“Authority Figure,” John 5:19-30

Introduction:  We ended last week with a serious charge made against Jesus—He equated himself with God.  How can we test his claim?  A closing scene from Forrest Gump

I.        The Family business

A.     (v19) “The son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing.”

1.      “Whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.”

2.      What does God do, unique to himself?  Create (give life) and judge (forgive or retain).

B.     (v21) “As the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life…”

1.      (v26) “As the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself”

2.      Chapter 11 is a real show-stopper, but Lazarus is only a prelude to the resurrection.

C.     (v22) “The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son.”

1.      (v27) “He has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.”

2.      Compare verse 27 with Daniel 7:14

3.      (v30) “My judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.”

a.  That’s good news based on 1 Timothy 2:4

II.       Eternal Lie Contract

A.     (v24) “Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life.” [Romans 10:9]

1.      Hears, believes, obeys.  So it is all faith and grace.  [Titus 3:48]

2.      Check list for travel to a foreign country—Trust Susan

3.      “They do not come into judgment, but pass from death to life.”

B.     (v25) “An hour is coming, and is now here…”  The clock is ticking 5-4-3-2-1

1.      “…when the dead will hear the voice of the son of God, and those who hear will life.”

2.      Who’s he calling dead?

C.     (v29) “…those who have done good to the resurrection of life and those who have done evil…”

1.      Compare Revelation 20:12, James 2:17, 24, Matthew 25:31-46. So it is our works.

2.      How evil does the evil have to be?

Conclusion:   Chapter five concludes with Jesus asking his accusers what it would take to convince them.  Miracles?  The lame walk.  Scripture?  Jesus fulfills it.  The witness of others?  So why don’t you believe?  Why are you sure Jesus is a liar?