WEDNESDAY, FOURTH WEEK OF LENT- YEAR-A

I Reading: Isaiah 49:8-15: I have appointed you as covenant of the people to restore the land.

Gospel: John 5:17-30: As the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son gives life to anyone he chooses.

The Astounding Authority: Equality with God

All people have to face this earth shaking, shattering claim of Christ. He made the astounding claim that the authority belonged to him. How could he make such an astounding claim? Because he proclaimed that he possessed authority with God and then he proceeded to give proof after proof which unequivocally verified his claim.

1.    Jesus proclaimed equality with God (v.17-18)

a.    His claim: My Father

b.    His claim clearly understood

2.    Proof 1: His obedience (v.19)

a.    He did not act alone

b.    He did exactly what he saw the Father do

3.    Proof 2: His great works (v.20)

a.    God loves his Son

b.    God shows Him what to do

4.    Proof 3: His power to quicken, to give life, to raise up the dead (v.21)

5.    Proof 4: His control over the whole judicial process (v.22-23)

a.    Purpose: that all may honour the Son

b.    Fact: If Christ is not honoured, God is not honoured

6.    Proof 5: His power over man’s destiny, to save man from death to life (v.24-25)

a.    How men are saved

1.    Hearing His Word

2.    Believing that God sent His Son, Jesus

b.    Result: Eternal life

c.     Facts

1.    The spiritually dead can hear the voice of God’s Son –now

2.    The spiritually dead can live – now

7.    Proof 6: His energy of life, His self-existence

8.    Proof 7: His authority to execute judgement

9.    Proof 8: His claim to be the Son of Man (v.27)

10. Proof 9: His power to resurrect all men from the grave (v.28-30)

a.    people who have done good: Resurrected to life

b.    people who have done evil: Resurrected to condemnation

c.     the judgement: will be a just judgement

Thought: Two critical facts about the resurrection:

1.    There is to be a resurrection of all who have believed and obeyed the Lord Jesus (Jn 5:25; 6:40; 11:25; 1Cor 15:22; Ps 49:15; Hosea 13:14).

2.    There is to be not only a resurrection of believers but also a resurrection of all those who have rejected and disobeyed the Lord Jesus Christ (Jn 5:28-29; Acts 24:15; Dan12:2).

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