Previous Lesson -- Next Lesson
2. God works with His Son (John 5:17-20)
JOHN 5:17-18
17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is still working, so I am working, too.” 18 For this cause therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
Prior to the healing in Bethesda, the opposition to Jesus was small-scale. But after that event it grew. His enemies resolved to kill him. So the miracle was the turning point in the relations with the Jews. Jesus was thenceforth persecuted and black-listed. What was the reason for this turning of events?
A clash occurred between Christ’s procession of love and the authority of the Law in its harshness. In the Old Testament the people lived as it were in prison. Many judgments were issued enjoining people to keep the law meticulously for righteousness resulted from good works. Pious folk took care not to trespass the minute commandments and to gain divine favor. Law-keeping became a pretext for egoism and lovelessness. Since the nation lived in covenant with God and was deemed to be a corporate whole, the extremists tried to force everyone to conform to their numerous rules. Most important was the Sabbath taboo on work. As God has rested on the seventh day from His work of creation, even so people were forbidden to do any kind of work on this day of worship, on penalty of death.
Thus the Sabbath had become a sign of the accord between the Jews and their God, and indicated His presence among them, as if there were no sins committed by them against God to mar this harmony.
Jesus had a simple answer to the Pharisees who protested against his violation of the Sabbath, the decisive "God does work". We read the word "work" and its derivatives, such as working seven times in Jesus’ statement to the Pharisees. His reply to their frigid legalism was to declare God’s loving activity. How can God rest till now from His creative work, but now He works continuously? Since sin entered into this world, and death corrupted all creatures, and the universe split from its source, God has been powerfully striving to save wanderers, and bring back rebels into His fellowship. Our holiness is His aim, to realize His love in purity.
The Sabbath healing is a picture of God’s work in essence. Jesus preached grace and carried out loving deeds, even when his work may have seemed opposed to the Law. Love is the fulfillment of the Law. The Sabbath healing was a frontal attack on false piety, devoid of love.
Then the Jews cried, "Jesus is breaking the Sabbath! Help! The pillars of the Covenant are crumbling. This enemy of the Law blasphemes, and sets himself as a new lawgiver, a danger to our nation."
None of them paid notice to Christ’s love for the wretch, nor did they see his victory on earth. They remained blind in their fanaticism. Do not be surprised if today people fail to realize Jesus as Savior, because of such bigotry.
The Jews were furious with Jesus also because of ‘blasphemies’ they thought they were hearing that God was his Father. This sounded obscene to them. So they shouted, "God is One; He has no Son. How can Jesus call God his Father?"
This stand reveals their ignorance; they were not living in the Spirit’s inspiration, nor immersed in the Scriptures. For there are remarkable prophecies of God’s Fatherhood in them. God has called the people of the Covenant "My son" (Exodus 4:22; Hosea 11:1). While the nation call God "Father" (Deuteronomy 32:6; Psalm 103:13; Isaiah 63:16; Jeremiah 3:4,19 and 31:9). God called His believing king "My son" (2. Samuel 7:14). But no individual member of the Covenant nation could be entitled to call God "Father". This was impossible for the Jewish mind, and accounted an arrogant extravagance. The Jews knew the promise that Jesus, the Messiah, would be of divine origin, the bringer of eternal life. Their hatred of Jesus demonstrated their unbelief in his Messiahship.
Jesus responded to the Jews’ dread at his words by saying clearly that he does the same works as his Father with wisdom and love. Jesus affirmed that he was able to do all things and is equal with God. The Jew’s reaction to such thoughts was severe and ruthless. Anyone who raises himself to God’s station is to be done away. The Jews hated Jesus as a blasphemer deserving of death.
JOHN 5:19-20
19 Jesus therefore answered them, “Most certainly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise. 20 For the Father has affection for the Son, and shows him all things that he himself does. He will show him greater works than these, that you may marvel.
Jesus replied to the Jews’ loathing with love, and confronted their hatred by pointing to the work of God’s love. Yes, the Son does as does the Father. Jesus does not work on his own for His union with God was as close as a child watching his father closely, looking at his hands to see how it is done; doing precisely as his father. Thus he humbled himself and returned the glory to the Father. He honored his Father. Let us realize that we are unprofitable servants, called to sanctify our Father’s name as did Jesus.
With the self-denial and humility, Jesus obtained the authority to do his Father’s works. The attributes, names and works of the Father are his also. He is the true God, eternal, able, loving and glorious. His union with God is perfect.
God the Father loves Christ for his self-denial, hiding nothing from him. He shares His rights, plans and works with the Son. In these expressions we see the clearest affirmation to the unity of the Trinity – a unity of love in action. Since the Father, Son and Holy Spirit co-operate in all things, we ought to be comforted in the knowledge that the Holy Trinity works unendingly – to put an end to all wars, hatreds and bigotry in the world. How great is the contrast between the unity of love at work, and the inaction of legalism.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we thank you for sending your Son to us. In his works you showed us what you do, and who you are. Free us from all legalistic works to choose works of love. May we repent of fanaticism, and beseech you for those who are spiritually blind that they may see the freedom of your love, and submit to you in meek obedience.
QUESTION:
- How and why does God work with His Son?