healed their bodies. Jesus like His Father, continued to work.