Christian teaching

An overview of the prosecution and Jesus’ defense – 5:16-18

A. Why the Jews: ¹⁶And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.

B. Jesus’ answer: ¹⁷But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”

A¹. Why the Jews: ¹⁸This 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.

Jesus’ detailed defense – 5:19-30

A. Jesus only does what he sees the Father do. Life/healing: ¹⁹So 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. ²⁰For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing.

B. Marvel at greater works: And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.

C. As the Father, so also the Son. Life, judgment: ²¹For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. ²²The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, ²³that 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.

D. Hears Jesus/present life: ²⁴Truly, 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.

D¹. Hears Son of God/future life: ²⁵Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

C¹. As the Father, so also the Son. Life, judgment: ²⁶For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. ²⁷And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.

 B¹. Marvel that he will raise the dead: ²⁸Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice ²⁹and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

A¹. Jesus only does what he hears. Judgment: ³⁰I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.”

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The words in italics in vs. 16-20 are all the same. Jesus does what the Father does. He does not make himself anything.