Get Up, Pick Up Your Mat, and Walk: A Study of John 5
An exploration of John 5, focusing on the power of Jesus, obedience, and the nature of divine authority.
1. The Scene at the Pool
1.1 The Setting: Bethesda and the Infirm
Verses: John 5:2-4
- The pool of Bethesda was known for its supposed healing properties, attracting many sick and afflicted individuals.
- An angel would trouble the water, and whoever entered first after the stirring was healed.
- This created a competitive and desperate environment for those seeking healing.
1.2 The Encounter: Jesus and the Lame Man
Verses: John 5:5-7
- Jesus encountered a man who had been ill for thirty-eight years.
- Jesus, knowing the man's condition, asked him, 'Do you want to be made well?'
- The man's response focused on his inability to get into the pool first, highlighting his helplessness.
2. The Miracle and its Aftermath
2.1 The Command and the Cure
Verses: John 5:8-9
- Jesus commanded the man, 'Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.'
- Immediately, the man was made well, picked up his mat, and began to walk.
- This demonstrates the immediate and complete power of Jesus' word.
2.2 The Sabbath Controversy
Verses: John 5:10-13
- The Jews questioned the man for carrying his mat on the Sabbath, which was against their law.
- The healed man explained that the one who made him well told him to pick up his mat and walk.
- This led the Jews to inquire about the identity of the healer.
3. The Revelation and Persecution
3.1 A Warning in the Temple
Verses: John 5:14
- Jesus found the man in the temple and warned him to 'Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.'
- This connects physical healing with spiritual well-being and the importance of repentance.
- It suggests that sin can lead to greater suffering than physical ailments.
3.2 Identifying the Healer
Verses: John 5:15-16
- The healed man told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
- This revelation intensified the persecution of Jesus by the Jews, as He was seen as breaking the Sabbath and making Himself equal with God.
- The Jews sought to kill Jesus because of these actions.
4. Jesus' Authority and Relationship with the Father
4.1 Jesus' Defense: Working with the Father
Verses: John 5:17
- Jesus declared, 'My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.'
- This statement emphasizes the continuous activity of God and Jesus' participation in that divine work.
- It implies that Jesus is acting with the same authority and purpose as the Father.
4.2 Unity of Action and Purpose
Verses: John 5:19
- Jesus stated, '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.'
- This highlights the unity of action and purpose between the Father and the Son.
- It emphasizes that Jesus operates in complete harmony and dependence on the Father, revealing the Father's will and character.
4.3 All Judgment Given to the Son
Verses: John 5:22-23
- Jesus declares that the Father has entrusted all judgment to the Son.
- This underscores the authority and power given to Jesus.
- It also emphasizes that honoring the Son is equivalent to honoring the Father, further solidifying their unified nature.