1. Signs of Jesus

2. “John’s gospel is shallow enough for babies to wade in – but deep enough for elephants to drown in.”

3. A MIRACLE THAT MEETS SPECIFIC PEOPLE’S PHYSICAL &/OR SOCIAL NEEDS
“SIGN”
A SYMBOLIC ACT THAT REVEALS JESUS’ UNIQUE IDENTITY & ABILITY TO MEET HUMANITY’S SPIRITUAL NEEDS

4. Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have (spiritual) life in his name.
John 20:30,31

5. John 5:1-29 Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man
THE SETTING
After these things there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes . . .

8. John 5:1-29 Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man
THE SETTING
In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, <waiting for the moving of the waters; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted.> And a certain man was there, who had been thirty-eight years in his sickness. (John 5:1-4)

9. John 5:1-29 Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man
THE SETTING
In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, <waiting for the moving of the waters; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted.> And a certain man was there, who had been thirty-eight years in his sickness. (John 5:1-4)

10. John 5:1-29 Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man
THE MIRACLE
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?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Arise, take up your pallet, and walk.”
John 5:6-8

11. John 5:1-29 Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man
THE MIRACLE
Incontestable
Instantaneous
Complete
And immediately the man became well, and took up his pallet and began to walk.
John 5:9a

12. John 5:1-29 Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man
THE MIRACLE
Jesus demonstrated his compassion for suffering people and His authority over sickness and disease

13. John 5:1-29 Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man
THE “SIGN”
Now it was the Sabbath on that day . . .
John 5:9b

14. John 5:1-29 Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man
THE “SIGN”
. . . Therefore the Jews were saying to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet.” But he answered them, “He who made me well was the one who said to me, ‘Take up your pallet and walk.’” They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your pallet, and walk?’” But he who was healed did not know who it was; for Jesus had slipped away while there was a crowd in that place . . .

15. John 5:1-29 Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man
THE “SIGN”
. . . Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse may befall you.” The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. And for this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.
John 5:9b-16

16. John 5:1-29 Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man
THE “SIGN”
God intended the Sabbath as a compassionate provision . . .
. . . But the religious leaders twisted it into a neurotic & oppressive set of rules

17. John 5:1-29 Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man
THE “SIGN”
But he answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I myself am working.” For this cause therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because he not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
John 5:17,18

18. John 5:1-29 Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man
THE “SIGN” - JESUS IS GOD
Unique intimacy & working harmony with the Father
Jesus therefore answered and was saying to them, “. . . whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows him all things that he himself is doing . . .

19. John 5:1-29 Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man
THE “SIGN” - JESUS IS GOD
Authority to bestow life
. . . For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he wishes . . .

20. John 5:1-29 Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man
THE “SIGN” - JESUS IS GOD
Full authority to judge all of humanity
. . . For not even the Father judges anyone, but he has given all judgment to the Son . . .

21. John 5:1-29 Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man
THE “SIGN” - JESUS IS GOD
The right to be honored & worshipped as God
. . . in order that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
John 5:19-23

22. John 5:1-29 Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man
THE “SIGN” - JESUS IS GOD
In view of Jesus’ claim to be God, is it fair to “approve” of him as a prophet, a spiritual master, or a moral philosopher?

23. John 5:1-29 Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man
THE “SIGN” - JESUS IS GOD
Jesus polarizes us into either bowing to him as our Lord & God, or denouncing him as a blasphemer.

24. John 5:1-29 Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man
THE “SIGN” - JESUS CAN RESTORE US TO SPIRITUAL LIFE
JESUS HEALS A PARALYZED MAN AS THE MAN BELIEVES HIS WORD
“SIGN”
JESUS WILL RESTORE YOU TO SPIRITUAL LIFE IF YOU BELIEVE HIS WORD

25. John 5:1-29 Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man
THE “SIGN” - JESUS CAN RESTORE US TO SPIRITUAL LIFE
Jesus said to him, “Arise, take up your pallet, and walk.” And immediately the man became well, and took up his pallet and began to walk. (John 5:8,9a)
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.” (John 5:24)

26. John 5:1-29 Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man
THE “SIGN” - JESUS CAN RESTORE US TO SPIRITUAL LIFE
No matter how broken your life is, Jesus can instantaneously & permanently restore you to a love relationship with God.

27. John 5:1-29 Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man
THE “SIGN” - JESUS CAN RESTORE US TO SPIRITUAL LIFE
“Do you wish to get well?”