We are going to be going fairly quickly through these next 12 verses. Let us not excuse them and spend any less time pondering their meaning though because in them they may lay the foundation of this gospel. I pray each day we press the scriptures into our hearts and through this message believe that He is Lord.
Jhn 5:17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
Jhn 5:18 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.
- What is to be taken from the force of Christ answer in verse 17?
- Scriptural reference John 10:30-33.
One of, if not the prominent underlying purpose of this gospel is to declare that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, and that in believing ye might know you have eternal life through His name and deed (John 20:31). There is a strong reoccurring theme throughout the Book of John of the Devine deity of Christ. This and following are some of the more prominent examples. We will examine a seven-fold proof of the deity of Christ as we study verse 17 through 29. We will look as the Lord sets before the Jews and for all that read here an absolute equality and oneness with His Father and I have a personal hope that we may believe and have eternal life.
First in verse 17 Jesus compares Himself to the Father in the redemptive work. This shows Himself as one with His actions to the Father. This also lays the foundation of His equality as a single Lord. Although it is true that God rested on that first seventh day, He has never rested from His sovereign work, providential work, and supplying the needs of His creation. Every morning the sun raises and at night it sets. The tides continue to ebb and flow. The rainfalls, wind blows, and flowers bloom. What we term works of necessity and mercy sustaining creation seven days a week. Now back to our text as His Father works, He works. If the Son did works of necessity and mercy ministering to their needs is He any less than God. And now through these words they, and we, may know that He is absolutely equal to God the Father and with that carrying the absolute power to do His will and save His people.
