January 26 – Solomon Anticipates Praise

January 26
Lesson 9 (KJV)
Solomon Anticipates Praise

Devotional Reading: Psalm 136:1–16, 23–25
Background Scripture: 1 Kings 8:54–66; 2 Chronicles 7:4–9
1 Kings 8:54–61

54. And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the Lord, he arose from before the altar of the Lord, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven.

55. And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying,

56. Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.

57. The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us:

58. That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers.

59. And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before the Lord, be nigh unto the Lord our God day and night, that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require:

60. That all the people of the earth may know that the Lord is God, and that there is none else.

61. Let your heart therefore be perfect with the Lord our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.

The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us: that he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers.—1 Kings 8:57, 58

Lesson Aims

After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:

1. Summarize the content of Solomon’s final words at the temple dedication.

2. Explain the relationship between the Israelites’ living faithfully and remembering God’s fulfilled promises.

3. Write a prayer that recalls God’s faithfulness and that anticipates His future work.

HOW TO SAY IT

Canaan	Kay-nun.
Deuteronomy	Due-ter-ahn-uh-me.
Leviticus	Leh-vit-ih-kus.
Moses	Mo-zes or Mo-zez.
patriarchs	Pay-tree-arks.
Solomon	Sol-o-mun.
tabernacle	tah-burr-nah-kul.

Introduction

A. Remembering for the Future

In his 1990 remarks on the dedication of the Washington National Cathedral, President George H. W. Bush, alluded to the initial laying of its cornerstone as well as to the future use of the building. He stated, “Eighty-three years ago on this spot, President Teddy Roosevelt said: ‘God speed the work begun this noon.’ And today I say: God speed the work completed this noon and the new work yet to begin.”
President Bush looked to the past and offered hope for the future. Solomon, in his dedication address for the temple in Jerusalem, likewise called Israel to look to the past while hoping for the future.

B. Lesson Context

The narrative of 1 Kings 8 is devoted to the greatest moment of Solomon’s reign: the dedication of the temple (about 960 BC). By that time Solomon was about 10 years into his 40-year reign. His fame had spread far and wide during that time (1 Kings 4:29–34). But the focus of the 10-year period was the construction of the temple. The required materials and manpower stagger the imagination (see 1 Kings 5:13–18; 2 Chronicles 2:1, 2, 17, 18).
The lesson text for this week comprises the final words of King Solomon’s dedicatory address. A parallel account is found in 2 Chronicles 5–7. The dedication ceremony closed with a 14-day celebration, an expansion of the great annual harvest festival known as the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:34; 1 Kings 8:2, 65).
Solomon’s opening and closing remarks demonstrate similarities that make them fitting bookends for his prayer. The narration of the transporting of the ark of the covenant to the temple (1 Kings 8:1–11, lesson 6) prefaced Solomon’s first oration (8:12–21) as the narration of the offering of dedicatory sacrifices (8:62–64) followed his final words. Solomon’s final blessing (8:55–61) focused broadly on Israel in a fashion similar to his opening blessing, which focused on David and Solomon himself (8:15–21, lesson 7).

I. Solomon’s Blessing
(1 Kings 8:54–56)

A. For Israel (vv. 54, 55)

54. And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the Lord, he arose from before the altar of the Lord, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven.

Because the congregation of Israel is gathered within the temple courts, the altar of the Lord refers to the brasen altar of burnt offering located there (1 Kings 8:64; see commentary in lesson 8). Solomon has been kneeling on a special platform that is 3 cubits (4 1/2 feet) high (2 Chronicles 6:12, 13).
Kneeling in prayer no doubt signifies the king’s respect and humble submission to the Lord (contrast 1 Kings 19:18; 2 Kings 1:13; Isaiah 45:14). The Israelites will also bow down in worship to God during this dedication ceremony (2 Chronicles 7:3; compare Psalm 95:6).
The king’s stretching out his hands … to heaven further expresses an attitude of petition and supplication (compare Exodus 9:29, 33; 1 Kings 8:22; Psalms 63:4; 88:9; 143:6). This demonstrates not only a sense of need but also confidence that God can and will respond to his requests (compare Exodus 9:29, 33).

What Do You Think? Considering the prayer template Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication (ACTS), how can you make sure the elements are in proper balance? Digging Deeper Would it be a good experiment to focus on just one element for a time? Why, or why not?

55. And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying.
    
    Arising from his position of kneeling, Solomon blesses all the congregation as he did earlier (1 Kings 8:14). To bless a person or group is to express a desire that God’s approval and goodwill would rest on them. It invites God to invest them with success, fruitfulness, or long life (examples: Genesis 24:60; 27:1–41; 48:9–49:28).
    Usually a priest blesses the people (Numbers 6:22–27), but exceptions certainly exist. Solomon’s blessing echoes that of Moses when the Israelites finished work on the tabernacle (Exodus 39:43). Solomon also mirrors King David’s act of blessing the people after he brought the ark of the covenant into Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:17–19).
    Solomon’s blessing of Israel not only recalls his father’s blessing but builds on it now that the ark has been brought to rest in its new home (1 Kings 8:6, 7, 21). The congregation will reciprocate the king’s action by blessing Solomon before departing (8:66).

    B. Of the Lord (v. 56)

    56a. Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised.

    Solomon’s blessing on Israel actually begins with a pronouncement of blessing of the Lord, the God of Israel. Whereas blessing a person expresses one’s desire that God would esteem and benefit them, to bless the Lord is to express honor and praise to Him (Genesis 24:27; Exodus 18:10; 1 Samuel 25:32, 39; etc.). The fact that Solomon begins his blessing of Israel by blessing God demonstrates the king’s understanding that any blessings Israel experiences come from the Lord, the source of all blessings.
    Solomon has previously spoken of how God fulfilled His promise that David’s son would build a temple for the Lord (1 Kings 8:15–21, lesson 7). Here, he speaks of God’s fidelity to the Israelites in providing them rest in the land of Canaan (Exodus 33:14). Through Moses, the Lord had promised to give Israel rest in Canaan from their enemies (Deuteronomy 12:9, 10). Joshua had subsequently referred to the conquest of Canaan as the Lord’s act of giving Israel that promised rest on every side (Joshua 1:13). The result was to be able to flourish as the people dwelled in security.
    Solomon undoubtedly sees the completion of the temple as the fulfillment of the Lord’s promise of that rest. The nation has become secure under the 40-year rule by his father, David, and by events at the beginning of Solomon’s reign (2 Samuel 7:1; 1 Kings 5:4).

What Do You Think? How can you personally do better at balancing rest with work? Digging Deeper Which one or two of the following texts convict you most in this regard: Genesis 2:2, 3; Exodus 34:21; Matthew 11:28; Mark 6:31; Hebrews 4:1–11? How is Matthew 26:45 cautionary to you?

56b. There hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.

Because the nation is experiencing the promised rest, Solomon can allude to Joshua’s affirmation made centuries earlier: no good thing the Lord has promised has failed (Joshua 21:45; 23:14). Not only has the Lord been faithful to His promises to the house of David, He has kept promises He spoke to Moses regarding Israel. Indeed, the promises to David and that man’s forefathers are integral to God’s plan and purpose for Israel. Nevertheless, the rest Israel enjoys at this time is temporary. Israel’s later sin will lead to two exiles after the nation divides (2 Kings 17:1–23; 25:1–21; 2 Chronicles 36:15–21).
The Lord always desires rest for His people (compare Jeremiah 29:10–14; 30:1–3, 8–10; etc.). The writer of Hebrews affirms that the ultimate rest will be experienced at the return of Christ (Hebrews 4:1–13).
Blessed
As a sophomore in college, I acted on God’s call to ministry. More than 60 years later, I retired from vocational ministry. God had led me to city and country churches, a mission field in Africa, teaching and administration in Christian colleges, hospice chaplaincy, and a ministry to atrisk young people.
When I retired at age 81, I had the time to reflect on those six decades. Not many people have had the opportunity to experience the joys, rewards, and satisfaction in service that I have, not to mention the challenges for personal growth. I now see, more than ever, that God has blessed me far more than I deserve. I can say with Solomon, “[God] hath not failed one word of all his good promise.”
My prayer for you is that you can reflect on your life and see God’s hand blessing you, even as Solomon reminded Israel of what God had done.
—C. R. B.

II. Solomon’s Desire
(1 Kings 8:57–61)

A. For the Lord’s Presence (vv. 57, 58)

57. The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us.

Having praised God for His past faithfulness to Israel, Solomon now voices desires for the future. The structure of 1 Kings 8:57, 58 pairs a stated desire with a purpose statement; the pattern repeats in the two verses that follow.
Solomon’s desire is that the Lord’s presence with Israel will continue. The king recognizes that Israel’s special place as God’s covenant people depends on God’s continued willingness (Genesis 26:3; Deuteronomy 4:31; Joshua 1:5). It does not depend on any inherent entitlement the Israelites’ may imagine.
The phrase our fathers refers to the patriarchs as well as to the Israelites’ leaders during the days of Moses and Joshua (Exodus 3:15; 1 Samuel 12:6). In the New Testament, the patriarch designation is applied specifically to Abraham, the sons of Jacob, and David (see Acts 2:29; 7:8, 9; Hebrews 7:4). We further think of Isaac and Jacob as members of this group. The Lord has surely kept His promises to them (see Genesis 26:3, 24; 28:15; 31:3; 46:1–4; etc.). God also kept the promise of His presence to Moses (Exodus 3:12; 33:14) as well as to Moses’ successor, Joshua (Deuteronomy 31:6, 8; Joshua 1:9; 3:7).
As Solomon repeats this ancient promise, there can be little doubt that he recalls the words of his father, David. King David had promised Solomon that the Lord would not forsake him while Solomon worked on the temple’s construction (1 Chronicles 28:20)—a promise obviously kept!
Later in the Old Testament, the prophet Isaiah will reiterate the promise of God’s attentive and loving presence with His people (Isaiah 41:10, 17; 42:16; 44:21; 49:14–16). The Lord also encourages Jeremiah with the assurance of His presence (Jeremiah 1:8, 19; 20:11).
Our Lord has given this same pledge to new-covenant believers. Centuries after Solomon’s day, Jesus promises His disciples that He will not leave them comfortless (John 14:18). Before ascending to the Father, Jesus vows His constant presence (Matthew 28:19, 20). The author of Hebrews assures us that God will never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5; compare Deuteronomy 31:6).

What Do You Think? In what ways can Christians demonstrate better that God is “with us”? Digging Deeper How do we keep that effort from crossing into “holier than thou” territory?

58. 
    That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers.

    Moses had taught that a proper relationship with the Lord begins in the heart and then manifests itself in obedience (Deuteronomy 5:31–6:9; 11:18; 32:46). In that regard, Solomon desires that the Lord empower His people to obey Him. If the holy God is to be present among the Israelites as Solomon desires (1 Kings 8:57, above), then they must conduct themselves in holiness (Leviticus 11:44, 45; 19:2).
    The image of walking in the ways of the Lord highlights Israel’s obligation to obey. This image appears many times in the Old Testament (see Leviticus 18:3, 4; Deuteronomy 5:33; 8:6; 10:12; Psalm 119:105; etc.). Solomon equates such walking with keeping the Lord’s commandments, statutes, and judgments as Moses had also prescribed (Deuteronomy 26:17; 30:16). Specifying these three related categories emphasizes the need for total and unwavering obedience to God.
    Even so, Solomon’s previous acknowledgment that everyone sins and is in need of forgiveness (1 Kings 8:46) highlights Israel’s inability to follow God’s ways without His help. Scripture elsewhere testifies to the roles of both God and His people in faithfully keeping the covenant (compare Psalm 119:36 [where the word testimonies refers to laws or decrees] and Joshua 24:23, respectively).

What Do You Think? What are some ways you can help God help you obey Him? Digging Deeper Rank the examples of biblical heroes in Hebrews 11 in terms of whom you most identify with and why.

We see this similarly in the New Testament. For example, Paul’s declaration “By grace are ye saved through faith” (Ephesians 2:8) affirms that God’s initiative in grace is the necessary precondition for our faithful response to Him. Moses had used the image of the circumcision of the heart (Deuteronomy 30:6) to speak of this inclining of the will (see also Ezekiel 11:19; 36:26). Such a circumcision is made available in the new covenant brought by Jesus (Jeremiah 31:31–34; Luke 22:19, 20; Colossians 2:11, 12) through the work of the Holy Spirit (Romans 2:29; 8:1–11).

B. For the Lord’s Help (vv. 59, 60)

59. And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before the Lord, be nigh unto the Lord our God day and night, that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require.

Moving to expressing his second desire, Solomon prays that God will hear his prayers and champion the cause of his people Israel at all times. Solomon had earlier stressed the faithfulness of the Lord in keeping His word (1 Kings 8:20, 56). God’s faithfulness in the past inspires faith and trust in Solomon for the present and the future as the matter shall require.
The needs of Solomon and of God’s people have been expressed, in one way or another, in all of Solomon’s words to this point. His summary of his supplication invites Israel to remember what Solomon has requested of the Lord: the king previously had prayed that God’s eyes would be open toward the temple “night and day” and that He would listen to His servant’s prayer made toward that place (1 Kings 8:29). Solomon prays now that God will hear his prayer on behalf of the people and will not forget.
The final phrases at all times, as the matter shall require translate a Hebrew phrase used elsewhere to designate a daily task or daily need (Exodus 5:13; 16:4; compare Luke 11:3). In each day and in every way, God’s people can depend on His faithfulness (Matthew 6:11).

Faith of the Generations

My grandfather was a troublemaker when he was young. But the Lord used his marriage to my grandmother to change him.
When Grandpa turned his life over to Christ, this often-angry drunk became a kind, peaceful man of faith. The couple’s two older sons became ministers. Their younger son was a lifelong leader in the local church. One daughter married a minister, and another married an evangelist. The generations that followed have seen even more Christian leaders walking in the way of “their fathers” as ministers, teachers, and missionaries.
Other families could tell similar stories, demonstrating the value of the faithful generations that came before them. The faithful examples of our fathers and mothers can be honored only in continued faithfulness. When we make faith our own, God continues to honor His promises. Israel had to learn this lesson. We would be wise to learn it too.
—C. R. B.

60a. That all the people of the earth may know that the Lord is God.

Solomon’s dedicatory prayer now reflects God’s ultimate desire. Reaching the goal of all the people of the earth knowing that the Lord is God must include the Lord’s attentiveness to the prayers of the Israelites and their obedience to him. That’s how Israel will be an instrument of God’s blessing in the world (Genesis 12:1–3; 22:18; etc.).
God’s plan and purpose in choosing Israel as His people has always been that the nations would come to know Him (examples: 1 Chronicles 16:23, 24; Psalms 72:19; 96:1–10). When Israel is properly obedient, non-Israelites will be attracted to the one true God (see 1 Kings 8:41–43; compare 2 Chronicles 6:32, 33).

60b. And that there is none else.

The words there is none else stand in stark contrast to the many-gods outlook of the ancient world. Each people-group has its gods and worships them in vain attempts to address various needs. The Israelites acknowledge powers at work in the world other than God (Exodus 12:12; 15:11; 18:11; Psalm 82:1; etc.). But at their best, the Israelites worship no so-called god; they worship the Lord only. Solomon’s affirmation echoes the assertions of Moses in Deuteronomy 4:35–39. It also anticipates similar statements by the Lord through the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 45:5, 6, 22).

C. For the People’s Hearts (v. 61)

61. Let your heart therefore be perfect with the Lord our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.

Whereas 1 Kings 8:58 spoke of God’s initiative to empower Israel’s holiness and obedience, this verse emphasizes Israel’s side of the relationship that is made possible by God’s initiative. Because there is only one God, Israel’s devotion to Him is to be total and undivided (Deuteronomy 4:35, 39; 6:5). Joshua had emphasized some 400 years earlier Israel’s need to follow the Lord’s commands so that blessings would continue in the land where God had granted the nation rest (Joshua 23:14–16; 24:14, 15, 20).
In biblical thought, the heart is the center of a person’s character. It can refer to one’s mind or will as the source of thoughts, words, actions, and feelings. Israel’s obedience is to be complete and entire (Psalm 119:80), as is Solomon’s (1 Kings 9:4; 1 Chronicles 28:9; 29:19).
Solomon himself eventually proves to be unable to stay wholly committed to the Lord. Although he had prayed for Israel’s hearts to be turned toward God, Solomon’s many wives eventually turn his heart after other gods (1 Kings 11:4). This faithlessness will lead to the fracturing of the nation of Israel (11:9–13).
Kings that follow him won’t do much better. Though some kings will be wholly devoted to the Lord (examples: 1 Kings 15:14; 22:43; 2 Kings 20:3; 2 Chronicles 17:6; 25:2), many more will reign with divided loyalties or in outright rebellion (examples: 1 Kings 13:33, 34; 15:3; 16:18–20, 25, 26, 30–33; 2 Kings 1:1, 16, 17). The Israelites, like their kings, will fail to live up to their obligation; as a result, they lose their rest in the land (2 Kings 17:7–23; 24:14–16; 25:8–12).
The parallel account in 2 Chronicles 5–7 indicates that fire comes down from Heaven when Solomon concludes his words. The fire consumes the burnt offerings and sacrifices that had been prepared (2 Chronicles 7:1). The glory of the Lord fills the temple (2 Chronicles 7:1–3) as it had earlier in the celebration (1 Kings 8:10, 11; 2 Chronicles 5:13, 14; compare Exodus 40:34–38). This signals the Lord’s approval of the building and the king.

What Do You Think? What specific steps can you take to ensure that your heart becomes better aligned with God’s desires? Digging Deeper Which stands most in the way of your personal growth in obedience: (1) things you should do and think but don’t or (2) things you should not do or think but do?

Conclusion

A. Faithful to the Faithful One

The dedication of the temple was a time to remember the past, to celebrate the present, and to anticipate the future work of God for and with His people. The Lord had done great things for Israel, and He could be trusted to bless the nation in the future. These blessings would turn out for good—not only for Israel but also for those who came to know the Lord as the only true God. Given God’s past faithfulness and given the anticipation of His future faithfulness, Israel was reasonably called to have unswerving devotion to God.
The words of Solomon during the dedication of the temple highlight the loyalty God had demonstrated to His covenant people. Prayerful consideration of what God has already done for us in Christ, is doing for us in the present, and will do for us in the future likewise is to motivate us to lead holy, godly lives.

Prayer

Our Father, we praise You as the one who has never failed one word of all Your good promises. We cherish Your promise never to leave or forsake us. We praise You as the one who is faithful when we are not. Renew us by Your Spirit so that we may have the desire and the power to walk in Your ways. We pray this so that the world may know You and your Son. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

C. Thought to Remember

Each day and in every way, God is faithful. Am I?

 

 

KID’S CORNER

The Astonishing Claims of Jesus

Sunday, January 26, 2020

John 5:19-29

 

John 5:19-29

(John 5:19) Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.

We learned in John 5:18 that the Jews (by which John meant some of the religious authorities, rabbis, Pharisees, and Sadducees, for they were all Jews) wanted to kill Jesus because Jesus was “breaking the Sabbath” and “calling God his own Father, thereby making himself equal to God.”
With respect to their first charge against Him, Jesus said that He was not doing what He was doing on the Sabbath by himself or because of His own independent decision-making, but God the Father was also involved with Him when He was healing or “working” on the Sabbath. Jesus said that He was only doing what He saw the Father doing on the Sabbath and whatever the Father did, Jesus said He would also do. He was following the example of His loving Father who had compassion for all people seven days a week.

As we would say today, when Jesus replied to them, He “doubled down” on agreeing with their accusation; which means, in the following verses and chapters, Jesus did not deny the accusation that He was “making himself equal to God,” but became “more tenacious, zealous, or resolute” in claiming that God was His own Father and He was equal to God—which He further defined and explained in subsequent chapters in the Gospel of John. Jesus’ words “Very truly” or “Truly, truly” or “Verily, verily” can be interpreted to mean “This is reality” with the added emphasis “This is real reality” or “This is objective truth and reality” or “What I am about to say is True Truth about God and myself.”  The Father and the Son are of the same character, essence, and nature as the Bible describes God. The Father and the Son think and act in perfect unity. They each know what the other is thinking, doing, and planning to do. They are so united in everything they do that the Son cannot and will not do anything independently from His Father. Whatever God the Father can do, the Son can do. Whatever God the Father does in relation to creation or anything else, God the Son does likewise. God the Father and God the Son always think and act together.

(John 5:20) “For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel.

Jesus was trying to describe His perfect relationship with God the Father in words that people can understand. The Father and the Son live together in a perfect relationship of love, with each One respecting the personhood, rights, and responsibilities of the other. They always do what is best for one another with never a disagreement. They always do what is perfect and in perfect agreement. Jesus’ hearers would understand how a human father might teach his son his trade or occupation for the benefit of them both and for others. By analogy, Jesus was saying that God the Father showed Him ALL that He was doing for their benefit, for the benefit of all that exists, and especially for the benefit of those Jesus came into the world to save from sin and death. Jesus claimed that everything He was doing was perfectly consistent with the way His Father acted. From eternity, before Jesus was born in human flesh, God the Father showed Jesus all that He was doing whenever He did anything, and they worked together in everything (see John 1:1-3). Jesus claimed that He was still watching all that the Father was doing, and He was still doing what the Father was doing. Jesus taught that whatever He did was perfectly consistent with what the Father had done in the past and what the Father was doing in the present. Jesus claimed that whenever He healed someone, even on the Sabbath, He was doing what the Father did and He had a right to do whatever He saw the Father doing. No mere human being has made or can make claims similar to Jesus’ claims about God and himself and demonstrate by their actions that their claims about being one with God and doing the works of God are true. Only Jesus, the true Son of God, has ever done that. When Jesus healed the royal official’s son from twenty miles away and when He healed the diseased man at the pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath, He was only beginning to show the works of God, and in the days ahead the Father would show Jesus even greater works to do and He would do them. To demonstrate that what He taught was true, Jesus said He would do works of God that would astonish everyone, and He kept His promise.

(John 5:21) “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.

The Jews knew that only God could raise the dead, and Jesus said that He could also raise the dead and give life to whomever He chose. Jesus claimed that He could legally do and had the power to do whatever God could do. For this claim to be true, Jesus would need to raise the dead and give them life. In Matthew 9:18-26, Matthew described how Jesus raised the daughter of a synagogue leader who had just died. In Luke 7:11-17, Luke described how Jesus raised a widow’s son from the dead. According to Jewish burial customs, the son had been dead less than twenty-four hours. In John 12, John described how Jesus raised Lazarus from the tomb after he had been in the tomb four days. The Jews would see Him do these astonishing works, but many of the religious leaders still refused to believe His claims that He was equal to God.

(John 5:22) “For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son,

Because God the Father and God the Son are equal, Jesus could see into the heart and understand the thoughts and intentions of everyone He met. Only God can see into and understand all that is in a person; therefore, only God can judge someone perfectly and without any error whatsoever. In John 8:44, Jesus perfectly judged some of the religious leaders and declared to them, “You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” The Father gave the Son the responsibility to make honest judgments, and He did. We remember that in John 2:25, John wrote that Jesus knew all people “and needed no one to testify about anyone; for he himself knew what was in everyone.” Unlike the religious leaders, Jesus always chose to do whatever His Father desired and Jesus always spoke the truth. Furthermore, Jesus could always judge correctly what people needed; so, in John 5:14, Jesus could correctly say to the man He had healed, “See, you have been made well! Do not sin any more, so that nothing worse happens to you.”

(John 5:23) so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

Jesus continued to claim His equality to God when He said that all honor, (love, praise, glory, respect, obedience, and worship) that the Bible commands people were to give to God the Father were also to be given to Him. As God the Son, Jesus did what the Father did, and Jesus deserves the same honor, (love, praise, glory, respect, obedience, and worship) that the Bible teaches we should give to God alone. Jesus’ works on earth were clearly the works of God, and God the Father would not have told Jesus to do these works if He had not intended for people to honor Jesus as they honored Him. To learn about Jesus, to learn about Jesus’ words and works, and not honor Jesus as God is to disobey and dishonor God the Father (most of the religious leaders refused to honor Jesus as the Son of God; instead, they wanted to kill Jesus). Unless they are spiritual infants still learning the truth about Jesus, a person who claims to be a Christian, but who does not love, honor, and obey Jesus as God the Son cannot be a Christian—they do not know Jesus as Jesus has revealed himself in the Bible. True Christians love, honor, and obey Jesus from their hearts according to the Bible’s teachings. Christians are not perfect, but they move forward and with the intention to love, honor, and obey Jesus in everything. To dishonor the Son of God is to dishonor God the Father, and when the religious leaders killed Jesus, they dishonored the Father and the Son.

(John 5:24) “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

Again, Jesus claimed, “This is reality, this is the way it is regarding God the Father and the Son of God. This is the way eternal life and judgment works.” Jesus claimed that if you hear His “word” (meaning His teaching or the good news) and if you believe the Father who sent Him according to His word; then, you have eternal life in the present and will have eternal life forever. Eternal life is to truly know God the Father and God the Son. In John 17:3, Jesus prayed and proclaimed, “And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” In several ways, John’s Gospel emphasized Jesus’ words to Nicodemus in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” Those who believe in Jesus according to the Bible’s teachings will not come under judgment or condemnation after their bodies die. Because they truly know the true God, they have “passed from death to life,” In John 11:26, Jesus told Martha, “Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” Though Lazarus had been in the tomb four days, he had not died. Jesus returned Lazarus to a completely restored human body, a body that would later die again. If we believe in Jesus as revealed in the Bible, we will never die spiritually and someday we will rise again as Jesus promised.

(John 5:25) “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

For the third time in His proclamation, Jesus declared, “This is truly true.” The time was not only coming, but in His presence the time was now within their hearing—people could hear the voice of the Son of God. Jesus claimed that at that very moment, as He spoke to them, they were hearing the voice of the One who was equal to God the Father. The word “hear” is used in two ways. The spiritually dead were hearing the voice of the Son of God as Jesus was teaching. Those who truly heard and responded by believing Jesus and by believing in Jesus would not remain spiritually dead, but live. They would pass through physical death to be with God forever. Eternal life is the gift of Jesus to all who believe in Him. Some of the physically dead, such as Lazarus, also heard the voice of God; therefore, Lazarus lived again spiritually and physically. Though Lazarus would die again physically, because he lived spiritually and believed the good news Jesus preached, he would pass through physical death into everlasting life.

(John 5:26) “For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself;

Jesus continued to “double down” as He spoke to the religious leaders and the crowd around them. God the Father self-exists: He does not depend on anyone or anything to exist. God does not need food, clothing, shelter, atoms or molecules to exist. God exists because God exists, and God will exist throughout eternity. Jesus said that as the Son of God He also self-exists. Jesus did not depend on anyone or anything to exist. As the incarnate Son of God in human flesh, as fully human, Jesus’ body did depend on food and water, and Jesus truly suffered as we do when deprived of food and water. But as fully God, Jesus exists as God exists. Because Jesus has life in himself, He could say in John 10:17-18, “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”

(John 5:27) and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.

Next, Jesus claimed to fulfill the prophet Daniel as the “Son of Man,” which was looked upon as a description of the promised Messiah. In Daniel 7:13-14 (NASB), Daniel wrote, “I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.” As God the King, Jesus had dominion, glory, and a kingdom; furthermore, all peoples, nations, and those of every language were to serve Jesus, the Son of Man. Jesus, as King of the universe, had the authority to execute judgment on all people and nations. The kingdom of Jesus, the Son of Man, would be everlasting and would never be destroyed; therefore, Jesus said that He had been given the power and authority to execute judgment as God revealed to Daniel. Jesus had the “authority to execute judgment” given to Him by the “Ancient of Days” or the “Ancient One” (God the Father).

(John 5:28) “Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice,

Next, Jesus looked toward the future “resurrection of the dead,” a belief held by the Pharisees but not the Sadducees: “The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, or angel, or spirit; but the Pharisees acknowledge all three” (Acts 23:8). Notice: Jesus did not say, “and is now here,” for He was talking about the future resurrection of ALL the dead on the Day of Judgment. Jesus promised that ALL who are or will be physically dead throughout human history from “all peoples, nations, and languages” will rise from the dead when they hear His voice. Throughout the gospels, Jesus made breathtaking claims about himself and the future that God the Father expects us to believe, and by believing in Jesus we will receive the gift of eternal life and be given the power to become children of God (John 1:12).

(John 5:29) and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.”

Not only will the physically dead hear His voice, but they will come out of their graves when they hear Him call them—even more dramatically than the time Jesus called Lazarus to come forth from his grave. Jesus again led His listeners to think of the prophet Daniel, and Jesus confirmed the words of Daniel in Daniel 12:2,3 where Daniel foretold, “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” The Bible teaches that those who believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, their Lord and Savior, receive the gift of eternal life. And we learned in John 3:18,19: “Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.” Those who have received Jesus and have believed in His name will do good because they have been given the power to live as children of God—they can trust in Jesus’ promise that they will receive “the resurrection of life.” When the Apostle Paul wrote of the judgment believers will face, he said in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—the work of each builder will become visible, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each has done. If what has been built on the foundation survives, the builder will receive a reward. If the work is burned up, the builder will suffer loss; the builder will be saved, but only as through fire.” Those who rise to the resurrection of condemnation are those who “loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.” One reason those who love the light will be separated from those who love darkness is because these two groups are not happy together in this life and they would make each other completely miserable for eternity if left together in the life to come. As Jesus emphasized to Nicodemus, God the Father sent His Son into the world for our benefit, for the benefit of the world, for the benefit of sinners: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

 

The Astonishing Claims of Jesus

Sunday, January 26, 2020

John 5:19-29

 

Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise (John 5:19—KJV). Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner” (John 5:19—NASB). Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise” (John 5:19—NRSV).

The religious leaders wanted Jesus killed because He broke the Sabbath and called God His own Father, “thereby making himself equal to God” (John 5:18). Jesus did not deny His equality to God. Rather, Jesus gave additional reasons why He was equal to God. Jesus stressed His Father was still working, so He was too. Jesus said He did not break the Sabbath, because He and His Father worked together on the Sabbath. They both healed people and did good on the Sabbath. Jesus also said that He never did anything independently of the Father. He never did ministry His way instead of God’s way. He declared that He never did anything that God did not do. Jesus explained that everything the religious leaders and the people saw Him doing was God’s way of doing things. When He saw what the Father was doing; then, whatever He saw the Father doing He did too. He stressed that because the Father loved Him the Father would show Him even greater works than the good works He had been doing, so people would be astonished. Jesus made many other claims about himself and declared that the Father wanted people to honor Him as the Son of God just as they honored God the Father. Ultimately, Jesus promised that someday all the dead in their graves would hear His voice and come out to the resurrection of life or to the resurrection of condemnation. Jesus showed and told many reasons for believing that He is the Son of God.

 

Thinking Further

The Astonishing Claims of Jesus

Sunday, January 26, 2020

John 5:19-29

Name ___________________________

 

1. What does the Son do that the Father does? Or, how would you compare what the Father does with what the Son does?

 

 

2. Why does the Father show the Son all that He himself is doing?

 

 

3. What are some of the astonishing things that Jesus said He would do that He did?

 

 

4. Why has the Father given all judgment to the Son?

 

 

5. How can someone avoid coming under judgment? What does “coming under judgment” mean?

 

 

Discussion and Thinking Further

1. What does the Son do that the Father does? Or, how would you compare what the Father does with what the Son does? Whatever Jesus saw and sees the Father doing and whatever the Father has done and does, the Son can do, will do, and does. Like Father, like Son.
2. Why does the Father show the Son all that He himself is doing? The Father loves the Son and wants Him to do what He shows Him, and so all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father.
3. What are some of the astonishing things that Jesus said He would do that He did? He stilled a storm, fed thousands with a few fish and loaves of bread, healed all types of diseases, raised the dead, died in behalf of sinners according to the plan of God the Father, rose from the dead by His own power, and ascended into heaven. By now, He has saved untold millions from sin and death and has granted them eternal life through the Church He created almost 2000 years ago to save the children of God.
4. Why has the Father given all judgment to the Son? That all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father.
5. How can someone avoid coming under judgment? What does “coming under judgment” mean? Honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Hear Jesus’ word and believe God the Father who sent Him. Coming under judgment means being judged as good or evil by God and receiving the resurrection of life or the resurrection of condemnation, for Jesus will bring all people up from the grave when He calls, and He will judge them.

 

Word Search

The Astonishing Claims of Jesus

Sunday, January 26, 2020

John 5:19-29

Name ___________________________

 

M G W E I U S G R C Y T A W N

A B N R F W X J K A N F H F O

J M W I O U E A X E I L T L I

F N F H O S N V M G D S R Q T

Z L S N U D I G L E M E E A C

O E P S Z W D S H I H D Q S E

L F H O Q U L S E T O J M P R

H I W T J P I X A V I Z S C R

N L S P M N M F Y K E H E Z U

W F A D O D I V X C F I K O S

N O I T A N M E D N O C L Y E

W C S Q H O N O R N O S B E R

Q A O R W D E A D Z H I Z V B

W U W G J I S F N S K R O W J

I H Z Q H G M H O U S E V I G

 

Father

Son

Doing

Shows

Works

Astonished

Raises

Dead

Gives

Life

Honor

Judgment

Resurrection

Condemnation

Believes

 

True and False Test

The Astonishing Claims of Jesus

Sunday, January 26, 2020

John 5:19-29

Name ___________________________

 

Circle the True or False answers. Correct the False statements by restating them.

1. Jesus denied the charges that He was making himself equal to God.

True or False

 

2. Jesus said that whatever the Father does, He does likewise. True or False

 

3. Jesus did good and healed people on the Sabbath because He saw His

Father doing good and healing on the Sabbath. True or False

 

4. Because the Father loved the Son, He showed Him all that He was doing.

True or False

 

5. The Father did not think that Jesus should be honored as much as He

was honored. True or False

 

6. Both the Father and the Son could raise the dead and give life to

whomever they chose. True or False

 

7. If you honor the Father, you do not need to honor the Son. True or False

 

8. Those who are dead will never be able hear the voice of the Son of God.

True or False

 

9. The Father has life in himself, but He did not grant that to Jesus.

True or False

 

10. Those who have done evil will not be resurrected from the dead.

True or False

 

True and False Test Answers

1. False
2. True
3. True
4. True
5. False
6. True
7. False
8. False
9. False

10.False

 

Prayer
Our Father, we praise You as the one who has never failed one word of all Your good promises. We cherish Your promise never to leave or forsake us. We praise You as the one who is faithful when we are not. Renew us by Your Spirit so that we may have the desire and the power to walk in Your ways. We pray this so that the world may know You and your Son. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.