16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him. 17 Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.” 18 For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
19 Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.
24 “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. 25 I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.
28 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. 30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
Wow, what an amazing passage of scripture!
Jesus makes it very clear that He is God and that He is claiming to be God. There is no doubt. He leaves us only two options - to believe that He is God, the Son of God, God in the flesh, God incarnate. Or to believe that He is a blasphemer and a liar. (Or the third option, that he is crazy). Those are the only options. I wrote a lengthy post on this on my regular blog some time ago called Lord, Liar or Lunatic. There is no option to consider Him a great moral teacher.
In this passage alone, Jesus....
calls God His own Father
makes Himself equal with God
says he is the Son of God
claims that as His Son, He does whatever the Father does
says God love Him
says God shows Him everything
says that He gives life to whomever He pleases, just like God the Father
says that He will judge, entrusted with that task by God
says that when people honour Him, they honour God
says that when people dishonour Him, they dishonour God
says that belief in Him is necessary for eternal life
says that all the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God (himself)
has the power of resurrection over all the dead, both good and evil
does nothing on His own, but everything He does is to please the Father
There was no doubt about what Jesus was saying here.
He gives us two choices - believe that He is God. Or believe that He is a liar and blasphemer.
What will you choose? Once you know His claims, you now have the responsibility to choose and to bear the consequences of your choice.
If you chose to believe He is God that comes with tremendous implications. If we believe that Jesus is the very Son of God, that He is God - then we better pay close attention to what He says. He is not just Saviour, He is Lord.
Fairly fitting passage for Good Friday as well I would say. Today we remember that this Jesus willingly died for us. He died to satisfy the justice of a holy God, to demonstrate His mercy and love for undeserving sinners, and to glorify His great name. Thank you, Jesus.
Tomorrow's scripture focus: John 5:31-47
1 comment:
Thank you, Jesus!
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