Services | Working on the Sabbath

Bulletin

Hymn #335 “Standing on the Promises”

SCRIPTURE READING – 1 Corinthians 16:13 & 14
Giving of Selves and Our Offerings

OFFERTORY PRAYER
OFFERTORY MUSIC – Pru Hungate

Praise and Worship
“Overcome”
“Crown Him (Majesty)”
“Homecoming”

Proclamation of the Word
Message by Pastor Joe
“Working on the Sabbath”

“Holy Forever”
Benediction “There Is Freedom”

Sermon Notes
John 5:1 Jesus in Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews
John 5:2, & 5 Many sick were at the pool of Bethesda hoping to get well
John 5:6 – 9 Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath
John 5:10 & 11 The man was told it was not permissible to carry his pallet on the Sabbath. His response the man who healed him said to do it
John 5:12 & 13 They ask who that was, but he did not know
John 5:14 Jesus meets the man again and tells him not to sin anymore so that nothing worse happens to him
John 5:15 & 16 The man tells the Jews it was Jesus and they start persecuting Jesus because He healed on the Sabbath
John 5:17 Jesus’ response the Father and Him are working

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Scritpures

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Transcript of Service

Audio file

FBCWest563.mp3



Transcript

Today we'll take a look at a passage of scripture where Jesus returns to Jerusalem, and while he's there. He meets a man who doesn't know. Who he is. But is in need of healing and Jesus. Offers him healing. Without any sense of requiring faith. But Jesus later will instruct him to do something, which certainly our culture and unfortunately many churches do not instruct anyone today to do. Come and hear what Jesus instructs us to do.



If you have your Bibles. And you should. Turn to the Gospel of John, Chapter 5. And that's where we'll. Be taking the scriptures. This morning. And the verse verse says this. After these things there was a feast of the Jews and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now it doesn't tell us which feast it is. The last time that there was a feast, they told us it was at Passover and Jesus was there. There are. Seven holy days in the the Jewish calendar. Three of those holy days, the males, if at all possible, were to go to Jerusalem. They were Passover, and it was Pentecost, and it was Travolta or boost. We're not told which of those. It was. Some people think it was a vote. I kind of think maybe it was Pentecost, but. That and $5 will buy you a cup of coffee, but there's also, besides the seven holy days, the Jews also recognized two other religious observance was Purim, which they got during the time of Esther and Hanukkah or. The lights which Jesus in the gospel of John will celebrate as well and but he is there as. As a a Jewish. Male following the law, so he arrives. In Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate of pool, which is called in Hebrew. Bethesda having five politicals now the Sheep gate is the entrance on I believe the east side of the city, where livestock and particularly sheep. They would entered the city so that they could be sacrificed in the temple, and so this was a an easy way for them to get to the temple when it was dedicated primarily for that entrance and in at that spot there was, as it says, a political there was a this place that had a portal, which is like a roof with. With columns and. So there's a large and and. Then there was. And in these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame and withered.

I want to stop there, and if you'll see on the screen, and if you see in your Bibles, there's a little bracket. And that bracket says that they're not. Uniformity and understanding of whether the next couple of verses actually should be there. Some of the earlier translations, I mean some of the earlier manuscripts didn't have it, some others did, and whatever. And so I tend not. To preach from that, because I'm not smart enough to know whether it's there or not, I do know that there's three possibilities, so I'll give you those possibilities. Possibility #1. John actually wrote it. That's good. And if he did, wonderful. Second possibility is that some of the well the. Is that when the? Transcriber of the Gospel was writing. He goes well if I kind of leave it there. Nobody's going to understand what. What's happening is happening so he gives an explanation and that explanation is accurate. It's it's not part of what John wrote. But it's accurate. And the next possibility is it's not a part of what John wrote. And the person thought it ought to be there, and it was an accurate. So those are the possibilities. So I'll let you decide for that, but I I won't comment on it. You can read it or why the the water start moving the way. I do. So we'll jump that where this is. And so in verse five, it says a man was there who had been ill for 38 years. Now during this time. It was not. Usual for people to live past 4045 or so, so pretty much most of his life, which was now consumed by this illness. And he'd been laying in this. By the pool here. And the reason why and why the rider, if he had started this or whatever, try to give the explanation is the reason people were hanging out, who were ill and and lame and blind and whatever is that when the waters of the pool would. Be stirred up. Whoever got there first would get healed. So everybody kind of hung around there waiting for the waters to stir up so that they could become. And so this man who couldn't lose. So he probably was a paralytic. And and maybe even more than that couldn't come. And so he says, when Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been a long time. In that condition, he said to him, do you wish? To get well. Now I want you to see something that's unique.

Usually people pursue Jesus. Or Healy. Or from some desperate to raise their child, they see Jesus's miracles. They seek his healing, they seek his resurrection. This man doesn't seek it. He's just lying there because he's hoping. That he can fall into the pool at just the right time to be healed, so his hope is an entirely different situation. And the sick man answered him. And I love this. And I'm being sarcastic. Sir, I have no man to foot, man to the pool. When the water is stirred up. But while I am coming and other steps down before me. Let me tell you. This was a stupid answer. What the man should have said was yes. Do you want to get well, yes. What he was doing was giving an excuse while he'd been. There so long. Cause I haven't been able to get there well. I don't have a lot of sympathy for this guy. That's why I'm glad Jesus did. Because I would have. Thought what he should have done. Since he could move was have somebody put him at the very edge of the pool and when the water got, he'd fall in. He didn't need anybody to move. Him just fall in, but he. Was probably afraid of drown. So he was there to get healed, but but he was waiting for God to do it the way he expected God to do. And God. Shows up. And ask them. A simple question, you want to get well. Jesus said to him. Hit up. Pick up your palette.

And walk.

Jesus doesn't do any magical things. He doesn't lay hands on. He doesn't. He just says you want. To get well, get up, walk. Notice he doesn't even ask the man. Do you believe that I can heal you? He doesn't require any faith of this man, he says. Just get up and walk. Which shows you that God is sovereign. I don't know how many times I've heard Pastor say that your lack of faith prohibits God from doing things. No, it doesn't. My faith is irrelevant to what God does when God wants to do it. He didn't require this man to have faith as a matter of fact, this man as we. Will see. Does he even know who Jesus is? He says do you want to? Get well. Stand up. And start walking. Pick up your palate. And immediately the man became well. There was no time delay. There was no immediately. He began to became well and picked up his palate and began to walk. Now was a Sabbath on that day. Now Jesus. I think did this for a particular reason. Chose this man. For the reasons that God chooses anybody to do whatever God is going to do. But assigned the Sabbath. He does good on the Sabbath. He works on the Sabbath. So the Jews were saying to the man who was cured it. It is the Sabbath and it is not permissible for you to carry your palate. Now, First off, they're wrong. The law does not prohibit you from carrying your pallet. All of their extra. Special safeguards to prevent you from violating the Scriptures or there. But there were that was man's law prohibit you from violating God's law. But the law did not prohibit him from doing what Jesus instructed him to do on the Sabbath. But he answered them. He he who made me well was the one who said to me, pick up your palate and walk. And again, This is why I'm not too keen on this guy. This reminds me of Adam and Eve. I'm carrying the power cause somebody else. Told me to. I'm not responsible. As I was told to do it. And so I did it. Now, I'd love the next. They asked him. Who is the man who said to you? Pick up your powers and walk? They didn't say who was the. Man who healed you? To me that. Would be the important question. Who killed you? No, no, it's there. Walked into. It's the Sabbath. You're not supposed to carry your palate. Somebody told you to carry your palate. Ohh, they're a Sinner. Even though it's not a sin because you didn't violate God's law. But they're not interested in the truth. They're interested in making sure that they apprehend and deal with this man who caused someone to carry a pallet. But the man who was healed did not know who it was.

Where Jesus has stood the way while there was a crowd in that place, you see, Jesus did what Jesus does. But he wasn't trying to get. You think he did what he did and slipped away? You could easily just hang around and say, well, I'll wait for the the religious leader to show up and I'll have a conversation with him, but he doesn't. Because he wants to have an interview with the man again. And afterwards, Jesus found him in the temple. Notice Jesus found him. He didn't look for Jesus now me. I would think if I had been sick for. 38 years. And somebody healed me. I don't want to say a whole lot about. Thank you. What can I do for you? Where are you hanging out? I like to hang out some more. I like to deal with you because you just killed me after I had been sick for 38 years. But instead of him searching for Jesus, Jesus finds him. And unfortunately, that's most like the rest of. They don't look for Jesus, he finds them. But then Jesus. Is going to say something very interesting. Behold, you have become well. Do not sin anymore so that nothing worse happens to you. Wait a minute. That's not that Jesus everybody talks about. Jesus told this guy don't sin. What is Jesus about? He came to save us. From our sin. But we treat it as if once he saved us from our sin, we're entitled to keep sinning. Because he saves us from our sin, he is not the great tolerator. He loves us and is trying to deliver us out of sin. Now Jesus is not saying. Everything that happens to you bad is because you've sinned. The scriptures teach. Bad things happen to bad people, and good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people, and good things happen to good people. That's why we took a look at job for a long time. Jesus himself will teach his disciples when they said who sinned this man or his parents, and Jesus said neither. So that the glory and power of God might be revealed. So Jesus doesn't teach per say that just because something bad happens to you is that God is. Out to get you. But in this case, apparently the reason the man was in the condition he was in was because he had sinned. And Jesus says don't sin anymore as it might get worse. I'm going to give you my parable. And I know I don't like to pick a particular sin because if I do, you'll either. Think I'm talking. About you or I'm talking about me. That's why I use chocolate and broccoli and those. And so I'm. Going to use a different. Let's say this young person. And I remember when you were young for. Those of you who are. You remember being young? Let's say you get your first job. You get paid every two weeks on Friday. And in your first paycheck. You go. And you live it up. Your party, you have the greatest meals. You Max out your credit cards and you spend your entire paycheck. And Monday morning shows. Nothing in the refrigerator. Barely, barely any gas in your car to get to work. You're well. Credit cards maxed out. Spent all your paycheck and you can't get paid for another tool. You're going to be hungry. But then somebody comes along and says, you know. I'm going to put. Food and drink in your refrigerator and I'm going to put gas in your car and I want to make sure you're OK for. The next two. Weeks until you get your paycheck. I'll even pay off your credit. So that you're not in debt? Now a non foolish person would be very thankful and learn from his mistake and do better next time. But that's not what we do. Next time the paycheck comes, we borrow it again. And we looked for that guy who paid everything off. We acted very foolish and that's what we do to Jesus. We ask him to save us from our sins and we seek him to to remove the shame and the guilt. But then we're content continue on sinning. Jesus didn't come to save us, that we might send the more. He came to save us, that we might be not be subject to this shame and penalty of sin. And if you think not seeming is boring. And you probably don't belong in here. Is there no sin, Mary? Jesus came that we might be dead to sin. Now lied to him. So he gives us advice that almost you don't hear in the churches to now you hear in the churches that Jesus is just tolerant. He tolerates this and he tolerates that, and if it, and it doesn't matter what you do, just as long as whatever. Jesus tells us, man. Don't spend any more. But that nothing worse happens to me. The man went. Away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well, but at least he's consistent, he says now. He says it's Jesus who made him well, as opposed to he was Jesus who. Told him to pick up his palate. But again, I don't have. A lot of sensing this. Guy should just left it alone. He should have instead of gone to the Jews, to adult tell he should have been hanging out with Jesus as Jesus was the one who healed him and Jesus was the one who told him he shouldn't sin anymore. And So what he should have said is. OK. How do I do that? Because my natural tendency, like my natural tendency and your natural tendency, is to want a sin.

So Jesus, I don't want anything worse happened. To me, because it. That's terrible. Obviously the different word. It was terrible for the 38 years that I experienced that, and I don't want to go back. That for even a day. So you told you healed me. You told me not. To to sin and I'm going to take your instruction. So I want to hang out with. You so I can figure out. The 10 basic ways I can avoid. I can write a book and make money. You you think the guy would be smart? Please like us. He just goes off and. Because of you. For this reason. The Jews were persecuting Jesus because he was doing these things on the set. They're not concerned with the man who is suffering from 38 years. They were concerned that that man carried his palate and that Jesus. Heals him on the SAP. Can you believe such? A person would do good on this app. But Jesus doesn't take it quiet. But he answered them my thought. Is working until now and I myself am work. Confronts the fact that even the Jews understood that on the Sabbath, after God rested. That he didn't stop working. Because they understood that if he stopped working, the world would fall apart. As as the scriptures tell us. Even hold the atoms to. When he was finished with creation, but God and his sovereignty number and Jesus is saying my father didn't stop at Creation, he's working even until now. Save people to heal people, to change people. And I myself am working. He goes. I see what my father does, I do that. My father works on the weekend I work on.

The week.

If it happens to be a Sabbath wonderful, I work because he's working and notice he calls God father and he's not calling father like you. And I say well. We're children to God. He's saying no, no. We are father, son. I am equal with them and we're going to see that they're going. To flip out. Even worse next time. I am equal with God, and if I want to work on the Sabbath, I'll work on the Sabbath. As a matter of fact. There are those who are. Jews who work on the Sabbath, who are they? They're the priests. For the levites. There's the high priest who was even on the high holy days of. Passover or bank, where all those the priests are ministering in the temple. They are working on Sabbaths and High Sabbaths, full of gods. Workers, gods, people who've dedicated themselves to service the Lord and his temple then. But may Jesus, as the son of God and do the same. We need to be very careful. Because sometimes God shows up when we least expect. This man's expecting some day. After 38 years to be healed. He wasn't healed the way. He would expect. He was also told not to sin anymore. And it sounds like us. God probably came into your life when you weren't expecting it. And then he said, I love you. And have died for you so that you no longer have to be subject to the pain and the shame and the penalty of yeah.

Because it's. I give you eternal life. Follow me. Certainly there are those. And when we sin, we sin. And we fall short. Lord knows we all do. That's why we don't look at each other and say. How righteous are you? But there for the grace of God go. The Jews were so. They couldn't see God at work. We should never be so religious. I shall not see God at war. To see what he's. And to be like Jesus. That Jesus had a really. Big advantage over you and me because he was God. It was easy for him to see what God's doing. And do that. There's a there's a song on radio. That sounds. I don't know what you're doing, but I know what you've done. Sometimes it's hard to figure out what he's doing. Firstly, when it's messy. You're going. God, I've been praying for these things to happen and and it's still messy and but I do know you come and you save me and I do know your word is your and you know that you're faithful. And I do know that you should love me. And I do know that there's mercy. And so even though I don't understand, I'm going to. Hang in there. Because I know who you are.