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Step into the scene where the religious leaders thought they were trying Jesus, and watch as he takes the judge’s seat and calls five witnesses that leave no doubt about his identity. We walk through John 5 with open eyes and open Bibles, tracing how the prophetic voice of John, the public power of Jesus’ works, the Father’s own testimony, the witness of Scripture, and Moses’ covenantal authority converge into a complete and compelling case. Along the way, we unpack how first-century Jewish courts worked, why multiple witnesses mattered, and how Jesus honors the very law he gave while exposing the deeper roots of unbelief.

What emerges is both piercing and hopeful. The problem isn’t that evidence is thin; it’s that hearts crave human glory more than God’s. Jesus names the motive behind resistance, then offers mercy. The Judge who can condemn is the Savior who calls: Come to me, that you may have life. We reflect on how Scripture functions as a signpost to Christ, why the Father’s witness sits at the center of the fivefold testimony, and how Moses’ writings anticipated the Messiah from the very beginning. This isn’t a distant legal drama; it’s a present summons to trust, to lay down our defenses, and to receive the righteousness we could never earn.

We close by looking ahead to John 6, where the same Jesus who judges with perfect righteousness provides with perfect compassion, feeding the hungry and keeping his people. If this journey deepened your understanding and stirred your faith, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review. Your support helps more people hear the gospel and find hope in Christ.

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Please visit www.chosenbydesign.net for more information on Pastor Harry’s new book, "Chosen By Design - God’s Purpose for Your Life."

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What if the miracle was only the opening act—and the real shock was what Jesus said next? We walk through John 5 as Jesus moves from healing to declaring divine authority, claiming unity with the Father and staking out two breathtaking prerogatives: to give life and to judge. This is not a teacher asking for a hearing but the eternal Son defining himself, inviting awe that matures into worship and assurance that steadies the soul.

Together we read John 5:19–29 and unpack why “the Son can do nothing of his own accord” signals perfect oneness, not weakness. We explore how the Father’s delight in the Son overflows into creation, why “the Son gives life to whom he will” reveals sovereign grace, and how eternal life is a present possession for those who hear and believe. We also press into the hard edge of glory: all judgment entrusted to the Son so that all may honor him, the spiritual resurrection that happens now through his voice, and the future resurrection to life or judgment that no one will escape.

If you’ve wondered whether salvation can be secure, this conversation anchors hope in the authority and faithfulness of Christ. If you’ve wrestled with the nature of judgment, it shows how justice and mercy magnify Jesus together. And if your heart needs worship more than more facts, John 5 leads you onto holy ground—where curiosity gives way to conviction and conviction becomes adoration.

Listen, share with someone who needs clarity and hope, and help us spread the word. If this message helped you, subscribe, leave a review, and tell us what part of John 5 reshaped your view of Jesus.

If The Takeaway has encouraged you, we’d love to hear how you found the podcast or how God is using it in your life. You can reach out anytime through the “Text Us” link in the episode description.

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Please visit www.chosenbydesign.net for more information on Pastor Harry’s new book, "Chosen By Design - God’s Purpose for Your Life."

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What if the very words of Jesus don’t just tell you what to do, but give you the power to do it? We step into John 5 and the crowded colonnades of Bethesda, where a man has waited thirty-eight years for change. Jesus sees him, knows him, and speaks a simple command that carries resurrection weight: “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” That moment moves beyond a healing story into a revelation of who Jesus is and how grace truly works.

Across John’s Gospel, a pattern emerges—command, revelation, grace, and glory. We connect “Follow me,” “Fill the jars,” “You must be born again,” and “Go, your son will live” to this scene, where Jesus directs grace toward the helpless rather than the seeking. The result is transformation that precedes understanding, exposing the limits of religious effort and the futility of waiting for the “water to stir.” Then the tension rises as the healing collides with Sabbath rules. Instead of worship, leaders deliver accusations, and Jesus answers with a claim that brings the real issue to light: “My Father is working, and I am working.” Authority, not mats or timetables, sits at the center—Jesus openly identifies as the Son who shares the Father’s work.

We also explore the second command, “Sin no more,” and why mercy is not leniency but power for holiness. Healing is the gift; holiness is the call; grace is the engine for both. Along the way we surface key themes for your walk with Christ: why divine commands expose inability and then supply ability, how worship grows when we see grace initiate, and what it means that the Son gives life to whom he will. This is a story about legs, yes, but even more about life—life spoken by the One who made the world and now makes the helpless stand.

If this message helped you take a step closer to Jesus, follow the show, share it with someone who needs hope, and leave a quick review so others can find it too. Your voice helps spread the good news of grace that still speaks today.

If The Takeaway has encouraged you, we’d love to hear how you found the podcast or how God is using it in your life. You can reach out anytime through the “Text Us” link in the episode description.

Support the show

Please visit www.chosenbydesign.net for more information on Pastor Harry’s new book, "Chosen By Design - God’s Purpose for Your Life."