John 5:17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is still working, so I Am working, too.” 18 For this cause therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God. 19 Jesus therefore answered them, “Most certainly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise. 20 For the Father has affection for the Son, and shows him all things that he himself does. He will show him greater works than these, that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he desires. 22 For the Father judges no one, but he has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who doesn’t honor the Son doesn’t honor the Father who sent him.
When the Samaritan woman at the well asked Jesus who he was, he identified himself using the Old Testament Name of God, saying “I Am.” Exodus 3:14 Here, in answer to the Pharisees, Jesus again equated himself with God, saying, “My Father is still working, so I Am working too.” Genesis 1:1 God created the world in six days. But God also continues to work, upholding, preserving, and directing creation. Christ is before all things and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:17 The true God is not like the god of the deists or like the god of the theistic evolutionists who believe that chance, or an unmoved mover, or god gave the universe its start and then sat back to watch it all unfold. No, according to Christ, “My Father is still working, so I Am working too.” This brings great comfort to those who feel that they are alone in the vast cosmos. There is a Creator God who personally cares for everyone, even the hurting and crippled who are overlooked by this world. But the Jews didn’t understand that Christ holds all things together and were infuriated by this revelation.
For this cause therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal to God.
But even under their threats of death, Jesus wasn’t about to drop the subject. Jesus went on to describe the unique nature of his unity with God the Father.
The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise. 20 For the Father has affection for the Son, and shows him all things that he himself does.
Christ’s entire life and ministry in the world was lived in complete obedience to the will of his Father in heaven. The Father showed Christ what to do and, in turn, Christ did whatever he[saw] the Father doing. Likewise, as Paul would later teach, Christians are to be imitators of God as beloved children. Ephesians 5:1 Along these same lines, Christians are instructed to imitate [Paul] as [he] imitated Christ. Christians are also taught to Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the Word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Hebrews 13:7 Jesus imitated the Father. Paul imitated Christ. And our current leaders, as they faithfully follow God’s Word, are given to us as examples so that we may be imitators of Christ.
Who do you imitate in your daily life?
Christians will never live lives of perfection however, we should live lives of transformation as we imitate our Savior.
Christ says, “Look, you have seen me cure a paralytic man but through me God will show greater works than these, that you may marvel.”
What is the greater work that the Jewish leaders will see?
God will raise the dead to life. In a few short years the Jewish leaders will witness Jesus raised from the dead. And because of his resurrection Jesus, in turn, will give life to all that the Father calls to believe in Christ’s sacrifice on their behalf. The Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he desires.
The Bible teaches that God is One. Deuteronomy 6:4 However, the Bible reveals that there are three persons with three different roles within the Godhead. This is a mystery explained in the doctrine of the Trinity. John had introduced this concept in the opening of his book writing that In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, the Word was God…and the Word became flesh and lived among us. John 1:1&14
In the unity of the Godhead there be three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost: the Father is of none, neither begotten, nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son. Westminster Confession of Faith, II, 3
John 5:24 “Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. 25 Most certainly I tell you, the hour comes, and now is, when the dead will hear the Son of God’s voice; and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, even so he gave to the Son also to have life in himself. 27 He also gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a Son of Man. 28 Don’t marvel at this, for the hour comes in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice, 29 and will come out; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment. 30 I can of myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is righteous; because I don’t seek my own will, but the will of my Father who sent me.
How may we receive eternal life?
The religious leaders, the scribes, Pharisees, and lawyers, taught that eternal life was granted to the descendants of Abraham who followed the Law revealed by God to Moses at Mt. Sinai. They didn’t understand that the Law is our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. Galatians 3:24 In other words, our inability to perfectly keep the Law of God shows us our need for the One who did perfectly keep the Law, Jesus Christ. Jesus corrected their misunderstanding by teaching that eternal life is granted only to those “who hear my word and believe him who sent me.” As John will go on to explain throughout the book, Jesus taught that all of the Old Covenant Law, the sacrifice of the lamb, the ritual washings, the furniture in the temple, and the ritual ceremonies pointed to and were fulfilled in him, the Lamb of God. John 1:29
After revealing himself to the Jewish leaders Jesus issues a stern warning. Christ is not only the Savior offering eternal life –he who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life – Christ, at the end of time, will also be the judge of those who reject the truth. He has fixed a day on which he will judge the world. Acts 17:31 The Father gave him authority to execute judgment because he is the Son of Man … As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is righteous; because I don’t seek my own will, but the will of my Father who sent me.
Jesus has just said some unbelievable things to the scribes and Pharisees. They had to be thinking, “How can this man validate his claim to be God?” Anticipating their skepticism Jesus explains.
John 5:31 “If I testify about myself, my witness is not valid. 32 It is another who testifies about me. I know that the testimony which he testifies about me is true. 33 You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth. 34 But the testimony which I receive is not from man. However, I say these things that you may be saved. 35 He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36 But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John, for the works which the Father gave me to accomplish, the very works that I do, testify about me, that the Father has sent me. 37 The Father himself, who sent me, has testified about me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his form. 38 You don’t have his word living in you, because you don’t believe him whom he sent.
The Old Testament law requires two or three witnesses to determine the truth of a matter.
A single witness shall not suffice against a person…only on the evidence of two or three witnesses shall a charge be established. Deuteronomy 19:15
Because Jesus conceded that his word about himself alone was not valid by Old Testament standards, he proceeded to point out other witnesses.
First, he pointed out that John the Baptist had testified to the truth.
Second, even greater than the testimony of a man, was the testimony of the miracles that Jesus performs.The works which the Father gave me to accomplish, the very works that I do, testify about me.
Third,The Father himself, who sent me, has testified about me.
Where has the Father testified about his Son, Jesus?
Jesus goes on to explain.
John 5:39 “You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which testify about me. 40 Yet you will not come to me, that you may have life. 41 I don’t receive glory from men. 42 But I know you, that you don’t have God’s love in yourselves. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you don’t receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44 How can you believe, who receive glory from one another, and you don’t seek the glory that comes from the only God?
45 “Don’t think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you, even Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote about me. 47 But if you don’t believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”
At Mt. Sinai God revealed to Moses the Torah, the Law. These Scriptures testify, from beginning to end, about the coming of Christ, the Messiah. The scribes, Pharisees, and lawyers were the keepers and teachers of the Scriptures, and though they searched the Scriptures, the Scriptures which testified about Christ, they did not receive Christ. They missed the unifying point. If they really understood they would have recognized that the story of the Redeemer, the Lamb of God, the Savior is woven into every book of the Bible as one grand story pointing to Christ. Jesus concluded, “If you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote about me. But if you don’t believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”
They had somehow missed the point that Christ is the center of all of the Scriptures.
Do people today have enough evidence to believe that Christ is the Savior?
As John will say at the conclusion of his book,
These things are written so that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. And that in believing, you might have life, through His Name. John 20:31
Christianity is true. Demonstrably true. The evidence of history screams Jesus…Jesus showed his followers that he was far more than human. He demonstrated this directly and indirectly with his words and actions…Jesus spoke as though he was God, equated himself to God, accepted the worship of others as though he were God, described himself as God using the Jewish title “I Am,” and even claimed to have God’s power to forgive sins… Finally, according to the eyewitnesses, Jesus rose from the grave… It’s one thing to reject Jesus’ claims; It’s another to deny he made them. Given the nature of Jesus’ assertions, only one option remains: each of us must decide if the claims of Jesus are true. J. Warner Wallace, Person of Interest, Zondervan, 2021