Jesus Unfiltered - Believe - Jesus - Offers Hope to the Hopeless, Part 1

At some point in your life will face a time when something seems was a relationship goes south, a devastating financial setback.

The loss of your health, something that just emotionally stops you in your tracks and when that happens, what you do today will see how Jesus offers when it seems, all hope is gone.

Stay with welcome to this Edition of Living on the Edge ship and Living on the Edge features the Bible teaching of this daily discipleship program. Sometimes I wonder if there were an anxiety meter on the whole world just seems like these days literally watch that thing right so many things that rightfully have our attention.

The question is will you turn for help answers. If you or someone you know is in need of hope today you come to the right place continues believe volume 1 series Jesus unfiltered shows how Jesus provided hope for people in his day and how he still doing that today. If you have a Bible open it out of John chapter 5, let's join Chip for his message.

Jesus offers hope to the hopeless. I like to have you think. Just fermentative may be the last time in your life you felt literally hopeless. Maybe it was a devastation of a relationship maybe was a biopsy report maybe easier walk into a room and walked out without a job or lost your home or maybe someone walked out on you or you got that phone call 130 in the morning and someone was in a car wreck me when was the last time you were just absolutely sense that there is no way out of this begin to think of that sort of pictures in my mind and I thought of just, almost like going through a Facebook in your mind of pictures from the past Linden brain tumor Shannon three-year-old baby with cancer. Jim wife died in a car wreck young couple's one month old baby died since think of just different people over time that I've been in a room and prayed and cried and life was just beyond their control and I don't care who you are or were you then it doesn't matter how smart you are, doesn't help matter how wealthy does matter how strong, how famous. At some point in your life and mine, and in people that we love you find yourself in a situation where it's beyond what you got and you can't fix it and you can't change it and you just are absolutely helpless and hopeless.

We spent some time learning. So what is God really like in John it's his authorized biography by the time you get the chapter 5 Jesus is now revealing. This is what God is like. He's a life giver.

He's a lover he someone who cares, he someone that doesn't tolerate hypocrisy in using religion to make money and then chapter 5 opens up in unit notice on the front of your notes. It's strange.

There's a story but it's one of the most unusual miracle stories and all the New Testament look at it in the middle. I mean, it is just strange. It's unusual and I'll tell you why.

And after this miracle story. There's a conflict in the conflict is actually intentional and strategic. Jesus actually picks a fight. He does some things habitually to get head-to-head with the religious leaders. After that he doesn't teaching has been veiled and don't tell anyone there's a secret Messiah ship and he reveals it to this person that person but there's no more that he literally takes the gloves off and goes head-to-head with the religious leaders and speaks as directly and is clearly about who he is, his relationship with the father why he came in.

What we all need to know. And then after that there's a validation talks about witnesses that validate these outrageous claims that shock those people and then finally the question that he keeps asking them and asking us is will you and you can write this down what you believe. We believe we are trusting we believe who I say I am what you believe when I tell you who I am when you believe I'm coming back for you. Believe, to the point of putting your faith in me actually following me so that's where were headed. What would Jesus say could you learn a lot about God and you learn a lot about people and how they respond to people whose lives don't work that are helpless and absolutely hopeless. Jesus purposely challenges the cultural status quo to reveal his person and his purpose in the world. So with that.

If you would open your notes as we read this unusual unusual story about a miraculous healing as we as I read it and you follow along what you think about what's different about this man shows no faith. What's different. Where does Jesus go. What does he say or not say about himself.

Sometime later chapter 5 Jesus went up to Jerusalem for the feast of the Jews. We don't know which feast it is probably not the Passover. Now there is in Jerusalem near the sheep gate pool which is an Aramaic called Bethesda which is surrounded by five covered colonnades here. A great number of disabled people used to be the blind delaying the paralyzed one. He was there he been an invalid for 38 years when Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he been in this condition for long time.

He asked him not think of this. This is an unusual question. Do you want to get well. Do you want to get well and just before we go on I want you to visualize what would be like to be an invalid for 38 years, shriveled limbs complete atrophy, spindly little legs absolutely no thighs.

He can't move. He can't even get himself into this pool of water and emaciated person completely dependent on other people. Absolutely hopeless. And Jesus ask what seems to be sort of a silly question. Do you want to get well Sir, the invalid replied I have no one to help me get in the pool when the water stirred.

What I'm trying to get in, someone else goes ahead of me.

There was a tradition in a legend that this pool when Angel would visit the spoon when the waters would begin to bubble people would go there and be healed.

Then Jesus said to him, get up, pick up your mat and walk at once the man was cured.

He picked up his mat and walked the day in which this took place with the Sabbath and so the Jews said to the man who'd been healed. It's the Sabbath. The law forbids you to carry your mat, but he replied the man who made me well said, pick up your mat will so that asking who is the fellow who told you pick up your mat and walk now. Talk about strange. The man who was healed had no idea who it was for Jesus had slipped away in the crowd that was there so he exercises no faith.

Jesus doesn't even say who he is. He does one of these keels and runs a meal see that a lot and and the guy can't figure out what's going on. Later Jesus found them at the temple and said see you are well. Again, stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.

The man went away and told the Jews that was Jesus who made them well now that is another strange thing, usually after Jesus heals people the rare responses, stop sinning or something worse can happen. Here's what I want you to understand the Holy Spirit has placed this live historical event. In this chapter in this place and it will set up teaching and you will not understand completely. What's going on here until we get to the very so we have this strange very strange actually miracle on the inside of your notes. I made a few observations, because as you all know were learning how to study the Bible, as well as going through the book of John. And so here's a couple observations I made.

It's a strange question mean it is strange to ask you want to get well, there's no mention of his motive. You know, is not filled with compassion. We don't hear anything about Jesus. Like other miracles he does. He doesn't reveal his identity. There's no instrumental means on the often he touches someone or he takes dirt to an end and makes mud and puts it on their eyes.

All he doesn't just speak he and he leads immediately. That's odd. I don't know of any other miracle where he he does a miracle and then just slips into the crowd. He purposely creates controversy. He doesn't on the Sabbath, so that as soon as this happens, they're uptight about this guy walking around in caring this mat.

He does that you'll find in a minute, absolutely on purpose.

The man expresses no gratitude is not like. Thank you appreciated it is been 38 years, I really did want to get well it's one for 40 year record. I mean anything. How strange.

This is can can you imagine, I mean your limbs would be shriveled immediately. Your healed, you would have flesh to have strength. You would think alike.

Thanks. Or who are you, or what's going on. Nothing very very odd. Jesus affirms the relationship between sin and negative consequences. The Bible is really clear that all sickness is not because of sin affecting chapter 9 the disciples say of this young person who grew up and then it says is he blind because of his parents enter his center. Jesus said now there's not always a one-to-one correlation it was neither of them but it is true that some sickness, some illness.

There is a relationship between sin and consequences. In fact, death ultimately is a result of sin and apparently in this particular case we don't know how long or how many years he lived before the 38 years, but apparently there was some sin going on. Jesus healed him. We also know in the Jewish mindset is all set up his Jesus wants to make a point in the Jewish mindset.

There was a concept that if a person if there was any deformity or any sickness they believed it was all a result of sin that that's why the disciples asked the question in John chapter 9 and then if someone was healed.

They correlated that with their sins being forgiven. So Jesus is literally doing a miracle in a strange unique way because he wants to set the stage for a controversy so that he can reveal himself to the religious leaders as clearly and as powerfully and in a way that connects with their background and their belief system and so with that we move on to his eye this idea and where he actually identifies himself as the one who healed but then he also says don't do this anymore and he begins to intimate that he's going to judge something worse may happen to you.

He says I know the future with that pick it up in verse 16.

The conflict that is intentional and strategic notice so because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath. The Jews persecuted him and if you want to put a little line under doing those things.

That's in the tense of the verb means he was habitually so he was like peeling on the Sabbath in the next Sabbath healing on the Sabbath, and healing on the Sabbath. In other words, he's the signet ring.

The mark of being a Jew in this day was circumcision of your children, your part of the covenant and the Sabbath. It's absolutely holy. That's what makes us Jewish and they had an external belief system that I mean think about this.

Instead of asking, aren't you the kindest and laying here for 38 years. While this is amazing. You can walk who did it. How'd it happen that many death doesn't seem odd to you that there more uptight about him walking on a holy day than they are about the miracle that happened and see what Jesus is pointing out to them is that they made the means the end but have such a rigid religious system forgotten about mercy and grace and kindness and love. And all they can think of. And all they can see is the rules and so he's habitually doing this because he's trying he's poking at them he's picking a fight. Jesus said to them, my father is always at his work this very day and I too am working for this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him. Not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he's even calling God his own father, making himself equal with God.

Notice he says my father is working.

The Jews believe that when it says in Genesis, God rested that somehow God wasn't doing thing anymore. In fact, he only intervened maybe to punish wicked people or to empower righteous people and he is a doesn't save the father our father. He says my father and I get the correlation and they realize this is outrageous. You're making yourself out to be God in the notice of response. The responses for this reason they are trying all the harder to killing. So now the stage is set. Jesus has pushed very, very hard, and now the issue is who are you really what's going on here.

You think you are you claiming equality with God, and now what you see is the most direct teaching shocking if I if you could be in the room and watch Jesus teach and then watch these Pharisees. The Harewood's first go up on the back of their neck and it would still straight up and then there read base in the veins would be bulging is blasphemous. As of the most ridiculous stuff. Who do you think you are and what is going to do is he's going to bring them to a crossroads like never before. Literally, the gloves come off no innuendo, no inferences, no, he's going to say this is who I am in the direct teaching happens into specific areas, area number one, he's going to explain his relationship to the father. I mean, you and the father we don't get it. You've hinted at these things. You made yourself to be equal with God. The second thing is going to do.

He's going to explain his relationship to the world the entire world. We pick it up in verse 19 Jesus gave them this answer I tell you the truth, the son can do nothing by himself.

He can only do what he sees his father doing, because whatever the father does the sun does also notice he makes the point. The sun is dependent but he also makes this outrageous claim that he can see what the father is doing and then is making outrageous claim that the same things. The father is doing. He is doing mean literally these guys.

The veins are starting to bulge. Verse 20 for the father loves the son and shows him all he does not. Can you imagine that this person standing in the flesh, the father God make of the universe. Yahweh.

He shows me all that he does. I mean that there there there mouse are cut open there looking at one another is this guy think he is yes to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these, so he says that the father and the son have mutual love for one another. They share knowledge.

The fathers all knowing I'm all-knowing. Verse 21 for just as the father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the son gives life to whom he pleases to give me now, this is outrageous meet that little phrase might circle it just as they would have no problem the father raises the dead.

Only God can raise the dead right you and Cynthia. The sun had that same power. Verse 22. Moreover, the father judges no one, but is entrusted all judgment to the son mean a Jew would go to first Samuel 26 or Deuteronomy 32, 39, it would be only God can judge only God can judge.

I mean he's saying. I think at this the father and I are one.

We have the same power he's all-knowing I'm all-knowing I see everything he does in fact the father doesn't judge he's given me to judge and then the last one is sorta over the top. Why does he judge that all may honor the son just as they honor the father. Hugh does not honor the son does not honor the father who sent him. So he says he's dependent.

He has mutual love their both all-knowing they have equal power keys. The judge and he should receive the same honor is God. You need understand Jesus is bringing people to a crossroads. There's only two options you either believe and bow before him. Based on these miracles, it is doing. Or, you realize that we gotta get rid of him and killing and rejecting. And it's interesting, I would just pause today been in a number of meetings lightly with leaders of all kind of backgrounds of Christianity in its it's really interesting that people are fine with Jesus being a teacher.

People are fine with Jesus having good moral influence people are fine with Jesus. Can you know help shape the culture to make it better for everyone.

But what I want you know is that's not the Jesus in the New Testament the Jesus of the New Testament says on the judge I'm God, I'm unique. I verified my miracles.

I'm the only way to the father I've come from heaven I see what the father does. We have the same power we should receive the same honor. I am the second person of the Trinity and I am worthy to be worshiped and I'm going to demonstrate to you why and I will tell you, you can say God in public but it's really interesting that you begin to talk about Jesus uniqueness Jesus the right joining us you're listening to Living on the Edge with shipping chips message today is from Lee, volume 1 of a series Jesus unfiltered in this series chip teaches through the entire book of John, unpacking how we can understand the Bible, and more importantly how we can believe that God and his word can make a positive difference in our lives.

Starting today I will be listing more than once is the key to mastering the truth in these passages to check out the audio discounts for believe just go to LivingontheEdge.org know, in addition to the believe resources we have a companion resource for you to take a look at.

It's called the Jesus unfiltered truth cards chip chooses a key verse from each chapter of the Gospel of John and then he exposes a common lie. We tend to believe about ourselves or our position in Christ and then knocks down the why the truth in that passage. These cards are great way to battle effectively when your faith or the truth of Scripture are being challenged. Shipping is free while supplies last. For complete details on the Jesus unfiltered truth cards and the believe discounts visit us online at http://livingontheedge.org or give us a call at 1-888-333-6003. That's 1-888-333-6003. Now here's chip with a quick reminder, you don't want to miss. Thanks Dave. I'll be right back with some specific application to today's teaching but before I do, I just want to give you a very very important reminder only two more days to take advantage of the special offers and discounts with this series leave and I know if you're like me you thought about it had good intentions.

I should order that you haven't yet, so this is just the sort a heads up so we can help you strengthen your faith and then you can pass it on to others for just a couple more days when you go to your website. LivingontheEdge.org you'll find the discounted CDs and the free MP3s. Don't forget to check out the companion tool that goes along with it. The Jesus unfiltered truth cards or set of 21 cards, one from each chapter of the book of John.

You know, the fact is, were constantly bombarded with lies, lies that come from within, from other people and from the culture.

These truth cards are designed to help you expose the lies your believing strengthen your mind and then remember the truth about God and about yourself. Shipping is free while supplies last. So order a set or two today. When you give us a call at 1-888-333-6003 or shop online at http://livingontheedge.org will now here's chip with his application. As we close today's program. If you or someone you know feels like they're in a really hopeless situation. I want to remind you of about two or three things and give you one very specific action item number one, you are valuable to God. He made you he loves you he created you he designed you, you may not like you, but he more than likes you. He really loves you. Number two. You are loved by God, I didn't say you felt it right now. But regardless of what you've done where you've been. He loves you. He historically has sent his son into the world to die, not just for the sins of the world, but to pay for your sins to open the door so they could have a relationship with you and third, you're not alone. He's available 24 seven. If you reach out if you're willing to be healed and I talked in the message there's a lot of people that what we want is what the results but were not really willing to be healed. God fix this as long as you you don't get to say that to God. You come broken hands up and you say Lord if you will just show me what to do all do whatever you ask of me, I want to be made whole and I will tell you this, people do that and so here's what I want you to do your actions, that is, I want you to talk to someone today about your sense of hopelessness someone that you know that is a Christian someone that you respect someone that walks with God. I want you to tell them this is how I feel because this is the first step to getting honest with God and honest with your need. As you cry out to God, he will show you what to do. Your great way to stay engaged and connected to chip in Living on the Edge is with the Chip Ingram map will get free access to all of Chip's recent messages whose message notes and much more. Not only that, but it couldn't be easier to call or email directly from the FX broadcaster continues a series Jesus unfiltered, so be sure to make plans to join us that for everyone here. This is Dave Gurley saying thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge