Religion Or Relationship

A miracle should have ended in joy, but John 5 opens with outrage. A man crippled for 38 years is finally walking, and the religious leaders can only see a rule being “broken” because he carries his bed on the Sabbath. That contrast exposes a danger that still hits home today: religion can become a substitute for relationship, and routine can dull our ability to recognize the living God at work right in front of us.

We slow down in John 5:10-47 and listen to Jesus make one of the clearest claims in all Scripture about who He is. He doesn’t present Himself as a helpful spiritual guide. He speaks as the Son who works in perfect unity with the Father, revealing God’s heart in real time. Then He takes the conversation even further: the Father entrusts Him with authority to give life and to judge. The One who heals is also Lord, and that truth becomes either our greatest hope or our most serious warning.

Jesus also lays out the evidence, offering multiple witnesses meant to move us from curiosity to conviction: John the Baptist, the miracles and works of Christ, the Father’s own testimony, and the Scriptures that point to Jesus from beginning to end. We end by facing the haunting line, “you will not come to me that you might have life,” and by asking what it looks like to read the Bible not just for knowledge, but to meet the God of the Word.

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Transcript

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Welcome And Passage Setup

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Welcome to Morning Manna, where we begin each day by feeding on the eternal word of God. Thank you for joining me as we continue our journey through the Gospel of John, Pastor Woody Posey. Today's scripture is John five, verses ten through forty-seven. After healing the man at the Pulithesda, Jesus faced strong opposition from the Jewish religious leaders. What follows is one of the clearest declarations in all the scripture concerning who Jesus is and why we should believe to in him.

Prayer For Open Hearts

SPEAKER_00 0:31

Let's begin with prayer. Heavenly Father, thank you for the privilege of studying your word today. Open our hearts and minds as we look at the testimony of your Son. Strengthen our faith, deepen our love for Christ, and help us to believe not only with our minds, but with our lives. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

When Legalism Misses The Miracle

SPEAKER_00 0:51

After the man was healed, the religious leaders didn't rejoice over a miracle. Instead, they criticized him for carrying his bed on the Sabbath. How tragic. A man who had been crippled for thirty eight years was walking, yet all they could see was a broken religious tradition. Religion without relationship with Christ can become cold and legalistic. It is possible to know the rules and completely miss the Savior. Jesus never came to abolish God's law, he came to fulfill it and reveal its true purpose. God desires hearts that love him, not merely lives that follow rituals.

Jesus Claims Equality With God

SPEAKER_00 1:31

When questioned, Jesus made an astonishing statement. He said, My Father worked hitherto and I worked. The Jewish leaders immediately understood what he meant. John tells us they sought even more to kill him because he was making himself equal with God. Jesus wasn't claiming to be just another prophet. He was declaring his divine nature. He explained that the Father and the Son worked together in perfect unity. Everything Jesus did reflected the heart and the will of the Father. If you've ever wondered what God is like, look at Jesus. His compassion, his holiness, his mercy, and his truth perfectly reveal the Father. Jesus went on to say that the Father had entrusted him with authority to give life and to execute judgment. That is an incredible claim. The one who healed the lame man is also the one who will one day judge the world. This reminds us that Jesus is not only our Savior, he is also our Lord. Every person will one day stand before him. For those who have trusted Christ, that is the day of great hope. For those who reject Him, it is a solemn warning. Today is a day to receive Him while His grace is freely offered.

Four Witnesses Point To Jesus

SPEAKER_00 2:50

Jesus then presents several witnesses that confirm his identity. First there was John the Baptist. John faithfully pointed people to Jesus and declared that he was a lamb of God. Second, there was the works of Jesus. His miracles were more than acts of compassion, they were signs proving that he was sent from the Father. The blind received sight, the lame walked, the sick were healed, only God could perform such works. Third, the Father Himself bore witness to the Son. Everything Jesus said and did revealed the Father's approval and purpose. Finally, the scriptures testified of him. Jesus told the religious leaders, search the scriptures. They are they which I which testify of me. They knew the scriptures, but they failed to recognize the one whom the scriptures pointed. The entire Bible points to Jesus Christ. From Genesis to Revelation, God's plan of redemption is centered in His Son.

Scripture Knowledge Without Surrender

SPEAKER_00 3:54

One of the saddest statements in the chapter is found in verse 40. And you will not come to me that you might have life. The problem wasn't a lack of knowledge, it was a lack of willingness. They studied the scriptures, they attended worship, they practiced religion, they refused to come to Christ. It is possible to know about Jesus without truly knowing him. Salvation is not found in religious activity. It is found in a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

How To Respond To Christ

SPEAKER_00 4:29

What does this passage teach us today? First, don't allow religion to replace a relationship with Christ. Christianity is more than attending church or following traditions. It is walking daily with Jesus. Second, trust the testimony God has provided. The prophets, John the Baptist, Christ's miracles, the Father, the Scriptures all declare that Jesus is the Son of God. Third, don't just read the Bible, look for Jesus in his pages. Every promise, every prophecy, and every scripture points us to him. Finally, respond to Christ. The greatest tragedy is not failing to hear the truth, it's hearing it and refusing to believe it. Jesus invites us to come to Him, receive eternal life, and follow Him each day.

Closing Prayer And Final Challenge

SPEAKER_00 5:20

Father, thank you for giving us so many witnesses that point to your Son. Thank you for the truth of your word and for the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. Help us never become so focused on religion that we lose sight of our relationship with you. May we love your word because it leads us to the Scripture, strengthen our faith, and help us boldly share the truth about Jesus with those around us. We ask these things in his precious name. Amen. Thank you for joining me for today's episode of Morning Manna. As you read your Bible today, remember the words of Jesus. Search the Scriptures. They are they which testify of me. Ask yourself, Am I simply reading God's Word or am I meeting with the God of the Word? Until next time, keep your heart fixed on Christ, keep growing in his word, and remember that every page of Scripture points us to Jesus. God bless you and have a wonderful day.