"THE GOSPEL OF JOHN"

All Should Honor The Son (5:16-30)

INTRODUCTION
  1. The ministry of Jesus was not without controversy...
    1. One reason was because He healed on the Sabbath - Jn 5:16
    2. Another reason was because He made Himself equal with God - Jn 5:17-18
    -- Prompting the Jews to seek to kill Him
  2. Yet He they sought to kill, they should have honored - Jn 5:22-23
    1. Even as one should honor the Father
    2. For failing to honor the Son, they did not honor the Father who sent Him
    -- Indeed, all should honor the Son!

[Do we honor the Son today? Truly honor the Son? We certainly should, and in our text we note several reasons why Jesus should be held high in our estimation of Him...]

  1. WHY WE SHOULD HONOR THE SON
    1. THE SON WILL RAISE THE DEAD...
      1. Among the "greater works" Jesus would do included raising the dead! - Jn 5:20-21
      2. We have record of Jesus raising three people from the dead
        1. The daughter of Jairus - Mk 5:21-43
        2. The son of the widow of Nain - Lk 7:11-17
        3. The brother of Mary and Martha, Lazarus - Jn 11:1-44
      3. One day, Jesus will raise all from the dead! - Jn 5:28-29
        1. Those who have done good, to the resurrection of life
        2. Those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation
        -- Just as in Adam all die, so in Christ all shall be made alive! - cf. 1Co 15:22
    2. THE SON WILL JUDGE THE WORLD...
      1. The Father has committed judgment to His Son - Jn 5:22
        1. Jesus has authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man - Jn 5:27
        2. Jesus will exercise righteous judgment, because He seeks the Father's will - Jn 5:30
      2. One day, Jesus will judge all mankind! - cf. Ac 10:42; 17:31
        1. His words will judge us in the Last Day - Jn 12:48
        2. We will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ - Ro 14:10; 2Co 5:10
        -- Knowing we will one day stand before the Judge, should we not honor Him now?
    3. THE SON OFFERS EVERLASTING LIFE...
      1. To those who hear His Words, and believes in the Father who sent Him - Jn 5:24
        1. They shall not come into judgment (i.e., condemnation)
        2. They shall pass from death (spiritual) to life (eternal)
      2. The time for this offer is now ("the hour is coming, and now is") - Jn 5:25
        1. When those who are dead (spiritually) will hear the voice of the Son of God (via the gospel)
        2. Those who hear (obey) will live (be saved)
      3. The Son has power to give life - Jn 5:26
        1. Because the Father has life in Himself
        2. And the Father has granted the Son to have life in Himself
        -- That Jesus offers the gift of everlasting life is certainly reason to honor Him!

      [Many other reasons to honor the Son could be given, but these certainly suffice. How should we honor Him? From our text, we can glean at least three ways...]

  2. HOW WE SHOULD HONOR THE SON
    1. BY HEARING HIS VOICE NOW...
      1. One day, we will hear His voice - cf. Jn 5:28-29
        1. Whether alive or dead
        2. Whether we want to or not
        3. Either to a resurrection of life, or to a resurrection of condemnation
      2. How much better that day will be, if we hear His voice now - cf. Jn 5:24-25
        1. We can have everlasting life!
        2. We will not come into judgment (condemnation)!
        3. We can pass from death to life!
        -- Will we honor the Son by listening to His words of life?
    2. BY OBEYING HIS VOICE NOW...
      1. It is not enough to simply "hear" His Words
        1. We must be "doers" of His Words - Mt 7:24-27
        2. Otherwise, why bother to call Him "Lord"? - Lk 6:46
        3. Only by abiding in His word are we truly His disciples - Jn 8:31
      2. Jesus is the author of eternal salvation to all obey Him - cf. He 5:9
        1. Obeying His call to believe in Him - Jn 8:24
        2. Obeying His call to repent of sins - Lk 13:3
        3. Obeying His call to confess Him before others - Mt 10:32-33
        4. Obeying His call to be baptized - Mt 28:19; Mk 16:16
        5. Obeying His call to remain faithful - Re 2:10
        -- Will we honor the Son by heeding His voice now, today?
    3. BY SEEKING THE FATHER'S WILL NOW...
      1. Jesus sought His Father's will in all that He did - Jn 5:30
        1. His "food" was to do the Father's will - Jn 4:34
        2. He came down from heaven to do the Father's will - Jn 6:38
        3. He glorified the Father by doing the work He was given to do - Jn 17:4
      2. Jesus wants us to do His Father's will
        1. Otherwise we will not enter the kingdom of heaven - Mt 7:21-23
        2. Otherwise we will not be part of His family - Mt 12:46-50
        -- We can best honor the Son by emulating His example in doing the Father's will!
CONCLUSION
  1. All should honor the Son today...
    1. He is certainly worthy of honor - cf. Re 5:12
    2. Just as the Father (He who sits on the throne) is worthy - cf. Re 5:13
  2. All will honor the Son one day...
    1. By responding to His voice at the resurrection - Jn 5:28-29
    2. Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess - Ro 14:10-11; Php 2:9-11

For those willing to honor Him today by heeding His voice, they will be honored together with Him in That Day! - cf. 2Th 1:10-12