Jesus Can Do
NOTHING of Himself?
John 5:1-4 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
Isn’t it awesome how the Bible describes the world? Our world is a place of angels, desperate people and miracles! In this chapter, God shows us many secrets of His Kingdom. We will find here that the most difficult things are actually the simplest. The hardest are the easiest. The Bible is like a swimming pool; a very small step can take you into the deepest things of God!
Jesus encounters there a man infirm for 38 years. He is unable to get into the water “in time” to be healed. So he lies there waiting for someone’s mercy and luck. He is like so many of us that go to Church in desperation. There is the hope that God will touch us and heal us, but it rarely happens. We long for a “season” of revival and miracles…
On this occasion, Jesus heals the man and tells him to “Rise, take up thy bed and walk.” (Jn.5:8) Of course, it pleased God to heal him on the Sabbath (a day reserved especially for the things of God). The religious leaders decided that Jesus “broke” the Sabbath and Jesus explained to them something marvelous…
John 5:17-18 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
Even today, those that say there are no miracles (because they SEE no miracles) make the same charge. Only God can do miracles. Jesus agrees!
John 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
Jesus told them that God the Father is doing the miracles!
John 5:20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
And He will do even GREATER works than these!! Looking ahead…
John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
What IS the “will of the Father”? Is it really possible to KNOW the will of God?
What is the Father’s will for Jesus?
Luke 4:16-21 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
18 The Spirit of the Lord (God the Father) is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
When Jesus does that which the Father called Him to do, He is doing the Father’s will! When Jesus preaches the Gospel of His Kingdom, the Father confirms that it is His will by doing wonderful and miraculous things! In this way, many are being convinced that Jesus is our Messiah!
What about US? What is God’s will for US?
2 Corinthians 5:17-20 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
WE (Christians) have Jesus’ ministry!
-Every Christian is anointed to preach the Gospel (that’s why we,
too, received the Holy Spirit)!
-Every Christian is anointed to bind up the broken-hearted!
The PURPOSE of preaching is to reconcile people to God…
(note: each of us will be reconciled when we repent and surrender to
Jesus Christ as our Savior)
Jesus said: “My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.” (Jn.7:16)
John 12:49-50 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
Everything that Jesus said (in the Bible) WE can say… they are the Father’s words!
The reason that it is rare for God to do miracles:
It is RARE for us to PREACH or TEACH the Father’s words!
-Are you trying to convince someone that Jesus is the Messiah? The Father will help!
-Are you praying for the sick so that God will help them believe? The Father will visit them!
-Are you trying to heal the broken-hearted by persuading them to trust their lives to Jesus? The Father will do something to persuade them!
WHAT God does is up to Him: He knows exactly what to do and doesn’t need (or ask for) your advice.
Jesus told us: “Go ye into all the world and preach (make clearly understood) the Gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)
Mark 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
In this way, the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation:
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Acts 14:3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
God the Father sent His son Jesus many years ago to prepare a way for you to find Him. Jesus lived as He did, died as He did and rose from the dead to do TWO things for you:
#1 - to PROVE to you that Jesus is YOUR Messiah!
#2 – to PROVE to you that He loves YOU and can be trusted with
YOUR life!
Has God the Father done something special that convinces you that these things are TRUE?
The sick man at the pool was waiting for an angel, but God sent His OWN SON to heal him!
God knows what YOU need and sent His OWN SON to save you!
Trust Him today and you can receive His gift of Eternal Life!
Repent and be baptized INTO Christ and you will receive His Holy Spirit!
If you are CONVINCED of these things: You SHALL be saved!!
You have God’s word on it!!
NOTHING of Himself?
John 5:1-4 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
Isn’t it awesome how the Bible describes the world? Our world is a place of angels, desperate people and miracles! In this chapter, God shows us many secrets of His Kingdom. We will find here that the most difficult things are actually the simplest. The hardest are the easiest. The Bible is like a swimming pool; a very small step can take you into the deepest things of God!
Jesus encounters there a man infirm for 38 years. He is unable to get into the water “in time” to be healed. So he lies there waiting for someone’s mercy and luck. He is like so many of us that go to Church in desperation. There is the hope that God will touch us and heal us, but it rarely happens. We long for a “season” of revival and miracles…
On this occasion, Jesus heals the man and tells him to “Rise, take up thy bed and walk.” (Jn.5:8) Of course, it pleased God to heal him on the Sabbath (a day reserved especially for the things of God). The religious leaders decided that Jesus “broke” the Sabbath and Jesus explained to them something marvelous…
John 5:17-18 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
Even today, those that say there are no miracles (because they SEE no miracles) make the same charge. Only God can do miracles. Jesus agrees!
John 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
Jesus told them that God the Father is doing the miracles!
John 5:20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
And He will do even GREATER works than these!! Looking ahead…
John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
What IS the “will of the Father”? Is it really possible to KNOW the will of God?
What is the Father’s will for Jesus?
Luke 4:16-21 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
18 The Spirit of the Lord (God the Father) is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
When Jesus does that which the Father called Him to do, He is doing the Father’s will! When Jesus preaches the Gospel of His Kingdom, the Father confirms that it is His will by doing wonderful and miraculous things! In this way, many are being convinced that Jesus is our Messiah!
What about US? What is God’s will for US?
2 Corinthians 5:17-20 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
WE (Christians) have Jesus’ ministry!
-Every Christian is anointed to preach the Gospel (that’s why we,
too, received the Holy Spirit)!
-Every Christian is anointed to bind up the broken-hearted!
The PURPOSE of preaching is to reconcile people to God…
(note: each of us will be reconciled when we repent and surrender to
Jesus Christ as our Savior)
Jesus said: “My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.” (Jn.7:16)
John 12:49-50 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
Everything that Jesus said (in the Bible) WE can say… they are the Father’s words!
The reason that it is rare for God to do miracles:
It is RARE for us to PREACH or TEACH the Father’s words!
-Are you trying to convince someone that Jesus is the Messiah? The Father will help!
-Are you praying for the sick so that God will help them believe? The Father will visit them!
-Are you trying to heal the broken-hearted by persuading them to trust their lives to Jesus? The Father will do something to persuade them!
WHAT God does is up to Him: He knows exactly what to do and doesn’t need (or ask for) your advice.
Jesus told us: “Go ye into all the world and preach (make clearly understood) the Gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)
Mark 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
In this way, the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation:
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Acts 14:3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
God the Father sent His son Jesus many years ago to prepare a way for you to find Him. Jesus lived as He did, died as He did and rose from the dead to do TWO things for you:
#1 - to PROVE to you that Jesus is YOUR Messiah!
#2 – to PROVE to you that He loves YOU and can be trusted with
YOUR life!
Has God the Father done something special that convinces you that these things are TRUE?
The sick man at the pool was waiting for an angel, but God sent His OWN SON to heal him!
God knows what YOU need and sent His OWN SON to save you!
Trust Him today and you can receive His gift of Eternal Life!
Repent and be baptized INTO Christ and you will receive His Holy Spirit!
If you are CONVINCED of these things: You SHALL be saved!!
You have God’s word on it!!
