Lesson 14: John 5:19-29 - Jesus’ Authority
19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.
20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.
21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.
22 The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son,
23 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.
24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.
27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.
28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice
29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
In verses 19-21 we see Jesus, God the Son, claiming the same power as the Father. Jesus begins by saying the Son only does things He sees the Father doing. What the Father does, the Son does in the same way. The Father does not judge anyone, because He has given the Son that task – so all who honor the Father will honor the Son. Any who fail to honor the Son do not honor the Father who sent Him.
Notice that we will not be getting eternal life someday. We already have eternal life now by faith. Jesus then says an hour is coming and is now that the dead who hear the voice of the Son of God, and those alive who hear, will live. The Father has life in Himself and has given the Son Who has life in Himself as well. The Father has also given the Son to execute judgment because He is the Son of Man (Daniel 7:13). Don’t be surprised at this. An hour is coming when all who are in their tombs will hear His voice and come forth. Those who have done good to a resurrection of life and those who have done evil to a resurrection of judgment. Jesus’ life-giving power can call a person out of the grave (John 11:43), everyone from their tombs, or anyone in spiritual death to eternal life. Please note the words those who have done good and those who have done evil do not mean a salvation by good deeds or damnation because of evil deeds. We are saved by the Lamb of God who, as our substitutionary Sacrifice, takes away the penalty of our sin. Salvation is by faith in Christ. Damnation is the consequence of rejection of God’s Son (John 3:36).
*According to Ephesians 2:8-10, what is the true source of our good works?
19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.
20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.
21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.
22 The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son,
23 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.
24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.
27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.
28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice
29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
In verses 19-21 we see Jesus, God the Son, claiming the same power as the Father. Jesus begins by saying the Son only does things He sees the Father doing. What the Father does, the Son does in the same way. The Father does not judge anyone, because He has given the Son that task – so all who honor the Father will honor the Son. Any who fail to honor the Son do not honor the Father who sent Him.
Notice that we will not be getting eternal life someday. We already have eternal life now by faith. Jesus then says an hour is coming and is now that the dead who hear the voice of the Son of God, and those alive who hear, will live. The Father has life in Himself and has given the Son Who has life in Himself as well. The Father has also given the Son to execute judgment because He is the Son of Man (Daniel 7:13). Don’t be surprised at this. An hour is coming when all who are in their tombs will hear His voice and come forth. Those who have done good to a resurrection of life and those who have done evil to a resurrection of judgment. Jesus’ life-giving power can call a person out of the grave (John 11:43), everyone from their tombs, or anyone in spiritual death to eternal life. Please note the words those who have done good and those who have done evil do not mean a salvation by good deeds or damnation because of evil deeds. We are saved by the Lamb of God who, as our substitutionary Sacrifice, takes away the penalty of our sin. Salvation is by faith in Christ. Damnation is the consequence of rejection of God’s Son (John 3:36).
*According to Ephesians 2:8-10, what is the true source of our good works?