#1475 john 5 Part 2 Equality

 

18 For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.

19 Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing from Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in the same manner. 20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. 22 For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. John 5: 18-24 LSB

John 5: 18-24

…29My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30I and the Father are one.” 31At this, the Jews again picked up stones to stone Him.… John 10: 29-31

V. 18 For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him - This follows the preceding verses where a man is healed, is questioned by the Jewish authorities, does not know Who Jesus is, and then Jesus comes and finds him. The man then knows Who it was that healed him and runs back to the authorities to turn Jesus in. People shake their head about this, and some don't even like seeing that in the passage, that someone could have an experience with Jesus, witness the power of God through healing, and yet reject Him as Savior in favor of apostasy. May I present to you Judas, who witnessed all these things and walked with the Savior, but chose to betray Him for very little. He turned from the pure and Holy unto those who tried to fake that outwardly. So apply this to myself, have I said I met the Savior, the One Who told the man to not sin anymore, yet do I still make light of those things He died for? Am I nostalgic about my sin or broken over it? When I look back upon my life or drive by those old places where I committed and participated in acts against God, is there remorse that I did those things against Him or only that I got caught and my image tarnished before men? The men who seek Jesus' life are considered moral by their standard, keep that in mind. 

V. 18b Calling God His own Father, making Himself equal to God - It would be common in Jewish tradition to call God "our Father" as they would also say they have Abraham as "our father", but a difference between the One being by creation and the other procreation. It would also be understood in the case of Abraham that it was as a patriarch, great grandparent many generations back. They are angry at Jesus because He is the only Son, the inheritor, the eternally begotten of God, the same in essence.

Also was calling God His own Father (pater), making Himself equal (isos) with God - Jesus was not calling Him "our Father," but "My Father," and the Jews recognized what He meant! Jesus did not stutter when He made the claim of deity. How often I hear skeptics say that Jesus never claimed He was God. Clearly they have never read His words, but he repeatedly claimed to be God. And the proof of His claim is the response from the Jews to seek to kill Him. The Jewish leaders knew exactly Who Jesus was claiming to be and thus accused Him of blasphemy an offense punishable by death. Even Jesus' use of the title "Son of God" indicated that He was stating He was equal with God. This recalls John's purpose "Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name." (John 20:30-31)

John MacArthur sums up some of the NT evidence that Jesus was God - Jesus assumed the prerogatives of deity. He claimed to have control over people’s eternal destinies (8:24; cf. Luke 12:8–9; John 5:22, 27–29), to have authority over the divinely ordained institution of the Sabbath (Matt. 12:8; Mark 2:28; Luke 6:5), to have the power to answer prayer (John 14:13–14; cf. Acts 7:59; 9:10–17), and to have the right to receive worship, faith, and obedience due to God alone (Matt. 21:16; John 14:1; cf. John 5:23). He also assumed the right to forgive sins (Mark 2:5–11)—something that, as His shocked opponents correctly understood, only God can do (v. 7).

Jesus also called God’s angels (Gen. 28:12; Luke 12:8–9; 15:10; John 1:51) His angels (Matt. 13:41; 24:30–31); God’s elect (Luke 18:7; Rom. 8:33) His elect (Matt. 24:30–31); and God’s kingdom (Matt. 12:28; 19:24; 21:31; Mark 1:15; Luke 4:43; John 3:3) His kingdom (Matt. 13:41; 16:28; cf. Luke 1:33; 2 Tim. 4:1). (See Making Himself Equal with God)

MacArthur in another source writes "Those who would deny that Jesus claimed to be God must deny the historical accuracy and truthfulness of the gospel records and thereby establish themselves as superior sources of truth. They are saying they know more about what was true two thousand years ago than the inspired eyewitnesses. Such skepticism is unwarranted, however, since the New Testament is by far the most well-attested document of the ancient world (cf. F. F. Bruce, The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? - see pdf). Skeptics are also hard-pressed to explain why Jesus’ monotheistic Jewish followers would have embraced His deity so early in church history apart from His own claims. - Precept Austin

…6Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.… Philippians 2: 6-8

V. 19 These things the Son also does in the same manner - Like God, because He is God in human flesh. Emmanuel (God With Us), He is the perfect image and revelation of the invisible God. I am not saying it is an easy concept, but there are three persons of One divine essence, eternal Being. So perfect are they in relationship to one another that there is absolute unity in all that they say or do. Christ, being in the form of God, has come down to us, condescended to men of low estate, become one of us, but God always and evermore. It is one of the many marvels, so many the older I get, but yes, the God that made everything is above all that He has made, far above my comprehension. 

Unless it is something He sees (blepo - present tense - continually) the Father (pater) doing (poieo - present tense - continually) - Don't miss that Jesus calls God His Father and Himself God's Son clearly claiming equality with God! How does Jesus "see" the Father doing these things? The most logical way is that they are on the same "wavelength" (so to speak) and in such perfect unity, that the will of the Son is in perfect harmony with the will of His Father. Jesus is filled with the Spirit (Lk 4:1+, cf Acts 10:38+), completely controlled by the Spirit and is One with the Father. Because of His being one with the Father, He can do absolutely nothing apart from Him. It is this perfect oneness which allows Jesus to "see" what the Father is doing. This reminds me of the doctrine of the Trinity which is difficult for finite human minds to explain and/or understand, but a doctrine which is a foundational truth describing the perfect relationship between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. F B Meyer describes this trinitarian oneness as “the inner and immediate intuition which the Son perpetually has of the Father’s work.”

Whatever the Father (pater) does (poieo - present tense - continually), these things the Son also does (poieo - present tense - continually) in like manner - For explains what Jesus means by the fact that He only does what He sees His Father doing. The following passages will explain "these things" that the Son does. One can only imagine the effect this claim had on the hostile Jewish leaders! In like manner means the doing by both Father and Son is identical.

R C H Lenski - Jesus asserts not only that He as the Son does what the Father does, all that and only that, but also that all He thus does, He does as if the Father Himself does it, for it is all and in every way the Father’s will and work. (Borrow The interpretation of St. john's gospel) - Precept Austin

V. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing - Their bond is great and John in different places will use different Greek words for love. Phileo connoting the friendship between the members of the Godhead.

…16As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him. 17And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!” Matthew 3: 16-17

…26Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight. 27All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him. 28Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.… Matthew 11: 26-28

Michaels on greater works - Two later miracles explicitly qualify as “greater,” the gift of sight to a man born blind (see Jn 9:32), and the raising of a man four days dead (Jn 11:39). (Borrow The Gospel of John)

Lenski on greater works - “Will show” implies that when the time comes, the Father will execute these works through Jesus, His Son. These greater works are the raising of the spiritually dead, the final raising of the bodily dead, and the last judgment. They are “greater” because they are fuller and loftier manifestations of the same power that displayed itself in the incidental miracles.....In the case of the Jews and in the case of all unbelievers it will be empty marveling alone. They will not know what to make of these works, they will be astonished and finally overwhelmed by their progress and their power. (Borrow The Interpretation of St. John's Gospel) - Precept Austin

A T Robertson on Father loves the Son - In Jn 3:35 we have agapāi from agapao, evidently one verb expressing as noble a love as the other. Sometimes a distinction (Jn 21:17) is made, but not here, unless phileo presents the notion of intimate friendship (philos - friend), fellowship, the affectionate side, while agapao (Latin diligo) is more the intelligent choice. But John uses both verbs for the mystery of love of the Father for the Son. - Precept Austin

V. 21 Even so the Son gives life to whom He wishes - The power of life, that Creative force that is in the One through Whom and for Whom all things were created. He will soon demonstrate His power over death. 

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.…

…4In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1: 1-5

V. 23 All will honor the Son even as they honor the Father - This statement really supports what the Jewish leadership is saying about Him, that He makes Himself out to be God, nonetheless it is an opportunity to weigh His statements against what He does. That they are to honor Him as they honor the Father is also what His works demand, what His lineage demands, born of a woman, but born of God. 

…13Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God as well? 14Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel. 15By the time He knows enough to reject evil and choose good, He will be eating curds and honey.… Isaiah 7: 13-15

V. 23b He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father Who sent Him - This reiterates the very singular way to be right with God, it is through faith in Christ alone. You have to be born again in Him because He alone is acceptable in the eyes of the Father. He is the lone door, the only way, the first born among many brethren, it is through Him that we have been adopted as children of God. No one who says I honor God or I know God, yet does not honor the Son, does not profess Him as their only hope to salvation, has ever honored the Father. Rejecting the Son is rejecting the Father and the Holy Spirit. 

8Those controlled by the flesh cannot please God. 9You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.… Romans 8: 8-10

9Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 10And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem, and the bow of war will be broken. Then He will proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion will extend from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth.… Zechariah 9: 9-10

5“Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7If you had known Me, you would know My Father as well. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”… John 14: 5-7

He who hears My word and believes Him Who sent Me - Remember He only does and says what the Father is also saying. If you don't believe Him then you don't believe God, your beliefs are incomplete. If He is a liar then God is a liar, Christ leaves no room for compromise.