“A Journey with John” Day 12: Jesus takes some religious leaders to school (John 5:24-37)

Last time, our guide took us to the pool of Bethesda. As it turns out, it wasn’t a pool party, but there was a reason to celebrate: A man who had been waiting 38 years for his turn to get into the pool for healing, finally got his turn when Jesus healed him. The problem with this scenario is that Jesus performed this miracle on the Sabbath and the Jewish leaders weren’t having any of it. Jesus began a discourse with them that we will look further into today.

Before heading out on today’s excursion, let’s see the new people to whom we were introduced last time:

> A man who had an infirmity for 38 years

>More of the Jewish religious leaders

Well, Jesus had the room pretty much on fire last time. Let’s head out to see what else He has to say:

Jesus, having healed a man at the pool of Bethesda, now comes under fire from the Jews because He performed this healing on the Sabbath. As we left the scene last time, Jesus has informed the Jews that He does what He sees His father do. As well, He informs them that His Father has committed all judgment into His hands. Jesus now begins to lay out the authority by which He is doing what He is doing, as well as excoriating the Jewish leaders. Jesus goes on to tell them that whoever believes what He is saying, will pass from judgment into everlasting life. He reiterates that the Father has granted Him to have life within Himself (that is, can give eternal life) and informs them that soon even the dead would hear His voice. He tells them that when the people come forth from their graves, some will experience the resurrection of life; but those who have done evil, will go to the resurrection of condemnation. Jesus then points out to them that there are witnesses who speak on His behalf, one of which, is John the Baptizer. Additionally, He says the works He performs, give witness of Who He is, as well as the Father Who has sent Him. Jesus tells them that they don’t have God‘s word living in them, and notes that it’s strange that even though they search the scriptures trying to find a way to eternal life, they don’t see that those very scriptures testify of Him. He says that they are not willing to come to Him that they might have eternal life. He then breaks it down further, by saying that if they believed Moses, they would believe Him, for Moses had written about Him. But, since they don’t believe Moses, they’re certainly not going to believe His words.

Our highlighted verses for today:

““Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true. You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?””

‭‭John‬ ‭5‬:‭24‬-‭25‬, ‭28‬-‭29‬, ‭32‬-‭33‬, ‭36‬-‭37‬, ‭39‬-‭40‬, ‭46‬-‭47‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question for reflection:

Where did Moses speak of Jesus?

Next time, we’ll head out to a miraculous feast.

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!