It is the Sabbath day when Jesus heals the man who had laid by the pool for 38 years. Jesus instructs this man to “pick up his pallet and walk” and this kind of activity is not allowed on the Sabbath day of rest. This provoked the Jewish leaders to criticize Jesus because he had healed the man on the Sabbath. The response of Jesus escalates the confrontation…
In His defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” 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. John 5:17-18 NIV
This provides an opportunity for Jesus to clarify the truth of His identity with these Jewish leaders. These leaders were questioning His authority and His identity. First, they questioned His authority to supersede the law, and second, they questioned His implied relationship as being the Son to God the Father. Jesus “doubled down” on this idea in His further response. Consider the words of Jesus…
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. 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. 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. John 5:19-21 NIV
The response of Jesus is two-fold. First, Jesus establishes His relationship with God as being the Son who is co-equal with the Father. This is more of an academic intellectual statement-head knowledge so to speak. Then, Jesus addresses how people should respond to the Son. This is the emotional “heart” response each person should have to His glory.
Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent Him. Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. John 5:22-24 NIV
