John 5:19-29

Jesus Confirms Their View Of His Equality With God And Points To The Resurrection (John 5:19).

Jesus now expands on His claim to be co-equal with the Father. He does not want them to be in any doubt, but does it in semi-veiled terms comparable with His use of parables. He leaves them to think through the implications. It may be of help if we first summarise what Jesus is about to say, for it will help to bring home just how great a claim He was making. Notice how close the relationship is between Father and Son, and how Jesus links Himself with the Father in the greatest issues of life:

· The Son is doing what His Father does (John 5:19).

· He is the Son Who is loved by the Father so that the Father shows Him all that He the Father does (John 5:20).

· He is the Son Who like the Father can make alive whoever He wills (John 5:21).

· He is the Son to Whom the Father has committed all judgment (John 5:22).

· He is the Son Who is deserving of equal honour with the Father (John 5:23).

· He is the Son Who like the Father has life in Himself, so that as the Son of God He will summon the dead to life at the last day (John 5:25).

· He is the Son to Whom the Father has given the authority to exercise judgment because He is the Son of Man (John 5:27).

A glance over Jesus' claims here helps to explain the attitude of the Scribes and Pharisees. They were being put on the spot, for they either had to recognise the stupendous nature of His claims and respond to Him, or dismiss them out of hand. They reveal Him as a figure of gigantic proportions. It will be apparent that the third, fifth and sixth statements are inconceivable unless Jesus really is equal with the Father, while the remainder also bring out His uniqueness in the scheme of things, the seventh being Messianic. We will now consider them in more detail.