John 5:8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
5:9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath

While the water in the pool of Bethesda could not heal and left the paralytic frustrated and discouraged, Jesus, with just a word, heals the man completely. "RISE, take up your bed and walk"!
The paralytic did not stop to argue, he believed Christ's word, believed that he was made whole, and he made the effort at once; he willed to walk, and he did walk. He acted on the word of Christ, and God gave the power. He was made whole. He got up (something he had not done in 38 years) and walked. He took up his bed and walked.

When we look at this story in a spiritual sense, we find ourselves as the helpless person, overwhelmed with sin, in a situation where it seems impossible to live the life scripture seems to demand of a child of God. The thought of God's judgement terrifies us, as the "cleansing waters" seem too far away, and our sin stained lives tie us down.

But when we see Jesus and hear His words "Do you want to be healed". He can heal us!
By grace we are saved and not by works, it is a gift!
Our sins are taken from us and we are made new!

And what does Jesus say?
RISE -- look up to Jesus in faith, believe. If you believe the promise,--believe that you are forgiven and cleansed,--God supplies the fact; you are made whole, just as Christ gave the paralytic power to walk when the man believed that he was healed, He will give you power to walk in newness of life.

RISE, AND WALK
"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him." Colossians 2:6.

He gives the strength, it is so if you believe it.

John 5:9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
5:10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
5:11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.


This man had faith. A very immature faith, but still he had faith like a mustard seed. Small but powerful. And immediately -- right away, when Jesus said "Rise, take up your bed and walk" he immediately gathered those legs that had not walked for 28 years, underneath him, and stood up, and WALKED! He was made whole!

What does this story teach us as to the deeper meaning. What thoughts passed through that man's heart and mind before he picked up his little bed and walked away with it? It is basically the same action of mind and heart by which a person trapped in sin, who knows that Christ is his Redeemer, grasps this truth and trusts his soul to Him. He stands up in the power of Christ.

But then -- no sooner had the man began his walk in newness of life, when he was assaulted!
He is accused of sin! " It's not lawful for you to carry your bed on the Sabbath." You are a sinner.

The Pharisees and their friends were not awed by the miracle; there was no rejoicing that this poor man, suffering for 38 years, was now whole! Instead they saw a man carrying his light couch on the Sabbath day, and with the true narrow instinct of the legalist, they lay hold only on the fact their Rabbinical restrictions had been violated.

But the man, walking in the renewed strength of the Lord, answered those Pharisees,
"He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed and walk."
He is basically saying: 'The One Who gave me the power to get up and walk, has the right to tell me what to do with that power. It was His gift that even gave me the strength so I could obey and get up and lift my bed. He that has given me the ability to walk, asked me to take my bed.

Several lessons here:
1. The Sabbath commandment is NOT about petty rules and regulations. Christ is Lord of the Sabbath Mark 2:27, and those who are made whole by Christ are eager to meet with Him in a special way each Sabbath. It's a relationship. Legal formalities will complicate a lot of God's commands. The real issue is, where is the heart -- Who has the heart?
2. God didn't promise it would always be easy -- the devil tends to turn up the heat to discourage, especially when he sees us, by God's strength getting up to stand and walk with Christ.
We need to remember how God has led us in the past and have faith to go and do where He sends.

This is a nice series od studies. Thanks.

John 5:11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up your bed, and walk.
5:12 So they asked him, ?Who is this man who told you to pick up your bed and walk??
5:13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.
5:14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, ?See, you are made whole. Sin no more or something worse may happen to you.?
5:15 The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him whole.

The man who was made whole, fully healed, had no idea who had healed him.
Jesus had simply disappeared in the crowd.

Why did Jesus disappear?
Why did He tell the man to take up his bed?

This was one time when Jesus wanted to draw attention to the miracle. He chose the Sabbath for performing this sign. On His first trip to Judea He cleansed the temple (John 2:13-16) of its commercial trafficking. Now, on His second trip, He seeks to cleanse them of their false security in their traditions and laws, by awakening in them the realization of their need for a Savior to cleanse them in order to stand in the day of judgment.

Jesus withdrew as the newly healed man walked through the crowds carrying the very bed that had so long been the symbol of his infirmities. The bed drew the attention of the Jewish leaders. How would they respond to this miracle? Did they desire to know who the healer was? But for these leaders they did not see a healed man upon whom Divine mercy had been bestowed. They did not desire the Healer. They saw only a man who broke their traditions and encouraged people to disregard those traditions, and this needed to be punished.
Notice their question; "Who is this man who told you to pick up your bed and walk?" They did not ask, "Who made you whole?"

Later Jesus finds the healed man in the temple. The man evidently had gone to the temple to thank God for the great mercy. Jesus says, "See you are made whole." Given a new lease on life, the old deformities stripped away. And now he admonishes the man, "don't go back to your old life of sin", it will only make you sick again, probably worse than before.
This is what grace is all about! Pardon! The guilt of sin is wiped away, and the person is raised to newness of life in Christ; to no longer serve sin, but in Christ to walk in the paths of righteousness.

John 5:15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.
5:16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day

The man healed and made whole, at first did not know who Jesus was. He just knew He had been healed by a mighty Healer, whom he recognized as Divine. When he found out it was Jesus, he was excited and wanted to let everyone know the good news. Naively he runs back and tells the Jews who had asked him "Who is this fellow that told you to take up your bed and walk", that it was Jesus!

Those Jewish leaders knew all along who had healed the sick man. They just wanted verbal confirmation. They had been looking for an excuse to destroy the influence of Jesus.

In order to maintain their own power, these leaders determined to break down the influence of Jesus.

If they could only take him to court before the Sanhedrin, and pronounce an open condemnation upon Him and His teachings, they hoped to turn the people away from listening to Him. The people still had great reverence for their religious leaders. Whoever dared to condemn the rabbinical requirements, or attempt to lighten the burdens they had brought upon the people, was regarded as guilty, not only of blasphemy, but of treason. On this ground the rabbis hoped to excite suspicion against Christ. They represented Him as trying to overthrow the established customs, thus causing division among the people, and preparing the way for complete subjugation by the Romans. {See DA 205}

The curtain is drawn back, for these Jewish leaders had another leader.
There were intense forces, not of flesh and blood, but of principalities and powers determined to thwart Christ's mission.

16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.
17 But Jesus answered them, ?My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.?
18 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.
So the Jewish leaders began harassing Jesus for breaking the Sabbath rules.
They had on record that Nehemiah (see Nehemiah 13:19) had forbade the Jews to bear burdens on the Sabbath day. Of course Nehemiah was referring to merchants bringing loads of merchandize into the city on Sabbath to sell, however the rabbis had gone far beyond this and manufactured all types of rules as to what could or could not be carried on the Sabbath.

Here's just an example:
On Sabbath one may not carry or transfer objects between a house to a public place. Six feet was the limit anything could be carried, even if it's in one's pocket or in a carriage. Now some exceptions could be made, if one made an enclosed passage the day before to enable a person to carry something a short distance outside on the Sabbath.

Obviously, a man carrying his matt on Sabbath was in conflict with these rules. This would raise the question of what it was lawful to do on the Sabbath, and would open the way for Christ to denounce the restrictions of the Jews in regard to the Lord's day, and to point out the true meaning of the Sabbath Day.

Jesus answers the charge of disregarding the Sabbath rules by saying, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working."
God does not withhold His benefits and care upon the Sabbath. The sun still shines, the rain still falls, the angels are sent from heaven to minister to people. It is in harmony with the God's Sabbath law to do works of mercy.

Yes, as God ceased His labor of creating, and rested upon the Sabbath, so people are to leave their occupations and daily work and spend the day resting in Jesus and doing deeds of mercy.

John 5:16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.

Did Jesus break the Sabbath? No, he challenged man made rules concerning the Sabbath.

Why do people set up a lot of rules and treat them as "holy" laws?

Why do people have a rather striking tendency to major in minors, while they neglect the weightier matters of the issue?

As Christians, it appears we want to be recognized for our growth in sanctification and for our righteousness. What is easier to measure, how many steps we took on Sabbath, or where our thoughts and hearts were during the Sabbath hours? What is easier to achieve, a ritual that shows our friends we are part of the group, or a life that is surrendered to the will of God and in constant connection with God?

There was much "pious show" in Jerusalem, whether it was in their strict Sabbath rules, or dropping large bags of money in the offering container, but Jesus valued a heart surrendered to God and growing in true righteousness, not vain pious show to elicit human applause.

The problem with majoring in minors is that it can deaden ones sense of need for Christ to make them whole. They rest their assurance of salvation on their performance of certain rituals. The weighty things of salvation -- like being transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit, and exhibiting the gifts of the Spirit -- are misunderstood and neglected.
Majoring in minors tends to make the person proud of his achievements (I did it, I deserve God's blessing)
Majoring in minors tends to make the person critical of others (I achieved why don't they?)
Majoring in minors tends to negate the gospel and unfit us to stand in the judgment.
That's why Jesus met this issue head on, it had to be dealt with to open the way for the gospel to enter people's minds.

Thus we see the first part of this chapter, before it moves to the Judgement scene, develops the conditions that will allow a person to stand in that judgement.

1. Jesus asks -- "Do you want to be made whole?" Do we desire this? He is the only one who can make us whole!
2. Once the man was made "whole" he was asked "Sin no more". Give up the sinful life style, don't turn back.
3. A show of piety is not the righteousness that enables anyone to stand in the judgement.
Resting on ones own performance of a list of rules is only a mask covering up the real problem of a sinful heart. Jesus was stripping away the mask as useless, what a person really needs is for Christ to make them "whole" and to follow Him, giving their lives and hearts to Him.

John 5:18 "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."

The whole nation called God their Father, and if Jesus had done this in the same sense in which they did, the Pharisees would not have been so enraged. But they accused Jesus of blasphemy, showing that they understood that Christ claimed God as His Father in the very highest sense. {EGW Review & Harold, March 5, 1901 par. 9}

"Christ, the surety of the human race, works with uninterrupted activity. He speaks of himself as working in the same way as the Father. the Guardian of the universe.
Christ worked untiringly for the people of Israel. He sought to lead them to trust in Him who can save to the uttermost all who come to Him. Christ is the light which lighteneth every man that cometh into the world. From Adam, through the patriarchal age, this light made plain the way to heaven. To it gave all the prophets witness. In mysterious procession future things swept before their vision. In every sacrifice Christ's death was pointed out. His righteousness ascended to God in every cloud of incense. His majesty was hidden in the holy of holies. {RH March 5, 1901)

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 sees the Father do: for what ever things He does, these also does the Son likewise.
5:20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows him all things that himself does: and he will show him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

The priests had realized Jesus was making "himself equal with God". (They thinking to condemn Him)
But Jesus tells them that He is the full manifestation of the Father. He is the manifestation of His Father?s work. He does not act separately. He has come to show them the Father!
He and the Father are one. Whatever the Father does, He does.

As we read in John 1:1 -- [color:339999]He was with God and He was God, and He was with God.[/color] What they saw Jesus doing is exactly what the Father does and He will reveal even greater things concerning the work of God.
Jesus is the exact representation of the Father. He is God manifest.

We find this same truth a few chapters later where we read the following description:

14:7 (Jesus said) If you had known me, you should have known my Father also: and from now on you do know him, and have seen him.
14:8 Philip said to him, Lord, show us the Father, and it suffices us.
14:9 Jesus said to him, Have I been this long time with you, and yet you have not known me, Philip? he that has seen me has seen the Father; and so why do you say, Show us the Father?
14:10 Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak to you aren't just words from myself: but the Father that dwells in me, he does the works.
14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

Hebrews also confirms that Jesus fully manifests God to the world.
The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. Heb 1:2-3

One day all will acknowledge that Jesus is who He claimed to be. He is One with the Father and someday every knee will bow before Him.
As we read in scripture
Isa. 45:21-23 There no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.
Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
Philippians 2:10-11 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, all in heaven, and all in earth, and all under the earth; that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

JOHN 5:21-23
5:21 For as the Father raises up the dead, and quickens [them]; even so the Son quickens whom he will.
5:22 For the Father judges no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
5:23 That all [men] should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honours not the Son honours not the Father which has sent Him.

Here we see the two main Divine activities Christ claims He is doing with God the Father. Jesus wasn't just claiming to imitate the work of salvation which God the Father is doing, He was asserting that His work was identical to that of God the Father. Those who reject him are also rejecting the Father.

Christ is the Life Giver (as He illustrated by healing the paralyzed man by the pool)/
But this work isn't just to give physical life, He is also the source of spiritual life and renewal. He is the One Who can make us WHOLE.

As the One WHO gives life and offers spiritual birth and renewal to people, He is also qualified to judge, both in the present judgment for which He came into the world and in which people choose for themselves either for or against life, by either rejecting Him and His gospel, or come to Him for renewal and life, (see John 3:18-19) and in the investigative judgement, when He presents before the Father and the angels, (see Rev. 3:5,and 1 John 5:5) all the names of all Who overcame in His name and power.