SS Lesson

The Gospel Project: Unit 33, Session 3

Jesus Heals a Man at Bethesda. John 5

Point 3: A Hostile Response Leads to a Bold Claim. John 5: 16-18

In verse 17, Jesus made Himself equal to God with the statement, "My Father"! And continue reading Jesus states that The Father has given Him Power to give Life, and that Christ is the Judge. Wow!

In Matthew 5, after the Beatitudes and Jesus' statement regarding believers, vs 17 going forward He begins discussing Law. He says, "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill."

If He didn't come to destroy why could He heal on the Sabbath? And why is Law capitalized?

Christ differentiated between God's Law and Man's. The Jewish Religious leaders had taken God's Law and created a massive system of do's and don'ts. So much so, only the religious leaders could keep up with them (and them being the judge). And as Christ continues He takes God's Law and says the breaking of the Law begins within the heart! Now Christ is saying one doesn't even have to perform an act just thinking it, desiring it makes one guilty! Confounding the religious leaders because who can know the heart? The person and God.

Essential Doctrine:

Jesus Christ had all the rights and responsibilities of God. Because he is the Second Person of the Trinity

Today's Hymn: