John 5:16-47
John - A Solid Identity
John 5:16-47
John 4:19-27
“Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honour the Son just as they honour the Father. Whoever does not honour the Son does not honour the Father, who sent him.
“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.
“Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honour the Son just as they honour the Father. Whoever does not honour the Son does not honour the Father, who sent him.
“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.
This week we’ve been looking at John 5:16 onwards. We find in these verses Jesus’ response to being challenged, persecuted, criticised for healing a man on the Sabbath. The Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day didn’t like what Jesus had done but also hated the fact Jesus was claiming His equality with God. They wanted to get rid of Him.
Jesus responds to these critics by reaffirming His identity as God’s Son and as God Himself. Jesus was so certain and sure of His identity. He was loved and perfectly one with God the Father, He carried all authority, He was entrusted to judge all of mankind, He was the one who gave both physical and spiritual life from the dead. He knew who He was. He was totally secure in His identity. And because He knew it, He lived it out day by day. Page after page of John’s gospel we see Jesus living out His identity in the world.
And as we become more and more sure of our newfound identity in Jesus, I believe we will live out that identity in our everyday lives more and more as well.
But here’s the thing; If you’re anything like me, you’ll find forgetfulness is the thing that trips you up. Remembering who you are and your identity in Jesus is the reason you find it hard to live in the good of it. This thing distracts us over here and we lose sight of what is true. This thing happens and we forget what God has said over us. That person says that thing about us which really cuts deep; Maybe that is who I really am? It’s so easy to do.
So, my hope for this week’s Devotion is that it can be a simple tool to prompt your memory each day of what your identity is in Jesus. So that you by remembering may live in the good of it and know the security it brings.
I would encourage you to write these four things down, make note of these four things on a piece of paper or your phone as we go so that you can come back to them and meditate on them throughout this week.
Jesus responds to these critics by reaffirming His identity as God’s Son and as God Himself. Jesus was so certain and sure of His identity. He was loved and perfectly one with God the Father, He carried all authority, He was entrusted to judge all of mankind, He was the one who gave both physical and spiritual life from the dead. He knew who He was. He was totally secure in His identity. And because He knew it, He lived it out day by day. Page after page of John’s gospel we see Jesus living out His identity in the world.
And as we become more and more sure of our newfound identity in Jesus, I believe we will live out that identity in our everyday lives more and more as well.
But here’s the thing; If you’re anything like me, you’ll find forgetfulness is the thing that trips you up. Remembering who you are and your identity in Jesus is the reason you find it hard to live in the good of it. This thing distracts us over here and we lose sight of what is true. This thing happens and we forget what God has said over us. That person says that thing about us which really cuts deep; Maybe that is who I really am? It’s so easy to do.
So, my hope for this week’s Devotion is that it can be a simple tool to prompt your memory each day of what your identity is in Jesus. So that you by remembering may live in the good of it and know the security it brings.
I would encourage you to write these four things down, make note of these four things on a piece of paper or your phone as we go so that you can come back to them and meditate on them throughout this week.
Apply
- You are loved by God in the same way Jesus is loved. Did you know that? You are God’s beloved child. He has placed all things into your hands. You are in the closest relationship with the father. Never to be pulled away from His loving embrace. Nothing can separate you from the love of God. You are united with Jesus.
- Your old life is dead and gone and you are united with Jesus in His resurrection. You have new life in Jesus. His life is our life. We have the life of God in us. But also, we can now bring life into dead places. Bring life to those who are cut off from God.
- In a miracle of God’s grace, you share in Jesus’ honour. From rebels to royalty. From objects of wrath to reigning together with Jesus. From lost and orphaned, to found and treasured children. To the child who has rejected the Father and done things our own way, to the child who has a ring placed on their finger and a robe draped over our shoulders.
- You share His authority. You can speak to sicknesses and to evil Spirits and take authority over them. We can speak as ambassadors of God’s eternal Kingdom wherever we go. You can pray and believe that your prayers are heard by God, the ruler of all things, and that He loves to answer your prayers. Your prayers carry the authority of heaven.
This is who you are, and surely remembering these truths will change the way we live. I hope this will be a helpful tool for you to keep coming back to this week.
Prayer
Father we thank you that we have a solid identity in Jesus. Thank you that we share in this glorious inheritance. We praise you that once we were so far away from you, but now through Jesus, we are your beloved children. Help us to remember our new identity each day.
Amen.
Amen.
This Everyday Devotions was written by Zac Guy, our Deacon for Worship & Digital Designer.
If you would like to listen to the whole of this week’s sermon on John 5:16-47 why not download the Everyday Church App or visit our website, YouTube Channel and at our Online Church Services.
This Everyday Devotions has also inspired a devotional video that you can watch on our YouTube Channel.
Follow our Everyday Devotions Playlist for some songs to help you worship God in Spirit and truth this week.
If you would like to listen to the whole of this week’s sermon on John 5:16-47 why not download the Everyday Church App or visit our website, YouTube Channel and at our Online Church Services.
This Everyday Devotions has also inspired a devotional video that you can watch on our YouTube Channel.
Follow our Everyday Devotions Playlist for some songs to help you worship God in Spirit and truth this week.