John 5:16-27 – Bible Study & Exploration
The Sabbath Was Made For Man
(Verses 15-18) According to the first verse in this chapter, it was a time of celebration in the city of Jerusalem. They were celebrating one of the Jewish festivals. John doesn’t indicate if it’s the Passover (March-April), Pentecost (fifty-two days later) of the Feast of Tabernacles (September-October).
Notice the contrast in the setting for Jesus’ third recorded miracle of John’s Gospel. While the Jews are celebrating in the city, Jesus chooses to go to a place where there is little to no celebration happening.
This sign of the Son of God healing the invalid would begin a series of confrontations with the Jewish people and the religious leaders. These events would initiate the beginning of the end of Jesus’ ministry that would lead to His death.
Life for Jesus and His disciples was about to take a drastic change.
The Turning Point of Jesus’ Ministry
Because Jesus healed this man on the Sabbath, the Jewish people would begin to receive Him differently than they had prior to this. Jesus was about to explain to them that the Sabbath was made for man and not the other way around.
“Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27)
But there was something else that would cause the people and religious leaders to begin to persecute Jesus. That something was the fact that He would begin to call God His Father and refer to Himself as the Son of God.
In the eyes of the people of Israel, Jesus was breaking the commandment of no work is to be performed on the Sabbath as given by Moses (Exodus 20:8-11). Also, was making Himself equal to God which they considered blasphemous.
(Verse 19) Depending on the version of your Bible, verse 19 may begin differently. In the New International Version (NIV), Jesus begins with, “Very truly I tell you.”
This is not to indicate in any way that He was not being truthful when He didn’t use this phrase. This is simply to draw attention to what He was about to say. In other words, pay particular attention to what I’m about to say.
It can be related to the way we may sometimes begin telling someone about something really important and we begin by saying, “Honestly.”
Notice how many times times Jesus uses this phrase in the following passages. Pay particular attention to what He says following the phrase and see if you can identify why He’s attempting to draw your attention to what He’s about to say.
Greater Than the Sabbath Are the Works of God
(Verse 20) Jesus explains to the Jews that the Father is going to show the Son things that will amaze them. He’s referring to the resurrection of Jesus and further works that will come afterwards.
Jesus is trying to point them to the works of God. He wants them to see that the Son who comes in place of the Father for the sake of mankind is much bigger than their observance of the Sabbath. They’re so entrapped by the laws of their religion, that they don’t see the Father through the Son who stands before them.
The Jewish people can’t see themselves releasing their grasp upon the laws of Moses that were given to condemn them and embrace the one who came to perfect them.
(Verse 21) Jesus states that He has been entrusted with all judgment upon the nations and the people. But we’re not to assume that Jesus is there to judge. For there is an appointed to for judgment. He came once to offer the free gift of God’s salvation upon mankind. Upon His second return, He will judge as the righteous Judge.
Jesus Is the Bridge From Death to Life
(Verse 24-27) Pay close attention to these verses. Jesus uses the “Very truly I tell you” phrase twice. See if you can pick out why He’s drawing our attention to these two points.
He uses this phrase twice because what He’s about to say revolves around the very purpose for which the Father sent him. He’s teaching on salvation. He’s explaining how before Him there was no way to the Father and that He is sent by the Father as the bridge back to God.
Hear His words and believe that you might be granted the ability to traverse the bridge (Jesus) from death to life.
Look closely at the word “death” that He uses twice in each of verse 26 and 27. He’s not speaking of physical death of those in the grave. But He’s speaking of those who do not believe in the One (Jesus Christ) sent by the Father (God) to offer His free gift of salvation.
We are born condemned. Thus the wrath (eternal death) of God is upon us until the day we come to know who Christ is and accept Him as our Lord and Savior. And when we put our full faith and trust in Him for all things.
This is why John speaks in chapter 3 of God’s wrath that remains on those who don’t believe. It remains because it has been there since birth.
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” (John 3:36)
Think of it this way. When you were just a child, remember those little lies you would tell your parents to get your way. How about the times you told a lie to get your sibling in trouble. These are not things that your parents taught you. These are things that are part of your sin nature when you were born.