John 5

This chapter is divided into two parts.

Verse 1-16 The miracle or Sign.

Verse 17-47 The discussion.

Christ returns to Jerusalem for the “feast of the Jews.”

If this was the Passover—it was no longer Jehovah’s feast.

Sign No.1 Was in the realm of creation and joy.

Sign No.2 Was in the realm of suffering and disease.

Sign No.3 Was in the moral realm.

See Verse 14. Sin no more lest a worse thing come unto thee.

1. The question of the Sabbath.

2. The claims that Christ had made.

A. My Father. Verse 17.

B. Making Himself equal with God. Verse 18.

The Jews did not care about the miracle.

They were concerned about the violation of the Sabbath.

The Deity of Christ.

Christ states His equality with God. Verse 17-18.

My Father. See Philippians 2 and John 10:30-33.

Verse 20 Greater works than these.

Enumerate some of these works.

1. Changing water into wine

2. Healing a nobleman’s son

3. Healing a man who had a infirmity thirty and eight years.

Describe the “greater works.”

The Son, co-equal-co-eternal with the Father will

1. Raise the dead. Verse 21. Physically. Spiritually. Chapter 11 Verse 25. See John 11:25.

2. Judge all men. Verse 22.

A. Only God can raise the dead. So Christ must be God.

Verse 22 The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.

The first judgment will be the

Judgment Seat of Christ—The Awards.

Judgment of the nations—Matthew 25.

Judge in Righteousness—Millennium.

The Great White Throne—The wicked dead. Revelations 19.

Verse 23 The Son has to be honored—praised and worshipped.

As the Father is worshipped so must the Son be worshipped.

We cannot honor God the Father if we do not honor God the Son.

This puts Unitarianism—Jehovah’s Witness’—Mormonism—Modernism in their right perspective.

Matthew 10:40.

He that receiveth you receiveth Me, and He that receiveth Me receiveth Him that sent Me.

John 12:44-45

He that believeth on Me, believeth not on Me—but on Him that sent Me.

In these verses the Lord reveals Himself as

1. Very God

2. Lord of life and death

3. Judge of all.

Verse 24 He who hears My Word and believes on Him that sent Me i.e. the Father hath everlasting life.

Verse 25 The Hour—The day of Grace.

The Dead—Spiritually dead.

The Voice—Through the Gospel.

The Life—Eternal life.

The Two Resurrections. Verse 28-29.

The Resurrection of Life.

The Resurrection of Judgment.

John 6

Verse 1 After these things.

What things?

Luke 4:14-30 The Lord in the Synagogue at Nazareth

Verse 31-37 Casts out demons

Verse 38-44 Heals Peters wife’s mother

Chapter 5

Verse 1-11 Miraculous draught of fishes

Verse 12-16 Heals a leper

Verse 17-26 Heals a paralytic

Chapter 6

Verse 6-11 Withered hand healed

Verse 12-19 The twelve chosen

Verse 20-49 The Sermon on the Mount

Chapter 7

Verse 1-10 Centurion Servant healed

Verse 11-18 Widows son raised

Chapter 8

Verse 1-3 Healing of Mary Magdalene

Verse 4-15 Parables of the Kingdom

Verse 22-25 Stills the storm

Verse 26-39 Demoniac Healed

Verse 40-56 Woman healed

Jaurus daughter raised

Chapter 9

Twelve sent forth

Sign No. 4

Feeding of the 5,000 men, plus women and children.

Note the Omnipotence of God Verse 6.

Verse 5-8 See the dilemma of Philip & Andrew.

Ponder what God used—one wee laddie—five small cakes—two diminutive fish Verse 9.

Little is much if God is in it.

David & Goliath.

Gideon Judges 6:7.

Verse 11 The loaves were miraculously multiplied in His hand—the fish too.

Verse 12 They were all “filled.”

Verse 13 Twelve baskets left over. Enough and to spare—this was a feast.

Verse 14 The consensus of opinion. This if of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. See Deuteronomy 18:15.

The Lord thy God shall raise unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, like unto me.

Moses is speaking here.

They evidently knew the prophecy.

Moses gave their forefathers bread in the wilderness—he also was their great leader.

So they reckoned that Christ was that prophet spoken of—he could give them bread so they wanted to make Him King by force if necessary. For selfish reasons and motives.

Keep these things in mind as we enter the great discourse.

Sign No. 5 Verse 15-21

Verse 15 Christ on the mountaintop alone with God. “Communion.”

Watch the development of the story.

The disciples were elated at the prospect of Jesus being made King.

Note now their despondency.

Verse 17

From the mountaintop of Prosperity to the valley of Adversity.

Verse 18

From the prospect of being rulers in a kingdom to the possibility of being victims of the storm.

The night was dark and stormy; they were at their wit’s end.

Verse 19

They were making no progress.

The seas were threatening to engulf them when suddenly they see a figure walking on the water.

Evidently “Master of the circumstances.”

They were afraid. Matthew 14 says that “they cried out in fear.”

Verse 20

Jesus spoke to them at this point. It is I, be not afraid.

Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity.

At this point of recognition Peter leaves the boat.

They willingly receive Him into the ship.

Please note Verse 21. They were half way across the lake Verse 19, but it says that as soon as Jesus entered the boat immediately they were at land.

Lessons

1. The period following a victory is one of the most vulnerable and dangerous in the Christian’s life.

2. We cannot progress alone.

3. The difference when Christ is in the boat.

4. Immediately they were at land.

The Discourse

Verse 22-59

The Bread of Heaven.

Verse 26 The Lord, who knoweth the hearts of all men, revealed the true motive of their hearts. See John 2.

Verse 27-29 Divine instruction for those who would do the “work of God.”

“Believe on Him whom God hath sent.”

Verse 29 The work of God is that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

The will of God—That nothing should be lost. That those that believe should have everlasting life.

Note the repeated use of the word “Believe.”

Verse 30 Note the contrast. They were told to believe Verse 29.

Note their flagrant “unbelief.”

Though they had come fresh from the feeding of the five thousand they said “What sign showest us that we may believe?”

Verse 31 What Thou hast done in feeding the multitude is not new.

Moses fed our fathers in the wilderness with manna.

Using O.T. words they said He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

Verse 32 The Lord reminds them that it was not Moses who gave them bread, it was God.

Verse 33 The Lord speaks of the true bread of God, which cometh down from heaven, and giveth eternal life to the world—not only to the Jews.

Verse 34 They expressed a desire for this bread.

Verse 35 Christ declares Himself to be “The Bread of Life.”

He that comes to Him shall never hunger.

He that believes in Him shall never thirst.

John 6:36-59

Verse 36 Blind unbelief.

The blessing for believing without seeing. John 20.

Verse 37A The completed plan.

Verse 37B The clarion call of the Gospel.

Verse 38 The Son’s devotion to the Father’s will.

Verse 39 The Father’s will revealed.

John 17:12 Lose nothing—no one. Eternal security.

The resurrection of life Chapter 5:29.

Note the phrase “I will raise him up at the last day.” Verse 40-44-54.

Verse 40 The Fathers will continued God purpose in Christ. Those who hear—believe—should have eternal life. The resurrection of life.

Verse 41-42 The murmuring of the Jews because He said I am the bread of life “which came from heaven.”

Then their question Verse 42.

Note Jesus was not the son of Joseph.

Verse 43-51 is the Lord’s reply to their question.

Verse 44 Except the Father draw him.

See John 12:32.

Note the recurrence of “I will raise him up at the last day.”

Verse 47 Notice the positive statement.

Truly—truly—Believeth—hath everlasting life.

Verse 48-50 The contrast between the “manna” and “Christ the living bread.”

Verse 51 Introduction to the sacrificial death of Christ.

Verse 52 The strive of the Jews.

The question “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

Verse 53-59 Jesus answers their question.

Verse 53-54 It is essential to eat the body and blood of Christ for salvation.

This is figurative language.

This is not the “Lord’s supper.”

By flesh and blood He meant the sacrifice of Himself on the Cross.

By eating and drinking he meant the act of faith by which the soul participates in the blessings of His substituting any sacrifice.

Verse 53 Would be the initial act.

Verse 54-56 Would suggest the continual feeding on Him—the living bread.

Verse 56 Eating and drinking of Him we become one with Christ.

1. Sealed

2. Authorized

3. Certified

4. Endorsed

5. Accredited

Sealed by the gift of the Holy Spirit with power to give eternal life.

See John 17:2.

John 7

The last day—the great day of the feast—See others.

Note the order in John:

Indwelling. John 3.

Infilling. John 4.

Outflowing. John 7.

What did the Lord Jesus cry?

If any man! Jacob. There is only room here for “Jesus and me.”

“Thirst”: Whatever that thirst may be—a Passion for Purity and Power—a longing to be more like Him—whatever that thirst, He challenges the agony of your soul.

If any man thirst let him come unto Me and drink.

He that believeth on me etc. His inner life.

The universality of the promise. He that believeth.

The experience not reserved for the spiritual “aristocracy.”

If I believe—then from my, Heart—Emotions—Mind—Will—inner life, will flow rivers, etc.

How far will those rivers flow? We shall never know.

How many people’s thirst shall be quenched from the river flowing out of my life, because my thirst has been quenched in the Lord Jesus—we shall never know.

I can never get into the second part of the verse, save through the first part.

As long as I am a thirsty soul, I can supply no rivers to quench the thirst of other souls.

The “freedom,” “freshness” and “spontaneity” of these flowing rivers from our heart is the result of the power of an ungrieved and unquenched Spirit.

“Outflowing” Illustrate: A spring within a small receptacle. The spring does not stop when it is full—it simply overflows.

Is this well springing up?

Or is it choked or clogged by the luggage and rubbish of life?

God’s people are not called to be stagnant pools or reservoirs which only receive and never give out, we are called to be lifegiving rivers.

The last day—the great day.

Passover—Redemption.

Pentecost—First Fruits.

Tabernacles—End of harvest.

The eighth day.

For seven days water had been drawn from Siloam and poured out—the people rejoiced as they witnessed this.

It was a memorial of the miracle in their history when the Lord, during their wilderness journey, supplied water out of the cleft of the rock.

Exodus 17. Smitten Rock—Water. Christ the Rock smitten. Spirit given at Pentecost.

To the well informed Israelite, who believed the promises of God to the nation it was prophetic.

Zechariah 14:8 tells of the time when living waters shall go out from Jerusalem.

Ezekiel too beheld the living waters like a mighty river flowing forth from the great tizzy.

Note the paradox and the pathos of the situation.

He whom Paul declares to be the Rock that follows them, 1 Corinthians 10:4, is in their midst. As the King Messiah he is with them yet unrecognized and rejected.

John 8

Verse 12 I am the “Light of the World.”

The world’s darkness—He that hath the Son hath life = that life is the Light of men.

Matthew 5:13-16. Light shining. Waters flowing. A city set on a hill. Under a bushel.

He that followeth me.

Discipleship

1. Supreme love for Jesus Christ

2. A denial of self—not self-denial

3. A deliberate choosing of the Cross

4. A life spent following Christ

5. A fervent love for all believers

6. An unswerving obedience to the Word

7. A forsaking all to follow Him.

A list of Discipleship. Luke 9:23-26.

Verse 20 No man laid hold on Him, for “His hour was not yet come.”

For this hour he came—His life was ordered.

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.

Verse 23 I am from above; I am not of this world.

The heavenly character of the Christian.

The world. 1 John 2:15-17.

Verse 30 As he spake these words, many believed on Him.

Verse 31 Mark of belief and discipleship “Continues in the Word.” Thy Word have I hid in my heart.

Verse 44 Ye are of your father the devil.

1. He was a murderer. c/p Romans 8.

2. He was a liar.

Verse 46 Which of you convinceth (convicteth) me of sin = convicts.

Verse 51 If a man keep my saying (teaching) he shall never see death. Luke 20:37, 38.

Verse 52 Those round him were now convinced that he had a devil.

Their argument: Abraham died—the prophets died—Yet you say…he shall never die.

Verse 53 Who really are you? Greater than Abraham and the prophets?

Verse 54-55 Jesus’ answer.

The Lord chides them for not recognizing Him. The Father did!

Then he accuses them of not knowing the Father.

Verse 56 Abraham rejoiced to see the day of Christ (incarnation). Hebrews 11:13.

Verse 57 You are not yet 50 years old. Abraham died 1900 years B.C.

Verse 58 Before Abraham was, “I AM.”

C/p Exodus 3:14—Matthew 22:32.

Verse 51 If a man keep my teachings he shall not see death. See John 11:25-26.

What think ye of Christ?

John 9

Verse 1 Note that this man was blind from his birth.

Verse 2 Note the disciples question.

The mistaken idea that all physical afflictions are the result of formed wickedness.

The disciples had this idea.

Job’s friends charged Job with being an unrighteous man.

The islanders of Melita said Paul was a murderer. Having escaped the watery grave, now was bitten by the viper.

Verse 3 The Lord corrects this error.

Neither this man nor his parents had sinned.

But in some peculiar way had been permitted by God, that his works should be manifested or illustrated.

This was designed for the “Glory of God.”

Consider the death of Lazarus—which was for the glory of God that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. John 11:4

Verse 4 When the Lord was in the world it was day. When He left the world it was night.

Verse 5 When He was in the world He was its “Light.” This is the world’s night. Romans 13:12. The night is far spent, the day is at hand.

Now For The Miracle Itself

Verse 6-7 There was no cure in the spittle or the day. “Go wash in the pool of Siloam.” He went his way—washed—and came seeing. To Naaman the command was “Go wash in Jordan.”

This was a Sign (No. 6). To prove that Jesus is the Son of God—the Messiah. One of the characteristics of the Messiah was that he would give the blind their sight.

Isaiah 35:5 “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened.”

Isaiah 42:7. The work of the King will be to “open the eyes of the blind.”

Note the miracles of the Lord.

A deaf and dumb mute had his hearing and speech restored.

There was one case of palsy and dropsy healed.

Two lepers were healed.

Two suffering with fever were cured.

Three were raised from the dead.

Five cases of blindness were healed.

The mark and proof of Messiah’s help.

The Lord’s own words in Luke 4:17-20.

Compare the message of the Lord to John the Baptist.

Luke 7:19-23.

The Results Of The Miracle

Verse 8-12 The neighbors were stirred.

Verse 13-16 Taken to and examined by the Pharisees. Note the division in Verse 16.

Verse 17-23 Because of this division they were obliged to investigate this case more frilly.

Verse 17 The blind man’s confession “He is a prophet.”

Verse 18-23 The failure of the parents to stand up under pressure.

The Testimony Of The Cured Blind Man

Verse 24 They called him again.

Verse 25 “One thing I know that whereas I was blind, now I see.”

Verse 26-29 The ridicule of the leaders.

Verse 30-34 The indisputable testimony of the man. Ye know now where he is, and yet he openeth my eyes.

Verse 31 God heareth not sinners. But if any man be a worshipper, doeth his will, him God heareth.

Verse 32 Such a case as mine has never been known in the world.

Verse 33 The conclusion He—Jesus of Nazareth—must be of God.

Verse 34 The infuriated leaders counterattack. They cast him out. Describe this.

The Second Miracle: The New Birth

Verse 35 Cast out of the synagogue into the arms of the Lord Jesus.

The Savior’s question:

Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

Verse 36 Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?

Verse 37 I am He.

Verse 38 The New Birth—Conversion.

Lord I believe—and he worshipped Him.

Faith and true worship go together.

Verse 39 “For judgment I am come into this world.”

He did not come to condemn the world John 3:17.

But Christ came as a Separator and Divider. See Luke 12:49-53.

Those who do not see—could be applied to the Gentiles.

Those who see—the Jews. Blind leaders of the blind.

Verse 40 The Pharisees sneed.

Verse 41 If they were really blind they would have no sin in rejecting Him, but they boasted that they saw, but they rejected Him therefore thus sin remaineth.

John 10

The teachings of this chapter are closely related to the last chapter.

Verse 38 The blind man was cast out by the blind leaders of the blind.

Cast out by religious society, excommunicated from the Temple.

In these circumstances the Lord reveals Himself as

1. I am the door Verse 9.

2. I am the good shepherd Verse 11.

Verse 1-6 According to Verse 6, Verses 1 to 5 was a parable.

Verse 1 The sheepfold was Judaism and to it the true Shepherd had come.

He came in the appointed way. All others both past and present who came “some other way” are thieves and robbers.

Verse 3 When the true Shepherd came the Porter i.e. the power of God through the Spirit, opened the door. The false shepherds tried to keep Him out.

The sheep hear His voice—the true Israel. “His own sheep.”

He calleth “His own sheep” by name and he leadeth them out. Philip—Nathaniel—Mary—Martha—Lazarus.

Verse 4 Putteth forth his own sheep i.e. when he “brought his own sheep outside”—the Jewish fold.

He walks before them—Just as the Shepherd did in Eastern countries—the sheep follow.

Let us project this thought. He passed through death gloriously confounding our every foe, has entered heaven—we will follow.

Kindly take note.

Psalm 22-23-24 form a trilogy.

Psalm 22 The Good Shepherd giving His life for His Sheep.

Psalm 23 The Great Shepherd brought again from the dead by the blood of the everlasting covenant, tenderly cares for the sheep.

Psalm 24 The Chief Shepherd appear as King of glory to own and reward the sheep.

The true sheep will flee from strangers and will not recognize his voice.

Abundant life

Those who believe on Him possess that life abundant which has triumphed over death, but so few realize the potency and the power and the blessing of it.

This abundant life:

Has triumphed over death.

We are risen with Christ.

Seated in the heavenlies in Christ.

Complete in Him.

Sons of God.

Heirs of God.

Indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

One spirit with the Lord.

Identified with Him.

Members of His body.

1 Corinthians 2:14

Now thanks be unto God who always leadeth us in triumph in Christ. Life with a capital “L.”

John 3:7 The Indwelling.

John 4:14 The Infilling.

John 7:38 The Overflowing.

Verse 16 One flock. One Shepherd.

Compare Ephesians 4:4-6 and Ephesians 1:20-23.

Verse 17 On this account the Father loves Me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again.

The Fathers love, for the Son, expressed—the reason given.

This great fact should draw forth our love.

Lord Jesus I love Thee etc.

Verse 18 The voluntary nature of the sacrifice of Christ.

I lay it down of myself.

I have power to lay it down = right to act.

I have authority to take it again.

For the voluntary nature of Christ’s sacrifice see Philippians 2:5-8.

After talking about the humility of the Lord expound the exaltation and glory. Verse 9-11 Praise the Lord!!

Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

What have we made Him in our lives?

The Lordship of Christ.

Verse 19 There was a division, then.

There is a division, now.

Verse 24-25 If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.

The Lord had been with them for nearly 3 years.

Think for a moment of the miracles—should there have been any doubt.

Consider Chapter 5 where He calls the fourfold witness of

1. John the Baptist

2. His works

3. The Father

4. The Scriptures O.T.

Verse 26 You do not hear my voice—You do not believe me because you are not my sheep.

Verse 27 The contrast (1) “My sheep hear my voice” (2) “I know them” (3) “they follow Me.”

Sheep are helpless and dependent on the Shepherd; they are harmless, weak and foolish, and more than any animal they lose their way and go astray.

Does this not aptly describe us?

But we are His sheep, for whom He died, and He keeps and guards, protects and shields, feeds and guides His sheep, because they are His property. He knows them—they hear His voice and follow Him.

Verse 28

1. I give unto them eternal life.

2. They shall never perish. They shall in no wise perish.

3. And no one shall pluck them out of my hand.

Verse 29 The Father, who gave the sheep, in the first place to Christ, is greater and mightier than all. Therefore no one is able to snatch them out of His hand. Double security.

Verse 30 I and the Father are one.

In the Greek the word “One” is neuter.

Not one in person, but one in substance and essence.

The Lord attests His Deity.

Verse 33 The people called this blasphemy—making Himself God.

For this reason they sought to stone Him.

Now let us revert a little.

We have in these verses two of the greatest doctrines in the Bible.

1. The Deity of Christ

2. The Eternal security of the believer.

In support of the Deity of Christ consider the following scriptures.

John 1:1. John 1:18. The only begotten God.

John 20:28 “My Lord and my God” since this statement was unrebuked by Christ surely it is equivalent to an assertion on his own part as His claim to Deity.

Romans 9:5 Who is over all, God blessed forever.

Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ.

The Eternal security of the believer.

Consider the above verses slowly.

Consider Romans 8:35-39.

Consider Ephesians 1:13; 4:30.

Take all the great Gospel texts—Eternal life.

The Hireling

Knows about sheep.

Sees the wolf.

Leaves the sheep.

Preserves himself.

The Shepherd (Guards)

Knows the sheep.

Sees the sheep.

Protects his sheep.

Preserves his sheep.

The Wolf

Catcheth the sheep.

Scatters the sheep.

The Shepherd (Gathers One Flock)

They listen to the same voice.

They walk the same path.

They have the same object of affection.

The Stranger

1. Seeks to entice with the voice.

2. Repulsive: The sheep flee.

3. Unknown: A different kind.

The Shepherd (Guides)

1. He calls: Recognition of voice.

2. He puts forth: Obedience to his instruction.

3. He goes before: Follow his example.

The Thief (Takes)

Steals—appropriating for oneself.

Kills—taking the life.

Destroy—taking away effectiveness.

The Shepherd (Gives)

Gives himself.

Gives life.

Gives abundant life.