Life Through the Son
16So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him. 17Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working." 18For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
19Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, 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. 20For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. 21For 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. 22Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.
24"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. 25I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. 27And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.
28"Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. 30By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
Questions:
1. Why do you think Jesus' words and actions upset the religious people of that time?
2. What does Jesus mean when he says, " 25I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live"? (vs.25)
3. What is the significance of the relationship between the Father and Son? How does it impact our lives today?
1 comment:
Q1: Jesus' words and actions were upsetting to the religious people of that era because of more than one reason. Firstly, he chose to heal on the sabbath. Given the preoccupation during that time with religious custom, it was unacceptable, to the point of being blasphemous for any type of non-religious activity, by Jewish standards, to be done on the sabbath. Healing was not considered to be religious activity as it was not considered as being devotion to God. Secondly, the Jews were even more upset by the words of Jesus, as He seemed to justify his actions by claiming God as His Father, and indicating that both He and His Father were at work. His words also indicated that He belonged to royalty, through his claim that He was the Son of God.
Q2:I belive this verse has a dual meaning. On the one hand, Jesus is referring to the resurrection of the dead, when those who sleep in Christ will arise. On the other hand, He is referring to persons who are spiritually dead, either through not knowing Jesus or through having turned away from Him. Thus, he is sayig that if we would harden not our hearts (See Hebrews 3), we would be convicted by the Holy Spirit, and we will leave our spiritually dead state and inherit eternal life through the Son. For eternal life starts now, once we make the resolve to hear, and in effect, listen to the Son of God.
Q3: It is significant to note that the Father and the Son are one. We should also note that there is a special relationship between the Father and the Son, where the Son emulates the work of the Father and demonstrates unconditional obedience to him. The Son does not operate on His own stead, but draws all power, and receives all direction from the Father. There is an abundant love that exists between the Father and the Son, which is manifested through the guidance that flows from the Father to the Son. As a result, the Father has bestowed authority on the Son, and calls us therefore to honour the Son, so that through doing this we will honour the Father.
Post a Comment