John 5:19-47
Truly, 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.
Jesus healed a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years on the Sabbath and told him to pick up his mat and walk. This act angered the Jewish religious leaders because they believed Jesus had violated the Sabbath law. More significantly, Jesus called God His Father (John 5:17). To the Jews, this was making Himself equal with God (John 5:18), which made them even more hostile towards Him, even wanting to kill Him.
Instead of retreating in the face of their hostility and anger, Jesus boldly declared His equality with the Father.
Jesus said, “The Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing.” (John 5:19) Jesus meant that He and the Father are in perfect unity. He does not act independently but fully submits to the Father’s will.
We often see this in our daily lives. When children are close to their parents, they naturally want to imitate them, and parents gladly share their work with their children. When my child was young, I once saw him playing with his toy computer, pretending to work just like me. Seeing my child imitating me in that moment filled my heart with joy because I knew his desire to be like me came from his love for me.
At Jesus’ baptism, the Father declared, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matt 3:17) Jesus’ obedience to the Father was also filled with love and joy. He said in John 14:31, “But I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father.”
However, in this sin-stained world, people often demand obedience through power and authority, with disobedience leading to punishment. To the Jews, upholding the law was more important than healing the sick because to them breaking the law brought judgment. They accused Jesus of violating the Sabbath but failed to see that He was working in unity with the Father.
Jesus not only obeys the Father but was also given the Father’s authority. John 5:21-23 states that Jesus has the authority to give life and to judge, just as the Father does. Even though the Jewish leaders disrespected and opposed Jesus, He still proclaimed Himself as the Messiah they had been waiting for.
Dear brothers and sisters. when you come before God, do you feel like you’re speaking into the air, or do you truly experience the Father’s love? Is your obedience driven by fear of punishment, or is it motivated by love for God?
Jesus, in becoming flesh, revealed the Father to us and showed us the relationship of love and obedience. He invites us to come to Him, believe in Him, and follow Him, promising that in Him, we will find life and share in an intimate relationship with the Father. Have you responded to His call?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for revealing this intimate relationship to us through Jesus. Help me to trust in Your love and acceptance, and to experience this closeness in my life. May my love for You lead me to obey You in all things and bear witness to Your goodness before the world. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Jesus healed a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years on the Sabbath and told him to pick up his mat and walk. This act angered the Jewish religious leaders because they believed Jesus had violated the Sabbath law. More significantly, Jesus called God His Father (John 5:17). To the Jews, this was making Himself equal with God (John 5:18), which made them even more hostile towards Him, even wanting to kill Him.
Instead of retreating in the face of their hostility and anger, Jesus boldly declared His equality with the Father.
Jesus said, “The Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing.” (John 5:19) Jesus meant that He and the Father are in perfect unity. He does not act independently but fully submits to the Father’s will.
We often see this in our daily lives. When children are close to their parents, they naturally want to imitate them, and parents gladly share their work with their children. When my child was young, I once saw him playing with his toy computer, pretending to work just like me. Seeing my child imitating me in that moment filled my heart with joy because I knew his desire to be like me came from his love for me.
At Jesus’ baptism, the Father declared, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matt 3:17) Jesus’ obedience to the Father was also filled with love and joy. He said in John 14:31, “But I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father.”
However, in this sin-stained world, people often demand obedience through power and authority, with disobedience leading to punishment. To the Jews, upholding the law was more important than healing the sick because to them breaking the law brought judgment. They accused Jesus of violating the Sabbath but failed to see that He was working in unity with the Father.
Jesus not only obeys the Father but was also given the Father’s authority. John 5:21-23 states that Jesus has the authority to give life and to judge, just as the Father does. Even though the Jewish leaders disrespected and opposed Jesus, He still proclaimed Himself as the Messiah they had been waiting for.
Dear brothers and sisters. when you come before God, do you feel like you’re speaking into the air, or do you truly experience the Father’s love? Is your obedience driven by fear of punishment, or is it motivated by love for God?
Jesus, in becoming flesh, revealed the Father to us and showed us the relationship of love and obedience. He invites us to come to Him, believe in Him, and follow Him, promising that in Him, we will find life and share in an intimate relationship with the Father. Have you responded to His call?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for revealing this intimate relationship to us through Jesus. Help me to trust in Your love and acceptance, and to experience this closeness in my life. May my love for You lead me to obey You in all things and bear witness to Your goodness before the world. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.