1. How long had it been since the end of Chapter Four? It has been since the end of the last Passover, fifty-two weeks before. In this chapter, the feast is called the Feast of the Jews, the same name associated with the Passover in Chapter Six. John was a selective writer. He wanted to show the Deity of Christ so that his readers would believe.
2. What was the purpose of the pool in Bethesda? It was close to the Sheep Gate and used for washing sheep prior to them being sold. Even though sheep are relatively clean, this water, which many by tradition believed would heal them, was pathetically dirty.
3. Explain the troubling of the waters. Tradition said that an angel would come down, trouble the waters, and then the first person in after that would be healed. This tradition is probably not true because, based on Scriptures, this is not the way God heals. Some scholars say that it may have happened but only once. Others say it may have happened once a year. Dr. Towns thinks that this man is the only one who was ever healed at this pool.
4. Why did Jesus choose this one person out of all the sick? This pool area could accomodate between three hundred and three thousand sick people. Jesus picked this one man because, of all who were there, he was the only without hope. He did not have someone to help him down into the pool. Eighteen months later, the people tried to stone Him because of this miracle.
5. Why did Jesus ask the lame man to do what he couldn’t do? We are often asked to do the impossible so that God can be seen as the real Doer. If the man did as told, then the whole crowd would get the right message. Also, Jesus was telling him to do something on the Sabbath which in effect would put him above the Law.
6. Explain the phrase, "my Father," in verse 17. Jesus told the crowd that He was like His Father, and the Jews hated Him for that. He said that He was equal to the Father in nature by saying that they both did work, in power because He could heal the sick, and in authority because believing on Him brings eternal life.
7. List the three claims of Christ. Jesus claimed to be equal with His Father in nature, in power, and in authority. He has all life, all judgment, and all resurrection in His hands.
8. List the four witnesses to Christ. The four witnesses are John the Baptist, Jesus’ works, the Father, and Scriptures, via Moses.
Tom of Spotswood"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (I John 5:12)
"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)
Index to Selected Essays And Book Reviews
Lesson 8 - Christ - The Bread Of Life
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