John 5.17-30
After Jesus cured
John 5.17-18 KWL - 17 Jesus answered them, “My Father works today, just like I work.”
- 18 So the Judeans all the more wanted him dead for this reason:
- Not only was he dismissing Sabbath custom,
- but he said God was his own Father, making himself equal to God.
Now, why’d that outrage the Judeans? Sloppy interpreters say it’s because Jesus was claiming, “I can do whatever I want, because my Father can do whatever he wants. I’m as unbound by your Law as he is.” So the Judeans were offended because Jesus was claiming license to break the Law.
As they should be. When you break the Law, it’s sin. Yet Jesus was born under the Law,
Okay, so Jesus wasn’t talking about breaking the Law, nor having the divine prerogative to do so. So then why’d that outrage the Judeans?
In Roman culture—which had largely superseded the
If that sounds blasphemous to you, you know it sure did to the Judeans.
But rather than back away from the idea, Jesus doubled down. Not only is the L
And the proof of it comes from the fact Jesus can heal. The Son doesn’t wanna go outside the Father’s will. The only reason he can cure the sick because he sees the Father cure the sick, and if the Father does it, this automatically authorizes the Son to do it. Hey, if the Father didn’t approve of curing the sick on Sabbath, why would the Holy Spirit grant Jesus the power to do so?
John 5.19-21 KWL - 19 So in reply Jesus also told them, “Amen amen!
- I promise you the Son can’t work anything by himself
- unless he sees the Father working.
- For the Father might do anything,
- and the Son does likewise,
- 20 for the Father cares for the Son,
- and shows him everything he does.
- The Father’ll show him greater works—
- so you might be astounded!—
- 21 for just as the Father raises the dead and creates life,
- so also the Son creates life in whomever he wants.”
You think Jesus curing the sick and throwing out demons is astounding? Just you wait. In the very near future, you’re gonna read stories from the gospels about Jesus raising the dead. And during the End Times, there’s gonna be even more.