Jesus: The Life-Giver and Judge (John 5)

Most of us believe that we have been given life by God, that it is God who sustains our life right now, and that the future of our life after death hangs in the balance of the judgment of God. What would you think if I told you that God has given all of this authority to Jesus Christ? Does that sound preposterous to you? That a man from the Middle East who lived two-thousand years ago is the Judge of all the Earth and has the exclusive power to give either life or death to all men. Or does that resonate in your heart with a tone of truth? This is what is taught in John 5. Jesus is the Life-Giver and Judge. What you believe about that truth determines your standing with God.

Any study of John 5 will reveal that it is full of theological content. But as the reader climbs to a more elevated position, to gain a clear perspective, he understands from the narrative that Jesus does what he does because He is who he is.

Jesus: The Life-Giver and Judge
John 5

Jesus does what He does — the work of God. (5:1-18)
1. The context of the story is a Jewish feast in Jerusalem. (1)
2. The condition of the invalids at the pool of Bethesda. (2-5)
3. The compassion of Jesus for this particular invalid. (6)
4. The inability of the invalid to help himself. (7)
5. The power of Jesus to heal the invalid. (8-9)
6. The condemnation of the invalid by the Jews. (10-16)
7. The commitment of Jesus to work because His Father is working. (17)
8. The hatred of the Jews for Jesus. (18)

Because Jesus is who He is — the Son of God. (5:19-47)
1. As the Son, Jesus is the object of the Father’s love. (20)
2. As the Son, Jesus has been shown the Father’s will. (20)
3. As the Son, Jesus has been granted the Father’s power to give life to whom he will. (21,25-26)
4. As the Son, Jesus has been given the Father’s authority to judge men. (22-23,27)
         As Judge, Jesus brings six indictments against the religious leaders:
        a. You do not believe the witness of God. (31-35)
        b. You do not recognize the works of God. (36)
        c. You do not understand the Word of God. (37-40)
        d. You do not have the love of God. (41-43)
        e. You do not seek the glory of God. (44)
        f. You do not believe the Law of God. (45-47)