In the movie "Top Gun", Tom Cruise plays Maverick, a fighter pilot with a type-A personality. In one of the movie's most iconic scenes, he requests permission to do a fly-by of the tower. The tower operator responds, "Negative Ghost Rider. The pattern is full". Of course, in classic Hollywood fashion, Maverick buzzes the tower anyway and the operator spills coffee all over himself.

So often in life, we are defined by what we cannot do instead of what we can do. Now, I'm not saying you should buzz the tower after you've been told not to, but what would the world look like if we saw it for what we can do instead of what we cannot do? I believe that's exactly what Jesus came to show us.

We're in a series about Jesus where we take a look at what He did as defined in the book of John. There are 7 signs of Jesus detailed in the book of John, and they each have a purpose. He used the word “sign” with great intentionality.

semeion: a sign, mark, token, miracles and wonders by which God authenticates the men sent by him,

The word is used 77 times in the New Testament. Twenty-three of them are in the book of John.

7 signs of John

John 2:1-11 — Water into wine. Symbolized a new work being made from an old religion.
John 4:46-54 — Healing of the nobleman’s son. To show what real faith looks like.
John 5:1-15 — Healing at the pool of Bethesda.
John 6:1-14 — Feeding the 5,000.
John 6:15-21 — Jesus walks on water.
John 9:1-12 — Healing of the man born blind.
John 11:1-44 — Lazarus raised from the dead.

In everything He does He has a plan and a purpose.

Jesus’ deeds vindicated His deity.

Pisteuo: believe, to be persuaded of, to trust, to credit or acknowledge.

It's used over 240 times in the New Testament.
It's used 86 times in the book of John and 7 times in 1 John.
That’s more than twice as many times as it’s used in the book of Acts and twice as many times as Paul used it.

It's used 7 times in chapter 4 of John.

The word pious is defined as "devoutly religious". Notice it doesn't include poverty.

Piety doesn’t have to mean poverty!

Paul said that he "could do all things through Christ who strengthened him"

So often we try to define our spiritual lives based on what we cannot do instead of what we can do. That's what Jesus addresses right here in John chapter 5.

There are two things that I'd like to point out in this passage.

1. The paralytic was missing out on Heaven in his pursuit of healing.

2. The Jews were missing out on healing in their pursuit of heaven.

They were both focused on what they couldn't do instead of what they could do. Jesus answers both of them in verse 24!

aionios zoe: life without beginning or end, that which always has been and always will be, everlasting

Those who hear and believe are not only healed but also heaven-bound.

Don’t live a life focused on what you can’t do! Live it focused on what you can do! Don't be a "Negative Ghost Rider", rather, be an "Affirmative Ghost Rider".