THE GOSPELS: LESSON 29: THE SON OF GOD AND THE SON OF MAN
TEXT: JOHN 5: 19 - 47
VERSES 19 - 24: JESUS, THE SON OF GOD, IS DOING THE WILL OF HIS FATHER.
Verse 19: Jesus, defending himself against the charge of blasphemy leveled at him by the scribes, affirms that he only does as the Father directs.
Verse 20: See John 3: 35. The Father and the Son are of one mind. God hid nothing of his will from Jesus EXCEPT when the Jewish age (or world) would end (see Matt. 24: 36).
What greater works than the healing at Bethesda would God reveal? We shall see.
Verse 21: The Son gives life to whoever he wills. This can be taken two ways: physical and spiritual life.
Verses 22, 23: God has given judgement over to the Son so that all my honor the Son. See Philippians 2: 9 - 11. Can this to be reconciled with John 12: 47, 48? How so?
Verse 24: Is this verse preaching faith-only salvation? See James 2: 14 - 17. (See also John 14: 15 and 15: 10.)
VERSES 25 - 29: THE DEAD WILL HEAR THE VOICE OF THE SON OF GOD
Verse 25: “. . . the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.” In this section there are two groups addressed: those who are “dead” and those who are “in the tombs.” This first group – the dead – are surely those who are “spiritually dead.” Such persons shall hear the gospel message (the voice of the Son of God) and become spiritually alive.
Verse 26: God is the source of all life (physical and spiritual) and has shared this life-source with His son.
Verse 27: Since God has shared this “life-source” with Jesus, Jesus can use it as he deems appropriate (execute judgement). Jesus calls himself not just the Son of God, but also the Son of Man. This phrase Son of Man was first used in Numbers 23: 19 to mean “a human being; a person naturally conceived and born.” As in Job 25: 6. This was the appellation given by God to the prophet Ezekiel in Ezek. 2: 1. Ezekiel is called “Son of Man” 94 times in the book of Ezekiel.
This use by Jesus most likely (I think definitely, but not all agree) refers to the prophecy of Daniel in Daniel 7: 13, 14.
“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.”
This is clearly a reference to Jesus, who is “like a son of man.” Daniel (in chapter 8) is also called “Son of Man.” Son of Man is the most common way Jesus had of referring to himself. He used the term 81 times in the gospels, with the most occurrences found in Matthew (28 times). It is especially common in the prophetic passages in Matthew 24 - 26 (12 times). Since Ezekiel was a great prophet, the term “Son of Man” confirms Jesus as a great prophet sent from God. However, “Son of Man” is best understood in the context of Daniel 7: 13, 14 as referring to the Messiah who would be born of a virgin. Hence, Son of Man is used in the gospels as a metaphorical way of saying that Jesus is the Messiah, as foretold in scripture.
Verses 28, 29: This is obviously a reference to the “judgement of this world.” Whether this judgement is the “Great Judgement” at the end of time or the “Judgement of this Age” as seen in 70 AD is unclear. I tend to support the “Great Judgement” interpretation since it clearly refers to “all,” not just the good and bad of the house of Israel and the church as foretold in Revelation. These are those who are physically dead and “in the tombs.”
VERSES 30 - 47: THE PROOFS OF JESUS’ DIVINITY AND MESSIAHSHIP.
Verses 30, 31: Jesus did nothing out of pure self-interest. This statement alone should put to rest all scurrilous rumors such as “Jesus secretly wed Mary Magdalene.” Jesus was not here to please himself, but to do the will of God. He understood that when he was only 12 years old! (Luke 2: 49)
Furthermore, if Jesus was the only one who ever testified of his status as “Son of Man” (Messiah) and Son of God (divine) then that alone would prove him a liar.
Verses 32, 33: That is why John had been sent - to bear testimony of Jesus as Messiah and Son of God! The “Jews” had asked John and he had testified of Jesus. (As in John 1: 29 - 34.) Note that when Jesus is speaking here, John is still testifying – John is still alive.
Verse 34, 35: Jesus states the reason he went about teaching and preaching – that you might be saved. Jesus describes John as a bright burning lamp whom the Jews loved for a short time.
Verse 36: What is the greatest testimony borne concerning Jesus? The miracles he did. Ultimately the greatest testimony will be his resurrection from the dead. Why were the miracles done? To bear witness that Jesus was the true and only Son of God.
Verses 37 - 40: In other words, “You have never seen or heard God, so you can’t tell that what I am saying is true directly. So God sent you His prophets and wrote the words down in His scriptures, and you don’t believe them either!” The scriptures (here the Old Testament, since none of the New Testament was yet written) have over 300 distinct prophecies of Jesus describing his birth, life, message, miracles, death, and resurrection in detail. Henry Halley, author of Halley’s Bible Handbook, says:
"The complete story of Jesus' life, its main features, events, and accompanying incidents, even in minutest detail, is plainly foretold in the Old Testament scriptures. Is it not overwhelming evidence of the existence and working of a mind that transcends the human mind to a degree that awes us into wonderment?"
Such evidences of Jesus’ divinity and Messiahship are so complete and overwhelming that the Jews should have come to Jesus for life. Yet, even today, they still refuse.
Verses 41 - 44: Jesus does not receive his glory (honor) from men, but directly from God. The “Jews” counted that as less important than a recommendation from one of their “own.” Why? Because they do not really love God. [Those who DID love God did what?] Hence, the scribes do not honor the things from God (such as Jesus and his message). I think it is a truism that people who constantly find fault with their “brethren” just don’t love God very much.
Verses 41 - 44: Even Moses, the most revered figure in all of Judaism, testified of Jesus! But, obviously the “Jews” do not even believe what Moses said. Doubtless Jesus said this because some Jews (the Sadducees?) accepted as authoritative ONLY the Five Books of Moses (the Pentateuch), and not the writings of the prophets. The very first prophecy of Christ was made in Genesis 3: 15 (the First Book of Moses, as the Jews say):
“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
Other Mosaic prophecies of the Messiah are:
Gen. 12: 3 – All families of the earth shall be blessed through a descendant of Abraham. (See Matt. 1: 1.)
Gen. 17: 9 – God would establish an everlasting covenant with the seed of Isaac. (See Luke 3: 34ff.)
Gen. 49: 10 – Shiloh, out of Judah, shall come and gather his people together. (See Luke 3: 33ff.)
Num. 24: 17 – there shall come a star out of Jacob. (See Matt. 1: 2ff.)
The sources of evidence that support Jesus’ claims of divinity and Messiahship are:
1. John’s testimony.
2. The works of God (especially the miracles) that have been performed.
3. The scriptures.
4. Moses himself. (Verses 45 - 47)
Let no man lightly cast aside such evidences as these. These are the very same evidences upon which we rely to confirm our own faith, even in our 21st century world.
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