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John 5 - The Son of God
John 5 The Son of God
In John 5, after healing the invalid man by the pool of Bethesda, Jesus made a seemingly innocent statement. At least it is seemingly innocent to OUR ears but NOT to the Jewish people of HIS day. He said: "My father works until now, and I work" (vs. 17).
That was understood by the Jewish people to be making himself equal with God (vs. 18). To avoid persecution and stoning for this, all Jesus would have had to do was to correct their 'misunderstanding'. Instead, he strengthens the claim. "I can do whatever the Father does" (vs. 19). He then gives several examples of such works of God that He himself could do:
Raises the dead - 21
Judges all people - 22
Receives the SAME honor - 23.
Gives eternal life according to HIS word - 24-25
Has life in himself (self-existent) - 26
Will execute judgment - 27
Will Raise ALL the dead - 28-29.
Of course the Jewish leaders would demand proof or witnesses. 'At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall ever word be established" (Deut. 19:15; 2Cor. 13:1). Jesus produces a list of witnesses to His claim of being the Son of God.
Himself - 30-31.
John the Baptist - 32-34
His works (the very healing of the lame man and other miracles ( 35)
The Father - 37-38
The Scriptures that they read and studied - 39.
Their rejection of Jesus was without excuse. It showed that although they were religious, they spiritually were of their father the devil.
John summarizes the point of the gospel of John: " Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:30-31). Believing that Jesus is the Son of God is to believe He is equal with the Father. Such faith should change one's whole life. How has it changed yours? Hugh DeLong
