JESUS' REACTION(S).......[Book of John]

Here I am at the 4th installment of this series on Jesus' Reaction(s).  This time it is John's turn to reveal how Jesus responded in certain situations. 

In John 5:5-8 Jesus came upon a person who had been an invalid for 38 years.  There are some interesting differences about this account as compared to others.  Observing the other healing encounters with Jesus I noticed three things:  (1) Jesus asked what do you want me to do for you?, (2) claimed that the person's faith had healed them, or (3) Jesus out right intervened and healed somebody - faith/question or not.  However, with this encounter Jesus asked the man - "Do you want to get well?" 

My knee jerk reaction would not be that respectful to Jesus.  In the nicest way I would say something like - "Jesus?  He has been like this for 38 years, don't you think he wants to be rid of this limitation?"  But there are some people that are comfortable with their misery.  In my society, I have seen people give up on the potential of decency, integrity, and responsibility in their lives and use their handicap to work "the system" to their benefit for the rest of their life.  This is not much of an existence, but these people exist and I believe that might have been one of the motives behind the probing question of Jesus because this "work the system" could have existed in the society back in Jesus' day as well. 

Another motive I believe He wanted to display was Father God's power of healing through Him right next to the healing pool of Bethesda.  We learn - "Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me." Here is where Jesus takes the initiative and heals the man Himself instead of helping the man to the waters of the pool.  "Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk."  At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked." So, I see both sensitivity and initiative as reactions to this situation.
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Remaining in the same account, Jesus shows us a reaction of avoidance.  This healing He just administered took place on the Sabbath (wouldn't you know it).  Throughout Scripture the Pharisees had a big problem with Jesus helping people out on "their" special day.  Because of this aggravation Jesus blended with the crowd to avoid the confrontation (at least for the moment) with the Pharisees.  "The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there." (John 5:13)  It is not long before Jesus is back at it with the Pharisees (two verses I think).  Jesus reveals Himself to the man as the one who healed him and then has to confront the Pharisees standing around.
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This next reaction could be deemed avoidance also.  It could also be labeled escape or alone-time.  This is just after Jesus has fed five thousand people with just five loaves of bread and two fish.  The people were so impressed with this miracle that they were ready to make Jesus king right then, but that was not in Father God's plan.  Scripture says it this way, "After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world."  Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself." (John 6:14-15)  I imagine it is a combination of all three - He avoided the people, who wanted to make Him king by force, by escaping to the mountain by Himself and probably had some great quiet-time with His Holy Father. 
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In John 8:1-11 John records the account of the woman caught in the act of adultery.  Before and after Jesus gives His response to the Pharisees and teachers of the Law concerning this woman, Jesus wrote on the ground with His finger.  What did He write?  What was it's significance?  Why was it bookends on either side of His response?  We can speculate to our heats content about this topic, but this side of heaven I just don't see a definite answer.  

However, we do have a non-verbal reaction by Jesus to His own question that speaks volumes of His mission.  Concerning the crowd and the charge brought against her by the crowd Jesus said, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."  Because no one is without mistakes or sin, except God - the crowd left one-by-one.  "At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there."  Notice, the woman knows she has done wrong, but Jesus has not left nor thrown a stone in response to His own question because....He is without sin!  And as God's Son, who knows No sin, He forgives and challenges her to leave her life of sinfulness.   "Jesus straightened up and asked her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?'  'No one, sir,' she said. 'Then neither do I condemn you,' Jesus declared. 'Go now and leave your life of sin.' 
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In a culture where you are going to declare that you are the in-flesh Son of the One and Only God, The God of the Jews - you better expect some resistance.  Even with their Scriptures calling for their Messiah to visit the way Jesus was visiting, The Jews missed His first visitation.  Jesus' first visit was as the ultimate Servant.  Jesus' second visit will be as Sovereign Ruler.  Jesus "shows His cards" and almost pays for it with a stoning  in John 8:58-59"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"  At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds."  Jesus avoids the crowd once again.  
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When it says, "Jesus wept." in John 11:35, I don't think it only means because it was over His friend's death Lazarus.  I also believe that Jesus was weeping because others were saddened - "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." (Romans 12:15)  Also, look at the previous verse, the one before verse 35 (Jesus wept).  It says, "When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.  "Where have you laid him?" he asked. "Come and see, Lord," they replied."  So, with those already mourning joining Mary and Martha mourning, it was not a great leap of discernment to see how Jesus' heart would be moved and then His own person moved to tears.  Jesus empathized.
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In John 12:36 we have another instance of avoidance.  Jesus speaks about His death in this passage (20-35), then ends what He has to say and slips away to hide.   "Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light." When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them." 
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Jesus' reaction to His arrest was concern for His menJohn 18:7-9 says, "Who is it that you want?  If you are looking for me, then let these men go." 
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Jesus' reaction to an alternate way of acquiring His Mission - violence by the sword - was met with the healing of the infraction and the continuation of the original plan.  John 18:10-11 - "Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.)  Jesus commanded Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?"  Luke is the one who records the healing of the servants ear.  "But Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him." (Luke 22:51) So, Jesus reaction was to get back on track however He heard the Father instruct. 
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Jesus' reaction before the "Mob Boss" of the Pharisees, Annas, Caiaphas's father-n-law was one of the most wordy.  John 18:19-24 records -

Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.  "I have spoken openly to the world," Jesus replied. "I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.  Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said."  When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby struck him in the face. "Is this the way you answer the high priest?" he demanded.  "If I said something wrong," Jesus replied, "testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?"  Then Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest. 

Before Annas, Caiaphas, and Pilate Jesus would not come out and say about Himself, of His own will that He is Prophet, Priest, King and Son of God.  He would always say something like - "It is as you say." or confirm what somebody has or has not said about Him.  I believe this kind of reaction was in the fulfillment of prophecy - "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth." (Isaiah 53:7)  
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Even facing Roman authority - Pilate and certain death, Jesus trusted in His Heavenly Father.  "Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?"  Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin." (John 19:10-11)  
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Without to much duplication from the other Gospels this is what I researched from the Book of John as Jesus' Reaction(s).  I hope some or all of these observations blessed you.  I will be submitting a conclusion or summary to this series next to tie a bow on everything.  Hope you enjoyed this edition - God bless you. 

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