Sermon Central
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The Unity Of The Father And The Son.
Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 17, 2022 (message contributor)
Summary: There is a voluntarily subordination of the incarnate Son to the Father, but the Father and the Son are working in harmony and unity to a common end.
THE UNITY OF THE FATHER AND THE SON.
UNCARING HYPOCRISY (John 5:16). The Jewish leadership persecuted Jesus, “and sought to slay Him, because He had done these things on the sabbath day.”
JESUS AND THE FATHER ARE ONE (John 5:17). “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work,” answered Jesus. The Father was working on the sabbath day, as well as on every other day. The sun rose in the morning, and would set at night. God’s providential care over nature continued. The sacrifices of the Temple, all of which pointed to Jesus, demonstrated His special care over mankind.
The Jewish leadership totally understood Jesus here to be making Himself “equal with God” (John 5:18), but chose rather to use this as an excuse “all the more” to seek to kill Him!
JESUS ANSWERED, “Verily, verily I say unto you” (John 5:19). ‘Truly, truly,’ or literally, ‘Amen, Amen.’ Jesus stated that the Father and the Son are one in what they do. The Son does nothing of Himself, but only what He sees the Father do.
“For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth Him all things that Himself doeth: and He will shew Him greater things than these, that ye may marvel” (John 5:20). There is a voluntarily subordination of the incarnate Son to the Father, but the Father and the Son are working in harmony and unity to a common end (John 5:30).
The “greater work” is the work of regeneration. The creation of all things is one great thing, but the ‘new creation’ is greater still.
RAISING THE DEAD (John 5:21-26). The verb which Jesus used in commanding the impotent man to get up, literally ‘Arise’ (cf. John 5:8), is the same verb which is used of the Father raising the dead (John 5:21). Quickening, bringing to life, is now delegated to the Son (John 5:21; John 5:26). This is inclusive of both the “bringing to life” for judgement (John 5:22-23), and ‘bringing to life’ in regeneration (John 5:24-25).
HEARING AND BELIEVING (John 5:24-25). Whoever hears the voice of Jesus and puts their trust in God through Him has everlasting life (cf. John 3:16). This is what it is to be quickened, and it occurs ‘while we are yet sinners’ (cf. Ephesians 2:4-6). It is as mysterious and wonderful as Jesus standing at the tomb of Lazarus and calling him to life (cf. John 11:43)!
RESURRECTION (John 5:27-29). Jesus is given authority to execute judgement. He is the One who will call all men out of their graves at the last day, so of course He has authority to heal, to restore, to bring to life. All life resides in Him (cf. John 1:4).
JUDGEMENT (John 5:22; John 5:27; John 5:29-30). John’s use of the expression “Son of man” (John 5:27) is clearly Messianic, linking with Daniel’s vision of the judgement (cf. Daniel 7:10; Daniel 7:13).
Finally, there is here in John 5:29 a ‘worse thing’ that might befall the healed man if he does not forsake his sin (cf. John 5:14). Surely for us, too, the alternative to ‘not forsaking our sins’ is much better: “the resurrection of life,” as opposed to “the resurrection of damnation” (John 5:29).
