JOHN 5:1 – 47
Bible Study Notes Rev. Betsy Perkins
Testimonies about Jesus
o Have you ever felt sorry for yourself? What kinds of things did you think and say? How did you feel?
o What did it take to get you out of that mode/attitude?
Jesus and the Invalid (5:1-15):
Joe Boyd, Bible Experiment – Gospel of John (RightNowMedia), 56:30-1:01:00
o What do you think motivated Jesus to go to Bethesda while he’s in Jerusalem for a celebration?
Max Lucado, Life Lessons from John, pg.31-32
o How would you describe the life of the invalid man? Why do you think Jesus chose to help this particular man?
o What is verse John 5:4? Why is it left out of some Bibles?
o What does Jesus ask the invalid man?
o What is the man’s response? Does he answer Jesus’ question? What feelings are revealed by the man’s response?
o Jesus commands the man to “Get up!” or “Arise!”; the same word that is used to announce the resurrection: “the Lord is risen!” What other layers of meaning does this reveal about what Jesus is doing?
o What made this healing particularly controversial for Jesus? What does the response of the religious leaders reveal about their hearts and motives?
o Why was it important for Jesus to speak to the man again after healing him?
o What is Jesus’ follow up instruction for the man? What did Jesus mean?
o Who are the invisible wounded folks in our community? How can you become more sensitive to their suffering?
o What stands in the way of their healing and restoration? Are there ways we can remove those barriers for them?
Questions of Authority (5:16-30):
o What are the issues surrounding Jesus that are problematic for the Jewish leaders?
o How does Jesus defend himself?
o What/whose authority does Jesus claim for the work he is doing?
The heart of it seems to be Jesus’ belief that Israel’s God was then and there in the process of launching the new creation. And somehow this new creation was superseding the old one… God was healing the sorry, sick old world, and though there might come a time for rest (when Jesus’ own work was finished, maybe), at the moment it was time for the work of new creation to go forward. Especially, from John’s point of view, if the ‘signs’ correspond in some way to the ‘days’ of the new creation. N.T. Wright
o Is there a contradiction between John 3:17 and John 5:22?
o What is the purpose of the Son’s judgment (verse 23)?
o Is Jesus talking about the physically dead or spiritually dead? Who are the dead people Jesus is talking about?
What Jesus is now saying is that with his coming and public ministry this work of raising the dead has already begun. This is central to the work that he’s watching the Father do, and that he is doing alongside Him.
o When will people experience the miracle of resurrection?
Testimonies about Jesus (5:31-47):
o John the Baptist has testified to who Jesus is. What is the evidence or testimony that’s even stronger than John the Baptist’s?
o Why didn’t the people believe Jesus at the time? What testimony did they give more weight to?
o What helps us believe Jesus’ words?
The 8 “Signs” in John’s Gospel Verses
Changing water into wine 2:1-11; “the first of the signs”(2:11)
Healing the royal official’s son 4:43-54; “the second sign” (4:54)
5:1-15; “signs” (6:2)
6:1-14; “sign” (6:14)
6:16-21; “signs” (6:26)
9:1-12; “such signs” (9:16)
11:1-44; “signs” (11:47), “this sign” (12:18)
20:1-31; “many other signs” (20:30)
In light of this passage and our discussion, what one truth about God and about yourself stand out as something to “take to heart” this week?
Are there steps you will take, by God’s grace, to more fully apply it to your life?
Resources: NIV Zondervan Study Bible, 2015
N.T. Wright, John for Everyone, 2002
Max Lucado, Life Lessons from John, 2018
Joe Boyd, Bible Experiment – Gospel of John (RightNowMedia), 2014
Add Your Comment