John 5:17-23, Isaiah 9:6, John 1:14, John 20:28, Romans 9:5, Hebrews 1:8, Matthew 28:18, Colossians 2:3, Luke 4:16-30

Summary: Shortly after Jesus healed the crippled man at the pool of Bethsaida (John 5:1-15), He was confronted by the religious officials who wanted Him dead for saying that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. Jesus responded with facts to back up His claim.

If there was an apt description of the attitude of the Pharisees towards the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 5:18), it is this: “There are none so blind as those who will not see.” All throughout this account of the Lord’s life and work and in the other Gospels as well, it is clear to see that when anyone encountered Jesus, they could not remain neutral about Him. People either loved or loathed Him, and the same unfortunate attitude prevails today. No other figure of religion, faith, or belief has brought upon this world the reactions, riots, and revivals we have witnessed throughout history as did Jesus Christ.

The name of Jesus Christ is forbidden in almost every country in terms of public expression and exaltation. Even some so-called “churches” have downplayed His divinity, miracles, and ability to transform even the most depraved of lives. After nearly fifty years of following Him and the near apoplectic reactions He receives from an ever-increasing depraved and reprobate world, all I can say is that He is right and the other religions and philosophies are wrong, especially in terms of where we will spend a very real eternity.

One of the first public reactions to the work of the Lord Jesus appears in Luke 4:16-30, where He read from the prophet Isaiah, specifically the verses which described the work of the Promised Messiah of Israel (Isaiah 61:1-2). This reading took place in His hometown of Nazareth, where everyone knew Him and was at first impressed by His reading, which was done with reverence and authority. Then He hit them with the bombshell that those verses had been fulfilled that day, namely that He was the One of whom the prophet referred.

He went on to tell them that the compassion of God extended beyond Israel. This was a declaration to the Jews that God’s work of salvation and mercy was not confined to them exclusively but would come upon all who called upon Him. Needless to say, that did not go over well as the crowd attempted to throw Him over the nearby cliff for what they interpreted as blasphemy.

Jesus did not return to Nazareth but went on to accomplish His mission, not to make people happy or content in their ideas of how to approach God or that their works would suffice in order to enter into glory at the end of life. He would preach the truth that our works towards God are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) and that we are unable in our own power to reconcile with God, nor do we wish to do so because we love our sin and are in a state of perpetual rebellion towards God and His standards (Romans 3:10-18, 23). We are His enemies and remain so unless He transforms us and draws us to Him (John 6:44; Romans 5:6-11).

People cannot stand the fact that salvation is of the Lord alone, and we play no part save to humble ourselves and give Him thanks and worship for the mercy and grace we do not deserve (John 14:6; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 5:8; Acts 4:12; 1 Corinthians 1:18). The words of Jesus in John 5:18-23 show that inconvenient truth to the Pharisees and all who witnessed this encounter.

Jesus told His accusers that He did not do anything apart from what God the Father directed Him to do (v.19). All of His work was based on the Word of God and the attributes of God. He was not a rogue, self-appointed “Messiah” who took it upon Himself to decide what was right and wrong in terms of following God’s laws and decrees. He was totally obedient and subservient to the will of the Father in all things. As God the Son, He worked in harmony with the Father in the power of the Holy Spirit. All three worked as One in the mission of providing redemption and salvation to His fallen people and ultimate restoration to fallen creation (Romans 8:20-23; 1John 5:6-8; Revelation 21:1-7).

He went on to teach of the love and great works the Father had bestowed upon His Son and that the Father had given all authority to the Son to impose judgment upon those who would not believe (vv.20-21). By this act of Sovereign decree, God the Father was not to be obeyed and worshipped alone, but that honor, glory, and worship would go to the Son as well (vv.22-23). Without recognizing the Divine mission, person, and purpose of the Son, no one has true access to God the Father. If you ignore or reject Jesus Christ as Lord, you have no relationship with God the Father, no matter how many religious observations or practices you might muster or follow. He made it as plain as He could that eternal life, peace of mind, and forgiveness of sins are only possible through Him.

The teachings and mission of Jesus Christ have not changed, nor have they been compromised and tailored to fit the ideas and ideologies of the world with its corrupt conceptions and objections. The Sovereign God and His Words bow to no one, nor will they ever accommodate or bring comfort to those who feel that God’s standards are too “narrow” or “not with the thinking and times of today,” or other inept excuses we want to throw at Him. As a minister of the Gospel, I will not water down His absolute standards in order to make you feel better as you continue to wallow in the cesspool of your iniquities and be content in some false hope that all is well between you and Him (2 Timoty 4:1-4) apart from the only hope of peace, rescue, and freedom He provides.

If you will but swallow your pride, abdicate the kingdom of “self” and come to Him in repentance, asking Him to save you and make you truly one of His own, He will receive you and never let you go (Psalm 103:11-12; Matthew 11:28-30; John 10:28-30). Too many people have read of and heard of the saving grace provided by Jesus Christ and have walked away from it, as did many of the Pharisees and His own people. Please don’t go down that destructive path. Receive the love the Son of God provides you this day.

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Donald was born and reared in the authentic “Cajun Country” of southern Louisiana. He is a graduate of Louisiana College (B.A. in History Education/ Biblical Studies, 1984), New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div. In Christian Education, 1994), and Andersonville Baptist Seminary (Doctor of Ministry, Biblical Exposition, 2000). He has been in the Gospel ministry since 1986, serving as an evangelist, interim and supply pastor, hospital and rescue mission chaplain, high school and college teacher, and pastor in churches in Louisiana and Oklahoma.

In 2018 he began to devote his time to the rich field of internet and social media evangelism and outreach. In 2021 he became a member of the Oklahoma Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists, using his skills as a writer to contribute articles and sermons to websites such as Rapture Ready, Sermon Central, and Inspirational Christian Blogs. He also writes Bible studies and curricula for churches in southeast and central Asia and Africa, the locations of which are anonymous. He can be contacted at: donaldwhitchard@gmail.com for inquiries, information, and speaking/preaching engagements. His website is: www.realitycityreverend.com . A copy of his resume is also available upon request.

When our Heavenly Father created the Heavens and the Earth, it was intended to be a paradise that would last forever. Everything was made with the purpose of adding to the beauty of His creation, and for a time, there was peace and harmony here. When God created man and woman, He put them in a beautiful setting – The Garden of Eden – where all nature dwelled in a serene, tranquil land. God only made one stipulation, and that was to stay away from one tree. Everything else was there for their use except for that one tree. (ESV all emphasis mine)

We know the story in Genesis 3, where Lucifer appeared to Eve in the form of a serpent. He convinced Eve that there was nothing wrong with eating from the fruit of that tree. His “Did God Really Say?” statement resonates through this world even today. It’s just as effective now as it was then, and he knows what enticements to use. People are still falling for his temptations and are ignoring what is obviously taking place. He convinces many that God’s word is foolish and all should live for the here and now. His followers are in the open as never before.

The splendor of God’s creation is overlooked by a vast majority of people. Those who are on that broad path leading to destruction far outnumber those on that straight and narrow path leading to eternal life. It’s exactly as Jesus said it would be in Matthew 7:13-14 about 2,000 years ago.

For anyone to benefit from God’s word, there first has to be belief that He is real, and the words of the Bible are absolute truth. Satan and his antichrists and false prophets are turning people away from the truth just as Jesus, Paul, Peter, John and others prophesied. The crescendo of events is gaining momentum, and end-time prophecy is right on schedule. This world as we know it is about to go through a major change.

Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 1:18-19 is absolutely accurate today. “For the word of the Cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and of the discernment of the discerned I will thwart.'”

For a true believer that has received and accepted the gift offered by our Savior, we see all the ugliness of the evil that is gaining ground all around us. At the same time, we are aware that these events must take place before we will be caught up to meet our Jesus in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53). That brings on a hope that the unsaved just can’t comprehend. The new world order is preparing for the appearance of their leader, while we are preparing to be in the presence of our Beloved Great Shepherd. The world calls us “haters” because we won’t indulge in their abominations. We are commanded to love everyone, but we do not have to accept their evil lifestyles.

Since the time I called out to Jesus to forgive and save me about 35 years ago, there are moments when I just take a break and enjoy what the Father has given us. There is a poem by Joyce Kilmer that I had heard the opening line to many times, but it never really made sense to me until just recently.

“I think that I shall never see, a poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest, against the earth’s sweet flowing breast.
A tree that looks at God all day, and lifts her leafy arms to pray.
A tree that in summer may wear, a nest of robins in her hair.
Upon whose bosom snow has lain, who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me;
But only God can make a tree.”

Only God can make things that we take for granted, yet the beauty is there if we would only look. A song performed by Jim Reeves on YouTube goes a long way to give this even greater meaning. It’s called “The Flowers, The Sunset, The Trees.”

1.) Each time I touch a rose petal and breathe the sweet fragrance it brings, I know there’s a God up in Heaven; no human could create these things.

2.) The dogwoods, the oak, and the willow so gracefully wave in the breeze. The dogwood I’ll always remember; my Lord died upon one of these.

3.) The sunset in its golden splendor; such colors no artist can do. I know when I look on its beauty, each page of the Bible is true.

4.) No picture or painting can capture the beauty of any of these. The handiwork of God is revealed in the Flowers, the Sunset, the Trees.

Things today have taken on a new meaning when I think of all our Father has done for us and for me personally. A beautiful sunrise or sunset gives me a longing to be in our forever home where His beauty will be all around us always. I’ve said before that if we could have just a glimpse of Heaven as Paul and John did, I don’t think we could tolerate another minute here.

This also gives me a yearning to get His word out, as Jesus said for us to do in the Great Commission. As Paul said, many may look at this as folly, but if only one soul seeks out Jesus, it will be worthwhile.

There is nothing of this earth that is worth losing even one minute of time in glory for. Sadly, there are those who are putting all their faith and trust in the so-called riches of this world. They have not even begun to consider the fate of their eternal souls. If a person were to live even to 120 years, that time isn’t even a blink of an eye compared to forever.

Though we may not be able to comprehend how long eternity is, we should be able to decide that we would rather be in the true light of paradise than total darkness of hell. Also, we should know it’s totally our individual choice as to which one we will eventually go to. No matter what Satan and his demons say, there are no other options.

Romans 10:9-13 gives the simple but very important steps to eternal Salvation. Admit, or confess, that we are all sinners in need of a Savior because we cannot save ourselves. Believe Jesus is that Savior, and no other path exists except through Him. Call out to the Lord and be saved.

God’s word is pure and true as He cannot lie (Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18). There are false prophets even in some previously Bible-based churches that are saying there are many ways to Heaven and one can get there without Jesus.

John 14:6; Acts 2:21; Acts 4:12; John 3:18 and 1 John 5:12 all say that Jesus is the only way; and to have the Father, one must have received and accepted His Son Jesus. My faith and trust is in the one true Greatest Artist of all rather than a fallen angel who only exists to deceive and destroy.

Satan tries to imitate but falls short for those who have the Holy Spirit within them. Yes, as humans, we will sin and fall short as long as we are in these mortal bodies. The Father knows this and makes allowances for our forgiveness when we call out to Him. Psalm 103:12 says He removes our transgressions as far as east is from west; and 1 John 1:8-10 says He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins when we confess them to Him.

Time is getting very short as all the prophesied end-time events are speeding up daily. Right now would be a great time to invest in your eternal life by calling out to Jesus to be your Savior. He will force no one to accept Him but will accept all who truly ask His forgiveness and to be our Savior.

We could be going Home at any moment now, and to be left behind when it isn’t necessary would be tragic. He is waiting for your call.

Come, Lord Jesus!

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