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Episode Notes:
Today, we are addressing the question: "If we have the truth and can demonstrate that Christianity is true, why don't more people recognize this truth and come to trust in Jesus Christ as their Saviour?"
Despite the compelling evidence and testimonies, the majority of people in the world do not trust Jesus Christ as their Saviour nor recognize Him as the solution to life's biggest challenges. This was true during Jesus' earthly ministry and remains true today. Why is that? The Bible provides insight into this in John chapter 5.
The first major section of the book (John 1:19 - 2:11) details the call and confirmation of His disciples. Then, from John 2:12 to chapter 12, we read about Jesus' public ministry, filled with preaching, miracles, and personal interactions where many believed in Him. However, chapter 5 marks the first explicit case of unbelief, revealing why many still do not believe in Jesus today.
Demonstration of Divine Power. (John 5:1-9)
Jesus visits Jerusalem during a Jewish festival, likely Purim, at the pool of Bethesda. This pool, surrounded by five covered colonnades, was where many sick and disabled people gathered, hoping for healing. It was believed that at certain times an angel stirred the water, and the first person to enter the pool would be healed.
Among the sick was a man who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. Jesus asked him, "Do you want to get well?" The man explained his plight—he had no one to help him into the pool when the water was stirred. Jesus responded, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." The man was immediately cured, picked up his mat, and walked.
This miracle is a clear demonstration of Jesus' divine power. It underscores that Jesus is not just a healer but the Son of God, capable of performing miracles that reveal His deity.
Dispute and Unbelief. (John 5:10-18)
The Jewish leaders were more concerned with the healed man breaking Sabbath law by carrying his mat than with the miracle itself. When they confronted him, he explained that the man who healed him instructed him to do so. Eventually, the healed man identified Jesus as his healer.
The Jewish leaders' response was to persecute Jesus for healing on the Sabbath, revealing their focus on legalistic traditions rather than recognizing the divine act performed. Jesus defended Himself by stating, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working," equating Himself with God. This incited the leaders further, leading them to plot His death.
Conclusion
This passage highlights two critical reasons why many do not believe in Jesus. First, there is often a focus on legalism and tradition over recognizing the divine. Second, there is a fundamental resistance to accepting Jesus' claims of deity, as it challenges existing beliefs and authority.
In our next session, we will delve into the extended discourse Jesus gives in John 5:19-47, where He makes significant claims about His identity and provides proof for those claims. Through this, we will gain deeper insight into the reasons behind unbelief and the truth of who Jesus is.
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