The Perfection of Christ’s Witness II Study Outline – Grace Bible Chapel John’s Gospel Study - John 5:30-47 (emphasis on 5:37-47) Sunday – March 22nd, 2009
CONTEXT: John as a personal witness is taking readers on a journey to show them the glory of Christ (John 1:14). In chapter 5, the glory of Christ will be purposely used to conflict with the misconstrued religious traditions of the Jews. Christ is always taking action for an exacting purpose. He heals a man paralytic for 38 years knowing this will provoke controversy with the religious leaders. Christ is accused by the religious leaders of violating Mosaic law by healing on the Sabbath, and making Himself equal with God (5:18). In the section 5:30-47, Christ makes irrefutable arguments setting forth His evidence as in a courtroom regarding His authority and identity as the Messiah. In the immediate verses (5:37-47), Christ makes the most scourging diagnosis of these religious Jews. He exposes them in the very things they pride themselves in: obedience to the Father, the Scriptures, their standing before God, and connection to Moses teaching. Christ first says they have denied the witness of the Father because they have no relationship with Him or love Him. He then exposes their faulty approach to the Scriptures, and how they supposedly scrutinize them, and miss the very object and theme - “Christ.” Christ goes on to explain they are more concerned about receiving glory from one another than from God. He closes the section disputing their claim of connectivity to Moses or his teaching, and proclaims that Moses accuses them before the Father.
Broad outline of the Gospel of John (underlined portion is the immediate context). I. The Prologue concerning Christ (1:1-18) II. The Presentation of Christ (1:19-51) Key Words (5:37 -47) III. The Power of Christ Demonstrated (2:1-4:54) • you (23) IV. The Paralytic Healing Stirs Controversy (5:1-18) • do not (8) V. The Perfection of Christ’s Authority (5:19-29) VI. The Perfection of Christ’s Witness (5:30-47) • believe (5) A. The correlation to the Father (5:30) • receive (4) B. The certainty of His witness (5:31-36) • glory (3) C. The challenge of the Father’s witness (5:37) D. The challenge of the Scripture’s witness (5:38- 47)
Introduction:
VI. The Perfection of Christ’s Witness (5:30-47) C. The challenge of the Father’s witness (5:37-38)
D. The challenge of the Scripture’s witness (5:39-47) 1. The Scriptures reprehensibly treated and neglected (5:39–40)
2. The seeking of glory from men rather than God (5:41-44)
3. The set hope on Moses is misplaced & unbelieving (5:45-47)
Conclusion / Application: