With this posting we will pick up on John chapter 5, which Jesus alluded to in verse 35 of chapter 4, and its Feast of Tabernacles or as sometimes known by "the Feast of Ingathering (this takes place towards the end of the year)." Though some believe it means Weeks, Pentecost, Shavout, as these are the three main festivals in which man rests from his labors to worship GOD. Of these, which one comes after, by some fifty days. In the Greek the word Pentecost means "fiftieth day." Also known as "Shavout," the Feast of Weeks (Exodus 34:22; Deuteronomy 16:9-11) and the Feast of Harvest (sometimes called Festival of Weeks, Exodus 23:14, 16) of the Day of the First Harvest (Numbers 28:26). As for me and my household this is all so confusing to say the least. Could this day be for the paschal (OT, H4480, H7716, of Exodus 12, or the NT meaning lamb, ewe or being out from, G3957 and G4262 from G4263 with the base of G4260 from G939 and G4253 meaning to walk before.) lamb or ewe of the Exodus 12?
What if any spiritual significance is there within these feasts? Remember the show bread? These were two loaves of unleavened bread made of barley loaves and of no other flower or leveling yeast. Because they represented the Messiah and Israel as the first fruits. Then comes Jesus - Yahshua, the first-fruits, of mankind by His resurrection to the eternal form. Then seven weeks (fifty days) later, the Harvest, where two loaves of mixed grains and mixed with yeast were used as an offering of first-fruits, of both Hebrews and Gentiles being a joined people, the people of Yahweh. Even my Jewish Bible, I call it Jewish because it was written by a Jewish Rabbi and it has that slant within its text, but still it does not mention this. As he like so many lost souls (choosing ignorance over Grace and Truth) of the Jews are still looking for their Messiah. Now for chapter 5 of John's synoptic gospel.
John 5:1, 2-18 "After this there was a feast (*this is in debate as to which festival is referred to, as it was hinted to in verse 35 of John 4) of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, 'Wilt thou be made whole?' The impotent man answered him, "Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me." Jesus saith unto him, 'Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.' And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, "It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed." He answered them, "He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?" And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place. Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, 'Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.' (note: Jesus did not require repentance) The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. But Jesus answered them, 'My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.' Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God." (KJV)
John 5:1, 2-18 "After this there was a feast (* the same note here) of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, 'Do you want to be healed?' The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me." Jesus said to him, 'Get up, take up your bed, and walk.' (Jesus did not require his to repent of sin[s]) And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, "It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed." But he answered them, "The man who healed me, that man said to me, 'Take up your bed, and walk.'" They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, 'Take up your bed and walk?'" Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, 'See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.' The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, 'My Father is working until now, and I am working.' This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God." (ESV)
John 5:1, 2-18 "After these events there was another feast of the Jews in Jerusalem. Jesus determined to there. (Pentecost - 50 days after, wrongly shows Easter, a paganism. Because of what many translations show in Acts 12:4)
At the Sheep-gate (see my note on the paschal lamb above) in Jerusalem there was a pool called Bethesda; in Hebrew it means home of grace and kindness - it had five porches. (Nehemiah 3:1, the sheep gate would lead to the market where sheep would be sold for sacrifices - no wonder Jesus was attracted to go there - fifty days ago he was there whip in hand driving out the traders from the temple! [John 2:15] The pool of water reminds of the baptism theme so relevant in John's gospel. Multitudes are still waiting at the religious pools of mercy and kindness for some unpredictable, unmerited sign of favor to come their way! Sitting in the shade of their ideas of the 5 porches [or five-steps to receive blessings from GOD - ministries] waiting for another "flutter" or "move" of GOD! Jesus is not just another "move" of GOD! He is the Father made manifest in our human flesh, skin! He has come to awaken us out of our slumber!) Many ailing people were lying in the shade of these porches; blind, cripple and withered, waiting for the stirring of the water. An Shepherd-Messenger would go down into the pool occasionally to stir the water; the first person to then enter the pool would be healed of whatever it was they were suffering from. There was also a man who had an infirmity for thirty eight years. Jesus saw this man and realized he had been there for a very long time; he asked him, 'Do you [1, G2309 from G138] really desire to be made well?' (Theleis from thelo - to resolve, desire - not merely, do you wish, but are you in earnest?) The man answered him, "Sir, I have no one to help me get into the pool when the water is stirred; by the time I get there someone else has already gotten there before me!" Jesus said to him, '[1 G1453, with the base of G58] Awaken! Arise and pick up your bed and walk!' ([1] egeiro - to awaken from sleep.) And at once the man became whole and picked up his bed and began to walk! Now this was on the Sabbath day. The Jews were immediately offended and rebuked the for picking up his bed on a day where no work was allowed according to their law! (Grace offends the legalistic mindset, see also Romans 3:27) He answered them, "The man who healed me told me to pick up my bed and walk!" They were very keen to know who this man was. But the man didn't know who it was who healed him since Jesus already left unnoticed and there were throngs of people around. Then a little later Jesus found him in the synagogue and said, '[1]See! You have become whole! Do not continue in your old [2]distorted mindset then nothing worse can happen to you!' (It is important to [1]see your wholeness and not your distortedness! You reflect what you behold. To see yourself through GOD's eyes is the way to escape the distortion of contradiction! The word [1] ide from horao means to see, to discern, to perceive. The word translated sin, is the word [1] hamartia, from ha, negative and meros, portion or form, thus to be without your allotted portion or without form, pointing to a disorientated, distorted identity; the word merso, is the stem of morphe, as in 2Corinthians 3:18, the word metamorphe, with form, is the opposite of hamartia - without form. Sin is to live out of context with the original blueprint of one's design; to behave out of tune with GOD's original harmony. Hamartia suggests anything that could possibly distract from the awareness of ur likeness. See Deuteronomy 32:18, "You have forgotten the Rock that begot you and have gotten out of step with the God who danced with you!" Hebrew, khul or kheel, to dance. Many commentators have used this verse to conclude that GOD punishes people's sin with sickness! This is not the case, with the Father whom Jesus reveals! a few verses later [v22] Jesus emphatically declares that the Father judges no-one! The religious mind has for so long connected GOD's judgment with disease and sickness! Jesus introduces us to the GOD who would rather become our distortions and diseases on the cross and go into our darkness and hell to deliver us from its claim, than to send sickness to us and send us to hell! In John 9:2 the followers of Jesus ask, "Rabbi, who sinned: this man or his parents, causing him to be born blind?" And Jesus answered, 'You're asking the wrong question. You're looking for someone to blame. Neither this man nor his parents were guilty! Then Knox translates the next sentence to read, "it was so that GOD's action might declare itself in him!" This has nothing to do with judgment! See also 9:34 for the typical opinion of the Pharisees! "You were born in utter sin - now you try to teach us!" Nothing makes a Pharisee see red more nervous than when their sin - and judgment gets taken out of the equation!) The man left and told the Jews that it was Jesus who healed him. (Don't go testify in the wrong time to the wrong audience! Thar would be like casting pearls before swine!) Unwittingly, this man's testimony confirmed their suspicion and gave the JEWS exactly what they wanted, a trigger to launch their persecution of Jesus! they were furious and immediately began to make plans to murder him! Their interpretation of a "Holy Day" was deeply offended! (Reminds of many sincere Sabbath - keepers today!) Jesus replied, 'My Father is working [1]until [2]now, and so am I!' (This is not what the Jews wanted to hear! But Jesus is speaking about a different Sabbath! Just like John reminds us in chapter 2 that he had a different temple in mind; one that he would rebuild in 3 days! And in the next chapter with Nicodemus he points to a different birth; not his mother's womb, but our joint-genesis from above! Then the Samaritan woman in chapter 4 discovers a different well; one that bursts forth from within! So here in chapter 5 Jesus sees a different Sabbath to Jewish sentiment! The Sabbath of GOD points to his perfect work of both revealing and redeeming his image and likeness in human form. every Sabbath continues to celebrate the perfection of ur Father's work - [1] until [2] now! So when Jesus heals people on the sabbath he is not contradicting it, but endorsing it! Jesus is what the Sabbath is all about! He is the substance of every prophetic shadow! In restoring someones wholeness, the idea of the original Sabbath is reinforced and not compromised! When GOD introduced the Sabbath it was always to be a prophetic opportunity to celebrate his rest, which was him seeing his perfect work unveiled in us! He continues to invite us to enter his Rest where we cease from our own works! The announcement, "You shall do NO WORK!" was to remind us again that his work is perfect, and we cannot improve on it! You cannot improve on you! You are his workmanship - his masterpiece! The deadly fruit of the "I am not Tree - system" had to be thoroughly uprooted! Hebrews 4:4 Scripture records the seventh day to be the prophetic celebration of GOD's perfect work. What GOD saw satisfied (Genesis 1:26-27, 2:31-2:3) his scrutiny. (Behold, it is very good, and GOD rested from all his work. GOD saw more than his perfect image in man, Adam, he also saw the Lamb and his perfect work of redemption! "The Lamb having been slain from the foundation of the world." [Rev. 13:8] "That which has been is now; that which is to be, already has been." [Ecc. 3:15] Also 2Tim. 1:9) Hebrews 4:10 "GOD's rest celebrates his finished work; whoever enters into GOD's rest immediately abandons his own efforts to compliment what GOD has already perfected. (The language of the Mosaic Law is "do;" while the language of grace is "done.")
Faith is GOD's language; GOD calls things which are not (visible yet) as though they are.
The word[1]heous is a conjunction linking GOD's work and intent in synchrony with the word [2] arti, which already suggests a continuation of a moment "until now!"
This was fuel for the fire of Jewish zeal in their determination to execute Jesus! Not only did he break their Sabbath, but now he has gone beyond all extremes! He calls GOD his own Father - who does he think he is - GOD's equal?"
The LORD willing we shall continue in our next post with Jesus' Equality with GOD or the Authority of the Son.
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