“The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the Sabbath day. But Jesus answered them, My father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as the honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.“
John 5:15-31
In the aftermath of the healing of the impotent man at the pool of Bethesda, a conversation ensues between Jesus and the Jews regarding His person and authority. The recurring theme in our larger study of the seven miracles in John is the theme of the deity of Christ. For this reason, this conversation is of particular interest. In these verses, Jesus explained His own identity with several fascinating and powerful statements. He also addresses fundamental points of doctrine such as regeneration and the resurrection, but we will try to focus on the Person of Christ in this particular study.
The dialogue began because Jesus healed the impotent man on the sabbath day and commanded the man to carry his bed. While this should have been an astonishing sight to prompt thanksgiving to God, the Jews were enraged at what they believed to be the breaking of a commandment. However, they would become even more incensed when Jesus began to identify Himself and His authority. His first statement is of utmost importance: “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” In this statement, Jesus identified Himself as the Son of God. The Jews rightfully understood that this made Jesus equal with God (vs 18), and this truth is further expounded throughout the rest of the text. The statement identifies the unity in the work of the Father and the work of the Son! If any other man made this statement, it would be the height of arrogance and sinfulness. Jesus, though, could correctly and truthfully make this claim and elaborate on it through the rest of the text.
The Son, Jesus Christ, has power to give life (vs 21), judge men (vs 22), receive honor or worship (vs 23), and raise the dead (vs 25 and 28). These are the things only God does! Man had to be created and receive life from God; Man exists under the jurisdiction of God’s divine judgment and is subject to Him; Man cannot receive honor in terms of worship; Man has no ability to prevent death, much less raise the dead. The plain meaning of these statements is that Jesus is more than just a “good man” or a prophet. Jesus is indeed the Son of God.
Throughout this discourse, Jesus’s words express the equality and unity of Himself and God. “What things soever he [the Father] doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.” “As the Father raiseth up the dead… even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.” “That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father.” “As the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.” In these and similar statements, Jesus displays clearly that the Jews’ accusation is undeniably true: Jesus claimed to be equal with God because He is one with God (John 1:1-2).
Finally, the text shows unity in purpose. God the Father’s judgment is inseparable from God the Son’s judgment. God the Son and God the Father do not work independently from one another: “I can of mine own self do nothing.” The will of them both is perfectly harmonious: “I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.”
Our understanding of the Person of Jesus Christ, as well as our understanding of the Trinity, remains incomplete. In fact, it will be incomplete as long as we live in this world: God is too far above us, too infinite, too perfect, too glorious for us to understand to perfection. I am unable to explain or describe Him to my own satisfaction. Yet, let us believe this Bible teaching by faith. Let us desire to learn more. Let our reaction be the opposite of the Jews’ reaction: where they hated this truth and could not rejoice in the miracles of Christ, let us find “joy unspeakable and full of glory” in the fact that “God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”