Deadly Reasons

John 5:18-24

19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

Notes

The Lord healed a man on the Sabbath, which the Jews found unacceptable. Although the Law of Moses established the Sabbath as a day of rest for the Jewish nation, Jewish writers added a list of forbidden actions. Through time, the extra-biblical list became more important than the concept of resting from work. It became a burden instead of a blessing. The Lord Jesus explained that His Father is continuously working, and He is also working. Although God rested after creation, meaning He rested on the cosmological arena, He continued blessing His people. Moreover, the Lord implied that, like the Father, He is above the Sabbath.

John enumerated two reasons why the Jews wanted to kill the Lord Jesus. The first one was related to the Sabbath. They viewed healing on the Sabbath as an offense. The second one is calling God His own Father.

18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God (John 5:18).

1. Unity of Father & Son

   The Lord explained that the Son does what the Father does, which includes healing the invalid. Moreover, the Lord Jesus claimed that the Father loves the Son, and the Father reveals to the Son what must be done for people to marvel.

   
   19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel (John 5:19-20).

   
   

2. Delegated power

   The Father’s work includes raising the dead. The Son’s work is parallel to this; He gives life. The Father is the judge, but He judges no one because He delegated judgment to the Son. His purpose is that all may honor the Son.
   
   21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him (John 5:21-23).
   
   

3. Eternal life

   The Lord Jesus made a clear connection between His words and believing in the Father. In other words, the Lord was emphasizing their unity. The blessing of listening to His words and believing in the Father is eternal life.

   
   24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life (John 5:24).
   
   

Application

1. Believe in the unity of deity

   Not everybody believes in the unity of Father and Son. The Father and Son are deeply connected. Moreover, they are also one in essence. A true believer will believe in the unity of Father and Son. Otherwise, they are not true believers.
   

2. Honor the Son

   Everything that the Lord Jesus did and taught was of the Father. If we desire to honor the Father, then we should honor the Son because this is the will of God. Conversely, if we fail to honor the Son, we fail to honor the Father.
   

3. Believe and receive

   God gives life, and the Son gives eternal life. The Father delegates judgment of all to the Son. Let us believe in Christ’s words and that the Father sent Him so we may escape judgment. Let us believe and receive
   

Reflection & Discussion

1. Why did the Jews want to kill the Lord Jesus? Explain

2. How did Jesus explain His relationship with His Father?

3. Based on the text, how may one receive eternal life?