This sermon was preached from John 5:19-30 to Tidioute Baptist Church for the evening service.

John is going to continue with his emphasis on showing Jesus as God, the second Person of the Trinity. “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (20:31). The last two parts of that verse will be covered in this section. 

Do not forget either how I mentioned that the prologue introduced multiple themes that will be fully explained in John’s Gospel. I believe this section really explains “καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν, καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος / and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (1:1b). There is very special kind of relationship that is being described between the first and second Persons of the Trinity in this section. Not only are they full agreement with each other, they are one in the same. 

Last time we looked at the text, we saw the Jews wanting to kill Jesus because He broke the sabbath and said He is equal with the Father. The Father works on the sabbath, so must He work on the sabbath. This will continue. Jesus does not correct the thinking of the Jews. He instead continues with their conclusion. 

Same in Will (5:19-20)

Verse 19. “Verily, verily,” is the same as saying “Truly, truly.” These are words that are used to call attention to what He is about to say. These are extremely important words. What is so important? The Son does exactly what the Father does. Why? Because the Son can do nothing of Himself. Whatever the Son wants to do, the Father wants to do as well. Whatever the Father the Son wants to do. The two work in perfect harmony together. There is no earthly analogy to use to try and explain what this looks like. The best I can come up with is a three headed creature where all three heads say exactly the same thing. They work perfectly together. They do not bicker with each other. The Son is just as much God as the Father is God. Whatever can be said of the Father can be said of the Son. They both want to do the same things. They are both God. If the Son wants to work on the sabbath, He can because the Father works on the sabbath. 

Verse 20. The Father loveth the Son. This is a very affection kind of love that is going on here. This is more than just a kind of love that cares. This is a love that is affectionate. God the Father spoke verbally three times while Jesus was on earth doing His ministry. The first time was at the baptism of Jesus and the Father said, “Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22). The second time was on the mountain when Jesus was transfigured before the three disciples and the Father said, “This is my beloved Son: hear Him” (Luke 9:35). The last record of the Father speaking out loud was on the day of the triumphal entry, the beginning of the passion week. “Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again” (12:27-28). Of whom else could we say that God has given glory to? Only to Jesus Christ. Only to the Son of God. Only the Messiah. 

The Father shows all things unto the Son. There is nothing that the Son that God does not know. God the Father is perfect and is all knowing. Yet this is also said of the Son as well. God, as it is put here, share the knowledge of His works. There is nothing kept by God from the Son. 

“He will show greater works than these.” Healing a lame man is nothing for God. God knit the man in his mother’s womb. God knew men before they were created. God will display His glory in much more mighty ways than this. These mighty things are acts the Son will do. Jesus will feed the multitudes with only a few fish and loaves of bread. Jesus will give sight to the blind. Jesus will make the dead live. Jesus will defeat the grave. Jesus will present Himself alive. Jesus will resurrect the dead. Jesus will establish the kingdom of God. 

Same in Power (5:21)

Verse 21. For as the Father raises the dead and quickeneth them; even so will the Son. The word, “quickeneth” is the Greek word ζωοποιεω. It comes from two Greek words, ζωος = life and ποιεω = make. The Greek word literally means to make alive; to make something become a living being. This is reminiscent of creation. God breathed life into Adam and Adam became a living being. 

The claim is however is that just like the Father is able to do this to whom He will, the Son is also able to do this to whom He will. They will both want the same people to be alive. This is also in reference to the resurrection, which will be discussed more in this section.

Same in Authority (5:22)

Verse 22. This seems like an odd statement for Jesus to be making, that the Father will not judge man. Instead it will be the Son that judges all men. However, Jesus is saying that the Father has full confidence the Son to judge all men in the same manner as the Father would desire. The Father haas given Him the authority to do that. 

Same in Honor (5:23)

Verse 23. The end result of the Son being the ultimate Judge is that He is to receive honor. No sensible man will disrespect a judge because the judge has authority to pronounce judgement upon the man. If he is smart, he will honor the judge so that his judgement will not be harsh. However, this honor is not only because He is a judge. He is to receive honor just as much as the Father is to receive honor. If you honor one, you must honor the other. If you dishonor the Son, then you will dishonor the Father or visa versa. 

Therefore… (5:24-30)

Verse 24. The person that listens to the Words of Jesus and believes in the One that Him will have life. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the words of Christ. In order to believe on the Father, one must believe in the words of Christ. Christ always wanted them to hear His message. In order to see the Father, one must have faith. The result of having faith is life. Not just any life but life eternal spent with God. The one who does not listen to these words will end up in condemnation. This eternal life came despite the fact that you were once dead.

Verse 25. Jesus claimed that the time is now when men will hear His voice and will believe. This belief will lead men to life. John, the author, could be talking about a physical resurrection or a spiritual resurrection. A physical because it will be Jesus that will return and raise the saints. “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead” (1 Cor. 15:20-21). A spiritual resurrection because that is what it took to receive salvation. “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins” and, “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ” (Eph. 2:1, 5). Jesus made us alive when He made us receive salvation. 

Verse 26. Life in Himself means that He needs no one else to make Him come alive. This is true of both the Father and the Son. Nothing made God. God made all things. God always existed. The Father always existed. The Son always existed. There is no dependence upon another being in order for God to sustain His own life. Instead, God gives life unto other creatures. Men need God continually in order for them to have life. 

Verse 27. This is repetition of verse 22. Yet there is also the emphasis that Jesus has the authority to execute the judgement. Jesus is authoritative to pronounce judgement and to execute His own judgement. 

This verse also states a reason as to why He is able to give and execute judgement. He is able to execute judgement because He is the Son of Man (cf. Dan. 7:13-14). He will be the one to receive all authority. 

Verses 28-29. Jesus is talking about a resurrection for both the righteous and the wicked (cf. Dan. 12:2). A resurrection for the righteous that will lead to receiving an incorruptible body so that we may have an eternal life with God (1 Cor. 15:51-57). A resurrection for the wicked that will lead to eternal damnation in hell (cf. Rev. 20:11-15). 

Jesus is not stating that doing good things will get you into heaven. The mark of a true believer is that he chases after righteousness. Therefore Jesus can say those who do well will enter into the resurrection of life.

Verse 30. Jesus says He can do nothing of Himself because He is one with the Father. This is why He says that He seeks the will of His Father. 

He also says this because He is constrained by His righteousness. If Jesus sees you sinful, He will judge you as sinful. God cannot lie (Tit. 1:2). The righteousness of Christ will condemn you. He is holy just as the Father is holy. They both cannot look upon that which is sinful.