The Authority of the Son

HOOK

From yesterday’s story we saw the hostility of the Jewish leaders— they looked at the carrying and not on the healing

They value the law more than life— on the contrary, Jesus values life over law [tradition]

After healing the man that was invalid for 38 years— he told the Jewish people that it was Jesus who healed him

Why would Jesus do what He did on the Sabbath?

Because He will make a statement— a declaration— He is set the scene— keep in mind there was a Jewish Festival happening at that time— Jerusalem was packed!

The declaration that Jesus made was truly truly important!

Let’s take a look— we’ll begin in verse 16

BOOK

John 5:16–21 NIV

16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. 17 In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” 18 For this reason they tried all the more 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: “Very truly I tell you, 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, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. 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.

LOOK

THE JEWISH LEADERS BEGAN TO PERSECUTE HIM

Because Jesus did things on the sabbath— many times over they the Pharisees will confront Jesus about their laws and traditions— and each time they did, Jesus has sufficient defense to what he was doing

Another confrontation between Jesus the Pharisees is when the Lord’s disciples broke their tradition of washing their hand before they eat

Jesus said that what defiles a person is not what goes in to his mouth, but comes of their mouth is what defiles a person— you can find that in Matthew 15

Matthew 15:10–11 NIV

10 Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. 11 What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”

Matthew 15:18 NIV

18 But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.

MY FATHER IS ALWAYS AT HIS WORK

All the more that the Pharisees to kill Jesus because for Jesus to call God His Father is blasphemy

MAKING HIMSELF EQUAL WITH GOD

This claim, these statement of Jesus declares His authority as the Son of God

WHATEVER THE FATHER DOES, THE SON DOES ALSO

Jesus declares the synchronization of His and the Father’s works

HE WILL SHOW HIM EVEN GREATER WORKS THANK THESE

They have just seen healing— the Father did even greater things— Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead and many many more

THE SON GIVES LIFE TO WHOM HE IS PLEASED TO GIVE IT

Jesus claims delegated authority over life and death— this authority is given to Him by the Father

TOOK

MY GOD IS ALWAYS AT WORK

HE WILL SHOW ME GREATER THINGS