Gospel Of John

Gospel Light Christian Church
Thru-The-Bible Series (2.4)

The Gospel Of John

John 5:17-47 - Read this Bible passage once through before referring to the notes below.

Jesus Equality with God

v.17 The Jews had accused Jesus of working on the Sabbath. Jesus answers that God also works on the Sabbath because God never stops working [1] (He "worketh hitherto," ie, ceaselessly until now).

v.18 Instead of letting the matter lie, Jesus seizes the opportunity provided by the miracle to emphasise His divinity [2]. Unlike many people who try to play down Jesus' claim of being God, the Jews clearly understood Jesus' claim that he was equal to God (ie, He claimed that He and the Father were equal work partners). Jesus' miracle should have made them seriously consider this claim.

v.19 This verse begins Jesus' long teaching (a) asserting His divine authority, commission, dignity, and equality with God. (b) giving proofs of His claims, and (c) charging the Jews of the reason why they will not believe. Nowhere else in the Bible does the Lord make such a formal, systematic statement of these great truths.

"The son can do nothing of himself' is not referring to the Son's lack of strength but to the total unity of will of God the Father and God the Son [3]. In other words, it is impossible for the Son to do anything (including breaking the Sabbath law) of His own will, because all that the Son does is "what he seeth [4] the Father do.” [5]

v.20 The Father loveth the Son (and the Son loveth the Father) with such an infinite love that earthly language cannot describe. This statement does not imply any superiority of the Father, and inferiority of the Son.

The Father "sheweth him all things that himself doeth" also does not imply a superior Father teaching an ignorant Son. We must realise that we are not reading of an earthly father and son. This statement simply describes in limited earthly language [6] the total understanding and co-operation of the Father and the Son. There is no way a man can show all things that he does to anyone, because though they may observe all that he does outwardly, they cannot see nor understand all that he does in his head and in his heart.

Though the miracle of healing the impotent man was marvellous, God the Father had greater miracles in store. These miracles are "seen" by the Son (who is in perfect union with the Father), who would shortly do them. These greater work refer to the salvation of souls, which are much greater works that the healing of physical ailments.

v.21 The Jews were angry that Jesus claimed to "be equal with God. Here Jesus clearly claims to be God by claiming the ability to raise the dead, and to give life (ie, quickeneth). Men have universally accepted that only God can give life. Jesus is probably referring to raising up both the physically and spiritually dead, Jesus claims that He can raise up whom he will. This statement is another claim of divinity, because prophets only did miracles according to God's will, not according to their own will.

v.22 Though the raising of the dead is the work of all three Persons of the Holy Trinity, all judgement has been committed unto the Son. All judgement refers to the judgement on the Day of judgement, and all judgement in the daily affairs of man. Jesus who was unfairly judged by His own people while He lived among them, and who was cruelly judged to die at Calvary has been given the job of judging men.

v.23 When we know that Jesus will judge us, we will honour Him. Of the three Persons of the Holy Trinity, Jesus humbled Himself in His incarnation and sufferings, and was therefore the most dishonoured One. Therefore, it is commanded that all men should honour the Son,even asthey honour the Father, because they two are equal. Because the Father and the Son are one, whosoever honoureth not the Son honoureth not theFather. The fact that Jesus was sent by the Father does not necessarily mean inferiority. Again we must remember that this is not an earthly father sending his son. It is common for one of two equals to be sent to do a job.

v.24 Those that heard Jesus' claim of divinity, and believed that God had sent Him to bear the sins of His people have everlasting life. It is impossible to believe that Jesus is the One who died for our sins without believing that God the Father sent Him to die. Therefore, to believe on Jesus, is to also believe on him that sent Him. Everlasting life is not something that we receive when we get to heaven, but whosoever believeth on him hath (present tense!) everlasting life, and passed from death unto life. That is, a person who trusts in Jesus Christ as his Saviour is immediately spiritually made alive, and is immediately brought from a state of spiritual death into spiritual life.

Two Resurrections

v.25 The dead refer particularly to the spiritually dead, who have heard the voice of the Son of God in their hearts calling them to be raised from their spiritual deadness and who are immediately brought to spiritual life.

v.26 Again we must remember that the description is not that of an earthly father giving to his son. God the Father and God the Son are co-equal, and both have the same life in themselves, only with this difference: the Father from all eternity giveth it, the Son from all eternity receiveth it. God is a God of order, and even though the three Persons of the Holy Trinity are equal there is order in the way things are done within the Trinity. Notice that the Trinity is taught in this verse: both the Father and the Son are God because each has life in himself, and only God has life in himself, all others have life from another, yet both Father and Son are two distinct persons.

v.27 Because God the Son became the Son of man He felt man's infirmities. Therefore, He is the most suitable person of the Trinity to be execute judgement on man.

v.28 This event is yet to happen ("the hour is coming") and refers to the second resurrection, which is physical in nature; when all the dead (both believers and unbelievers) will be raised (REV 20:11-15). The voice that raises the spiritually dead (v.25) will raise the physically dead. Though this is a marvellous event, it should not shock us because God has life to give, and He brings things to pass by His word.

v.29 The results of the resurrection will be different - one group unto the resurrection of life with God, the other group to the resurrection of damnation from God. By our life we will know to which resurrection we belong. If we have done good we will have the resurrection of life. If we have done evil (especially in rejecting God's love) we will have the resurrection of damnation. This does not reach us that salvation is by good works, but rather teaches us that the evidence of salvation is good works.

v.30 Jesus repeats that His will is exactly that of His Father's (v.19). "I can of mine ownself do nothing" does not refer to His lack of power to do something [7], but to His total unity of His will with the Father's. In other words, it is impossible for Him who is so united with the Father, to do anything that is different from the Father's will. Though Jesus will judge (v.22) we are sure that His Judgement is exactly that of the Father's.

Three Witnesses to Jesus’ Claims

v.31 Jesus had made majestic claims of His Person, so He had to back His claims. [8] Jesus is going to offer three witnesses to back up His fantastic claim that He is the Son of God, namely, John the Baptist, His miracles, and the Scriptures.

v.32 Some believe that the one referred to is John the Baptist, but it is unlikely because John had already died or was in prison, and the statement is in the present tense: “There is another…” Jesus is probably referring to God the Father who had declared that He was the beloved Son of God at His baptism.

v.33 When Jesus referred to "another" witness the Jews probably assumed that it was the Baptist, therefore, Jesus mentions him. The Jewish authorities did not like John the Baptist but they knew that he was a prophet of truth (MAT 21:26). Therefore, if he bare witness unto the truth they should have believed him when he said that Jesus was the Lamb of God.

v.34 Though the Baptist had testified of Jesus in JOH 1:19-36, 3:26-36, Jesus tells them that it is not man's testimony that will confirm His claims. Though Jesus Himself did not need the Baptist's testimony to confirm His claims, He mentions it so those who had heard the Baptist's testimony might believe and might he saved.

v.35 John's life really shined, but his ministry had passed away at this point of time ("He was.....") either because of his imprisonment or death. For a season the Jews rejoiced to in John's ministry, expecting him to be the one to overthrow the Romans, or to announce the arrival of one who would do the same.

v.36 Four times in this Gospel Jesus appeals to His miracles as proof of His claims (JOH 3:2, 10-25, 15-24). Jesus’ miracles were so numerous, so marvellous, so public, so observable, and so merciful. Jesus emphasises that His miracles, including the healing of the impotent man, were all done in perfect union with the will of the Father (ie, "the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do").

v.37 This “witness” could refer either to God's vocal voice (MAR 1:11), or more likely to His Written Word. Though the Jews read the scriptures, they did not "hear" God's message, nor "see his shape" in the Word because they had not searched the scriptures (v.39).

v.38 The Jews were always boasting of their knowledge of God's Word. Jesus charges that though they knew the Word, the Word did not abide in them and transform them nor teach them. The proof of His charge was that they did not believe that He was the Messiah, which they would if the word had abided in them (v.39).

v.39 The reason why they did not believe was that they failed to search the scriptures, though they knew (ie, think) that it contained the message of eternal life. "Think" refers to the general accepted belief among the Jews regarding the scriptures [9] as that which led to eternal life.

v.40 Jesus closes His mighty sermon with a heart searching charge against the Jews. The reason for their failure to recognise Him as the Messiah was not a lack of evidence but they did not want to recognise Him as such.

v.41 Jesus knew that they were thinking that He was irritated with them because they did not praise Him for His miracle. Others thought He was boasting to obtain honour from man. Jesus makes this statement to contrast Himself with them (v.44).

v.42 Jesus tells them that they cannot believe that He, the humble carpenter's son, was the Messiah, because they love themselves and not God ("love of God" means "love for God").

v.43 By this verse, Jesus proves what He said in v.42. If they had loved the Father, they would have loved His Son who is exactly like Him. The Jews would receive others who come in their own names, because they were like them, eg. boastful, worldly, unholy. [10]

v.44 Judaism had degenerated into a religion of seeking men’s praise. Therefore they would not tolerate the "competition" from Jesus, nor accept Him as God because He was poor and humble. This love of honour from one another is the greatest hindrance to believing in Jesus Christ.

v.45 The Jews always prided themselves as Moses' faithful disciples.

v.46 Jesus honours the O.T.

v.47 If they rejected Moses' prophecies of Jesus, surely they would reject Jesus' claims.

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Footnotes

[1] In EX0 20:11 God "rests" after six days of labour. This does not mean that God became idle but that God rested from His creating work, but continued His preserving (or providential) work (COL 1:17). Otherwise, the sun would stop shining, and the grass would stop growing. Similarly, we should stop our daily toil on the Sabbath to do another kind of work – namely, spiritual "work."

[2] All the verbs in this verse are also in the imperfect tense, suggesting that Jesus continued to assert His co-equality with the Father, and the Jews continued to seek to kill Him.

[3] Many Christians have the misconception that God the Father desires to judge sinners, but God the Son desires to save them. These well-meaning Christians, without realising, would suggest the idea that they worship three gods, not the one Holy Triune God.

[4] The word "seeth" speaks of the perfect knowledge of God's will because it is as if Jesus sees the complete workings of God's mind. The only one that can really "see" the complete working of my mind is myself. Therefore, Jesus is claiming total unity with the Father.

[5] The statement "for what things soever he doeth these also doeth the Son likewise is a plainly spoken claim to be equal to God. How can any one who is not equal to God do what things soever he doeth.

[6] It is impossible to fully describe these divine truths with earthly language because earthly language was designed to describe earthly things. Therefore throughout this passage describing deep divine truths we must be aware of the limitations of earthly language.

[7] When we hear that one cannot do something we automatically think of a weakness. However, when we are told that God cannot lie (TIT 1:2) we do not consider it a weakness but a strength.

[8] This verse cannot be taken literally because it would imply that Jesus was a liar. As Jesus was addressing a hostile crowd, He was saying "If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true in your estimation.”

[9] Jesus offered three witnesses to His claims, this last one (ie, the scripture) is the strongest.

[10] This prophecy came true. According to a historian no less than sixty four false Messiahs came in the first hundred years after Jesus' death (ACT 5:36,37).