Greater Works
Up until now in John’s Gospel ...
One, first and foremost, Jesus knew that God the Father was working. Verse 17, “My Father is working.” Even on the Sabbath, a day of rest, there’s clearly a sense in which God is working. He is sustaining the universe.
And He is seeking after His people. Day after day after day, God is restoring His people to Himself, so Jesus says, “My Father is working to restore people to Himself, so I’m working to restore people to Him.” Jesus says, “I’m simply doing what the Father is doing.” Jesus’ activity is not self-initiated; God the Father is initiating the work of God the Son.
Jesus knew that apart from the Father, He could do nothing. Verse 19, “Truly, truly I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord …” Nothing! What a statement for God the Son to say that He is totally dependent on God the Father! And this is emphasized over and over again in the book of John. Jesus says right after what we just read in John 5:30, “I can do nothing on my own”—nothing—“I can do nothing on my own.” Don’t miss this; this is huge: Jesus’ work was totally dependent on the Father’s work. He never acted independently from the Father. He did nothing—could do nothing—by Himself. He was totally dependent on the Father.
Jesus joined the Father wherever and however He was working. End of verse 19, “Whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.” Right before this, in John 4, Jesus told His disciples, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.” He said in John 12:50, “I say what the Father tells me to say.” In John 15:10, He said, “I do what the Father tells me to do.” Whatever the Father says to do, Jesus does. Whatever the Father says to say, Jesus says. Ultimately revealed in John 12 when Jesus is approaching the cross and He says, “What shall I say, save me for this hour? No, it was for this reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name!” And He walks the road to the cross. “Not my will, but yours be done.” Jesus joined the Father wherever and however the Father was working, even when it meant His life.
Jesus knew that the Father involved Him in His work because the Father loved Him. Verse 20, “For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing.” See the intimacy here. We usually think of the Father’s love for the world, like John 3:16; but we need to remember first and foremost the Father’s love for His Son. The