Sunday Morning - April 28, 1996
Text: John 5:16-30 "And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
18. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
John 1:1-3 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2. The same was in the beginning with God. 3. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."
John 20:27-29 "Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."
Philippians 2:6 "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:"
17. But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. 18. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
GOD THE FATHER WORKS ON THE SABBATH AND SO DO I
While it is true that God rested on that first seventh day from all His creative work, He has never rested from His governmental work, His providential work, supplying the needs of His creatures. The sun rises and sets, the tides ebb and flow, the rain falls, the wind blows, the grass grows on the weekly Rest Day as well as on any other. What we may term works of necessity and works of mercy- that is upholding and sustaining the whole realm of creation and the daily recurring needs of His creatures-God never rests from. A.W.Pink, Gospel of John p.258
Jesus did not correct these Jews and their thoughts about him being equal with God, because he was God.
John 8:58-59 "Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. 59. Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by."
John 10:30-31 "I and my Father are one. 31. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him."
Philippians 2:7 "But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:"
19. Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. Like God want it done.
"The Son can do nothing of himself"
This is not a limitation of the Son of God as explained in: WE ARE ONE IN WILL!
John 5:30 "I can of mine own self do nothing: ...because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me."
John 4:34 "Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work."
Philippians 2:13 "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."
20. For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth him all things that himself doeth: and he will show him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
John 16:13-15 "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. 14. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. 15. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you."
21. For as the Father raiseth up the dead [nekros], and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
Job 23:13 "But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth."
John 5:6 "When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?" John 5:8 "Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk." NO ONE ELSE
John 11:42-44 "And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. 43. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 44. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go."
John 14:12 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father."
22. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23. That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
Romans 12:10 "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;"
1 Corinthians 1:3 "Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ."
Mark 14:59 "But neither so did their witness agree together."
Acts 11:17 "Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us..."
1 Peter 2:21 "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:"
Hebrews 12:3 "For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."