John 5:16-30 (Equal with the
Father)
Scene:
Healing at the Pool of
A)Man
lame for 38 yrs is healed when Jesus tells him to take up his bed and walk –
B) Religious leaders see him
and are not – stoked that he was healed – but agitated that he was carrying his
bed on the Sabbath.
1)
They had a rule – it was unlawful to carry a burden on the Sabbath
C) When they found out that
Jesus had healed him – again they were not rejoicing in the fact that a miracle
had happened –
1)
Instead they were mad that Jesus had performed a miracle on the Sabbath – Again
that was a violation of their Sabbath day rules
D)
God made the Sabbath for man – A day of rest ! – A day to focus on the Lord
1)Day
of thanks – Satisfied in the Lord / day for family
E) They reversed the purpose
– Man existed for the Sabbath!
F) Holy day that man had to
try extra hard to not break one of the Sabbath day laws
1) This day that was meant to
be a blessing to God’s people – they turned it into a Burden!
For
this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had
done these things on the Sabbath.
Well
they really get thrown for a loop when Jesus begins to discuss with them why He
did what He did!
A)In V.17-30 Jesus make 6
statements that speak of his equality with God!
B) If you are ever in a
conversation with someone who doubts the Deity of Christ – this is a great
passage to bring them too.
1) Jesus clearly and
directly speaks of His equality with the Father
C) Break down these six
Principles this morning.
#1
Equal in His works:
17 But Jesus
answered them, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been
working."
A)While it is true that God
rested on that first seventh day from all His creative work.
B)He has never rested from
His governmental work, His providential work, supplying the needs of His
creatures.
1)The
sun rises and sets, the tides ebb and flow, the rain falls, the wind blows, the
grass grows on the weekly Rest Day as well as on any other.
C)
God the Father is very active on the Sabbath day as He is on any other day –
Sustaining the Universe.
1)Furthermore,
God’s Sabbath was “broken” in
D)
In order to help them, the Father broke the Sabbath He Himself had established
The
Implication that Jesus is making is that the Power of God was flowing thru Him
to heal this man.
A)Jesus is saying “The reason I do what I do is not based on
doctrine, philosophy, or tradition.
Aa)
The issue is singular: My Father works on the Sabbath and I simply reflect Him.
B)Immediately
the religious leaders knew what he was getting at! – They did not misunderstand
him one bit!
18 Therefore the Jews
sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but
also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.
C) When anyone tries to tell
you that Jesus never claimed to be God – or equal with God show them this
passage.
1)
The religious leaders Knew Exactly what He was saying.
#2 Equal
in His Will:
V. 19 Then
Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son
can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He
does, the Son also does in like manner
Now This is a verse that is
used often by the enemies of Christ to deny His Deity !
But
Does this mean that His ability was limited? or that His power was restricted?
A)Does it mean that he was
some how reduced to all the limitations of human nature? – The answer is no.
B) In fact when this verse
is clearly understood – we realize it is not pointing to any imperfection or
limitation in Christ ability
1)But
rather it really magnifies His Power and ability !
C)
Rule of interpretation of Scripture: Interpret scripture with scripture.
1)
Well in this case we don’t need to go far to understand what Jesus is saying
V.30
30 I can of Myself do nothing. [Repeats what he said in v.19 but in the closing words of v.30 he
explains what he means by giving a reason ] As I
hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, [because ] I do not
seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.
D)In
the Garden: Let this cup pass – not my will but yours!
E)"The Son can do
nothing of himself," literally, "nothing out of himself,"
that is, "nothing" as proceeding from or originating with Himself.
1)
In other words, the force of what He said was this: ‘I cannot act independently of the Father.’
Now
was that a limitation which amounted to a defect? Indeed no; the very opposite.
A)Example: Do the words
"God that cannot lie" (Titus 1:2)
"God cannot be tempted
with evil" (James 1:13) point to a blemish in the Divine nature or
character?
B)No, they only affirm
Divine perfections. It is the same here in the words of Christ.
C)Basically saying this:
Here is the Point – The Son is so much like the father and in such unison with
the Father – He cannot & will not act independently.
1)
it would be completely out of his character to act Independently of the Father
or in a way that was contrary to the father!
D) If He IS God the Son then
His will must be in perfect unison with that of God the Father,
1)otherwise,
there would be two absolute but conflicting wills. Or two God’s opposing each
other
The
very terms used in the text only serve to solidify the interpretation:
A)V.19 The son only does
what he sees the father do. –
Sees is Blepo in the grk - signifies to contemplate, to perceive, to know.
B)Meaning when the Son
exerts His Divine power, it is always in the conscious knowledge that it is the
will of the Father it should be so exerted.
C) Like manner: Not only does He do what the Father does, but as He does it, He
does it in a manner absolutely consistent with the absolute perfections of the
Divine nature!
This
you see is the great mystery and absolute wonder of the incarnation.
A)Jesus as a member of
Humanity – was Fully man and yet Fully God.
B) As a man – He allowed his
Glory to be hidden in his Humanity. This is what Paul means in
Let this mind
be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, [Exact representation] did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, [Didn’t consider that exact representation a thing
to be held on to at all cost]
7
but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming
in the likeness of men. [Glory was not held on to – hidden in His Humanity- Looked humble,
normal, instead of glorious and majestic]
8 And being
found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the
point of death, even the death of the cross.
[He submitted
Himself to the will of the Father – even though it meant death.]
A)Obedience to God involves
the complete surrender of the will – even to the point of suffering or death.
B) As God He knows all
things – He knew that principle. But as
a man He was able to experience it.
1)
He experienced what was involved in obedience – by humbling himself to the
point of dying on the Cross.
C) This is what makes Jesus
the perfect Savior and High Priest.
1)
See a person might dare to make the claim of God the Father – you are distant /
sheltered – Can’t possible Know how I feel.
D) But Jesus God the son –
will say: “ I know exactly how it is – I walked in your shoes – I experienced
what was needed to walk in holiness / righteousness
E)So
the thing that Jesus is explaining in v.19 of
1) He can not or would not act in a way contrary to the will of the
father
Now
before passing on to the next verse let us pause for a brief moment to make
application to ourselves.
A)"The Son can do
nothing of himself."
B) Oh that I would be able
to say that- See there is still far too much in my life –
1) Where I act independently
of God – Still do what I think is best
C) But that is where the
Father is seeking to bring us to that point of absolute reliance
1) I only want to be doing
what the Father does
D) His heart / His will /
His way / His time / His plan
1) That is the way to live!
So
Equal in Works / Equal in Will
#3 He is equal
in His Knowledge or Intelligence!
20 For the
Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He
will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.
A)Now once again this is a verse that has
been confusing to some who argue if Christ is really equal with God – why does
he need to be shown anything.
B)
When we "show" a child something it is because it is ignorant.
1)
When we "show"
the traveler the right road, it is because he does not know it.
C)At first glance what seems
to point to an imperfection or limitation in Christ’s knowledge
1)
A closer look reveals that which only brings out once more His matchless excellency.
D) Avery simple
interpretation of this verse would be – The Father has no secrets from the son.
1)
Perfect equality and union in their Knowledge.
Think
of it this way: You wouldn’t teach Calculus to a 5 yr old- He wouldn’t be able
to grasp it.
A)Nor would you try and
teach a first grader how to drive a car- He
is not ready for such an assignment.
B) Well the Father shows all
things to the Son – because there is no limitations
in his ability to understand the heart and mind of God.
C) There is a perfect intimacy
in their co-equality!
D)APP The day is coming when
we will know all things
1) Better Fellowship - Loves the son/ Loves
us
E)So they are Equal in works / In will
/
in Knowledge or intelligence.
#4 Equal in His ability to Impart life and raise
the dead V.21
21 For as the
Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to
whom He will.
A)For Jesus to claim to have
power to raise the dead was a blasphemous thing in the eyes of the Jewish
leaders;
1)
they gave that power to God alone.
B)They said that Jehovah
held the three great keys:
1)the
key to open the heavens and give rain (Deut. 28:12); {Rebellion skies
like iron}
2)
the key to open the womb and give conception (Gen. 30:22);
3)
and the key to open the grave and raise the dead (Ezek. 37:13).
C) At this point
Jesus had not yet raised the Dead – Lazarus or the widow of Nain’s Son /Jairus
daughter
1)So
this further intensified their frustration that he would claim to have power to
raise the dead.
D) Power over the grave! – – a statement that makes Him equal with the Father !
E) But He doesn’t stop there! – V.22
22 For the
Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son,
#5
Equal in His authority to Judge.V.22
A)They strictly believed
that only God judged – this statement – blow a casket
B) Not only is He claiming
equality with God – He is claiming to be the only Judge.
C) Why does the Father let
Jesus do the judging? Because Jesus walked in the same places we walk.
1)
He was tempted in all points like you and me!
10 For we must
all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the
things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11
Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men;
D) Persuade men How? – Trust Christ
1) Terror of the Lord –
Right now age of grace
NONE should perish!
E)
But We will see on Wed nite – V.24-30 Judgment
seat of Christ.
1)
Issue: Men see Him His wounds – I died for you / I went to cross took your
punishment { Didn’t
believe
#6
Equal in Honorv.23
23 that all
should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the
Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
A)What
Jesus is saying here is that He deserves the same honor and worship and
adoration that the Father deserves.
B)And
that if you don’t honor the Son, then you are
not
honoring the Father.
1)
“ Well I believe in God –Problem with Jesus” – Boaz
Kinsmen redeemer man
C)
What Jesus is saying here is that the only way to honor God is through Him.
Period!
Now is this narrow? Oh you bet it is.
A)This
excludes all others – No other name thru which men can be saved.
B)
Not Buddha /
C)
Now that is not the politically correct thing to say Jesus only – but it is the
truth!
1)
Marvel isn’t that Jesus is the only way – the marvel is that there is a way
Period.
D) Give Him Honor by
believing in Him – Make Him your King
1) When you do that you
honor God the Father too!
9 Therefore God also has highly exalted
Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of
Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of
those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.