QT 07/01/2026 Wed. John 5. Gospel Alive—Overcoming Rigid Legalism 活现福音——战胜僵化的律法主义

QT 07/01/2026 Wed. John 5. Gospel Alive—Overcoming Rigid Legalism
READ http://www.esv.org/john5

In the previous chapter Jesus says, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work,” (John 4:34) gives us profound insight into Jesus' mission and his devotion to fulfilling the Father’s plan. It highlights how deeply Jesus was committed to doing the will of God, which was central to His life and ministry. This idea of "food" as a metaphor for sustenance and purpose reflects Jesus' deep sense of fulfillment and focus on the divine mission rather than earthly desires.

(1) The Healing of the Lame (John 5:1-17)

In John 5, the healing of the man who had been lame for 38 years at the Pool of Bethesda is a powerful example of Jesus acting in obedience to the will of His Father. In this story, Jesus doesn’t merely heal a man in need, He does so on the Sabbath, which was a controversial action that led to a confrontation with the religious leaders (John 5:9-16).

However, Jesus’ healing was not merely an act of kindness or compassion—it was a manifestation of God’s authority and will. Jesus explains that His actions are not His own but come from the authority given to Him by the Father (John 5:19-20). By performing the healing on the Sabbath, He is also showing that the Sabbath was made for man’s good, not for rigid legalism. Jesus is teaching that God’s work of redemption, mercy, and restoration takes priority over human traditions.

(2) Authority Given to Jesus (John 5:19-29)

In John 5:19-29, Jesus declares His relationship with the Father and His role in carrying out God's work of salvation. This passage is critical because it explains why Jesus has the authority to heal, forgive sins, and offer eternal life:

Verse 19: Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing.” This statement underscores the deep unity and relationship between the Father and the Son. Jesus’ will is perfectly aligned with God’s will, and His work is a continuation of what the Father is doing.

Verse 21: “For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.” Jesus is asserting that He has the power to give eternal life, just as the Father does. This is a divine prerogative and shows the unique authority of Jesus.

Verse 24: “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life.” This emphasizes the essential connection between hearing the word of Jesus, believing in the Father who sent Him, and receiving eternal life.

Verses 28-29: Jesus also speaks of the future resurrection of the dead, where all will be judged. Those who have done good will rise to eternal life, and those who have done evil to eternal condemnation. This points to the ultimate work of Jesus in bringing about God’s redemptive plan through His life, death, and resurrection.

(3) Jesus Doing the Father’s Will (John 5:37)

In John 5:37, Jesus says, “And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen,” reinforcing that His actions, including the healing of the lame man, are a direct reflection of the Father's will. The Father testifies through the works that Jesus does and through the Scriptures that point to Jesus as the Messiah. Everything Jesus does—whether it’s healing on the Sabbath, teaching, or offering eternal life—flows from His submission to the Father’s will.

REFLECTION

(a) Are we committed to doing the will of God as Jesus was? Just as Jesus found His sustenance in doing the will of the Father, we, too, are called to find our purpose in fulfilling God's plan. This doesn’t just mean attending church or doing good deeds, but actively seeking to be in line with God’s will in all things—whether it’s in our work, relationships, or daily choices.

(b) The healing of the lame man reminds us that Jesus, by His authority, came to bring healing, restoration, and eternal life. As followers of Jesus, we are invited to participate in that work—sharing the message of salvation, loving others, and seeking to do God's will in all things.

(c) In John 5, Jesus exemplifies what it means to be completely devoted to the Father’s will, even in the face of opposition. His actions in this passage serve as a model for us—doing God's work, no matter the cost, because it is ultimately our true "food" and our deepest fulfillment. May the gospel be alive in all our actions!

QT 07/01/2026 星期三. 约翰福音5 活现福音——战胜僵化的律法主义
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/jhn/5/

前章中耶稣说：“耶稣说：“我的食物就是遵行差我来者的旨意，并且完成他的工作。”（约翰福音4:34），这句宣告深刻揭示了耶稣使命的核心——祂全然献身于成就天父的计划。这彰显了耶稣对遵行神旨意的坚定承诺，这旨意贯穿祂生命的始终，成为祂事工的基石。“食物”作为滋养与使命的隐喻，折射出耶稣超越世俗欲望的满足感，彰显祂对神圣使命的专注。

(1) 治愈瘫子（约翰福音5:1-17）

约翰福音第五章记载的伯大尼池边治愈瘫痪三十八年的事件，生动展现了耶稣遵行天父旨意的作为。耶稣不仅医治了这名病患，更在安息日施行医治——这一争议性举动引发了与宗教领袖的冲突（约翰福音5:9-16）。

然而耶稣的医治不仅是仁慈之举，更是神权柄与旨意的彰显。耶稣阐明自己的作为并非出于己意，而是源于父所赋予的权柄（约翰福音5:19-20）。通过安息日治病，祂同时昭示安息日是为人的益处设立，而非僵化的律法主义。耶稣在此教导：神的救赎、怜悯与复兴之工，优先于人的传统。

(2) 耶稣所受的权柄（约翰福音5:19-29）

在约翰福音5:19-29中，耶稣宣告了祂与天父的关系，以及祂在施行神救赎工作中的角色。这段经文至关重要，因为它阐明了耶稣为何拥有医治、赦罪并赐予永生的权柄：

第19节：耶稣又对他们说：“我实实在在告诉你们，子靠着自己不能作什么，只能作他看见父所作的；因为父所作的事，子也照样作。”  这声明彰显了父与子之间深刻的合一与关系。耶稣的意志与神的旨意完全契合，祂的工作正是父所行之事的延续。

第21节：“父怎样叫死人复活，使他们得生命，子也照样随自己的意思使人得生命。” 耶稣宣告自己拥有与父神同等的赐永生权柄，这属神特权彰显了祂独特的权威。

第24节：“我实实在在告诉你们，那听见我的话又信那差我来的，就有永生，不被定罪，而是已经出死入生了。” 这强调了听耶稣的话、信差他来的父、得永生之间不可分割的关联。

第28-29节：耶稣预言未来死人复活的审判之日，行善者复活得永生，作恶者复活受永刑。这预示耶稣通过生、死、复活成就神救赎计划的终极使命。

(3) 耶稣遵行父的旨意（约翰福音5:37）

在约翰福音5:37中，耶稣说：“差我来的父亲自为我作了见证。他的声音，你们从没有听过；他的容貌，你们从没有见过。” 父神通过耶稣所行的神迹，以及预言耶稣是弥赛亚的经文作见证。耶稣的一切作为——无论是安息日医治、传道教导，还是赐予永生——都源于祂对父旨意的顺服。

反思

(a) 我们是否像耶稣那样致力于遵行神的旨意？正如耶稣在成就父旨意中得着滋养，我们同样蒙召在成就神计划中寻得生命意义。这不仅指参加教会或行善事，更要求我们在工作、人际关系及日常抉择中，凡事主动寻求与神旨意对齐。

(b) 治愈瘸子的神迹提醒我们：耶稣凭着权柄带来医治、复兴与永生。作为跟随者，我们被邀请参与这使命——传扬救恩信息、实践爱人如己、在万事上寻求遵行神旨。

(c) 在约翰福音第五章，耶稣以身作则展现了全然顺服天父旨意的真谛，即便面对反对亦不退缩。本段经文中的行动为我们树立典范——无论代价如何，都要行上帝的事工，因这终究是我们的使命。