CHAPTER 30
JESUS’ RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS FATHER
GOD IS JESUS’ FATHER
RESURRECTION PROMISED
When some Jews accuse Jesus of breaking the Sabbath by healing a man, Jesus replies:
My Father has kept working until now, and I keep working.
No, what Jesus is doing is not forbidden by God’s law regarding the Sabbath. His work
of preaching and healing is in imitation of God’s good works. So Jesus keeps on
doing good every day. His reply to his accusers, however, makes them even agrier than
they were before, and they seek to kill Jesus. Why this reaction?
In addition to their having the mistake view that Jesus is breaking the Sabbath by healing
people, they take great offense at his saying that he is God’s son. They consider it
blasphemy for him to view God as his Father, as if Jesus‘ saying that Jehovah is his
Father amounts to making himself equal to God. However, Jesus is unfraid and
answers them further regarding his special relationship with God. The Father has
affection for the son, he says, and shows him all the things he himself does.
The Father is the life- giver, and he has shown this in the past by empowering men to
resurrect individuals. Jesus continues: just as the Father raises the dead up and makes
them alive, so the son also makes alive whomever he wants to. What a meaningful
statement, giving hope for the future, even now, the son is raising the dead in a spiritual
sense. Hence, Jesus says: whoever hears my word and believe the One who sent me has
everlasting life, and he does not come into judment but has passed over from death to
life.
There is not record that Jesus has as yet raised anyone was actually dead back to life.
But Jesus tells his accusers that such literal resurrections will occur. The hour is
coming, he says, in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come
out.
As extraordinary as Jesus’ role is, he makes it clear that he is subordinate to God, stating:
I can not do a single thing of my own initiative ….. I seek, not my own will, but the will
of him who sent me. However, Jesus describes his own vital role in God’s purpose,
which he has not up to this time done I such a public way. But those accusing Jesus
have more than his withness about these things. You have sent men to Jhon the baptist,
Jesus remains them, and he has borne witness to the truth.
Jesus‘ accusers might well have herad that about two years earlier, Jhon had told jewish
religious leaders about the One coming after him – who was termed the Prophet and the
Christ. Reminding his accusers of their once hight regard for the now imprisioner John,
Jesus says: For a short time you were willing to rejoice greatlyin in his light. Yet he
provides an even greater withness than Jhon the Baptist.
These works that I am doing ( including the healing that he had just performed, bear
withness that the father sent me. besides that, Jesus continues: The Father who sent me
has hiself borne witnees about me. For example, God bore withness about Jesus at his
baptism.
Really, those accusing Jesus have no excuse for rejecting him. The scriptures that they
claim to be searching testify about him. If you believe Moses, you would believe me.
Jesus concludes, for he wrote about me. But if you don’t believe his writings, how will
you believe what I say?
QUESTIONS
1. Why is it not a violation of the Sabbath for Jesus to do good works on that day?
2. How does Jesus describe his vital role in God’s purpose?
3. What witnesses provide proof that Jesus is God’s son?
CHAPTER 30
JESUS’ RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS FATHER
GOD IS JESUS’ FATHER
RESURRECTION PROMISED
When some jews accuse Jesus of breaking the sabbath by healing a man, Jesus
replies: My farher has kept working until now and I keep working.
No, what Jesus is doing is not forbidden by God’s law regarding the sabbath. His
work of preaching and healing is in imitation of God‘s good works. So Jesus
keeps on doing good every day. his reply to his accusers, however makes them
even angrier than they were before, and he seek to kill Jesus. why this reaction?
In addition to their having the mistaken view that Jesus is breaking the Sabbath
by healing people, they take great offence at his saying that he is God’s son.
They consider it blasphemy for him to view God as his Father as if Jesus is
saying that Jehovah is his father amounts to making himself equal to God.
However, Jesus is unafraid and answers them further regarding his special
relationship with God. The father has affection for the son, he says, and shows
him all the things he himself does.
The Father is the life- giver, and he has shown this in the past by empowering
men to resurrect individuals. Jesus continues: just as the Father raises the dead
up and makes them alive, so the son also makes alive whom everyone he wants
to. What a meaningful statement, giving hope for the future. Even now the son is
raising the dead in a spiritual sense. Hence, Jesus says: Whoever hears my
word and believes the One who sent me has everlasting life. and he does not
come into judgment but he has passed over from death to life.
There is not record that Jesus has as yet raised anyone who is actually dead
back to life. But he tells his accusers that such literal resurrections will occur. The
hour is coming, he says, in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his
voice and come out.
As extraordinary as Jesus’ role is, He makes it clear that he is subordinate to
God. stating: I can not do a single thing of my own inicitive….. I seek not my own
will but the will of him who sent me. however, Jesus describes his own vital role
in God‘ purpose which he has not up to this time done in such a public way. But
those accusing Jesus have more than his witness about these things. You have
sent men to Jhon the baptist jesus reminds them and he has borne witness for
the truth.
Jesus’ accusers might well have heard that about two years earlier, John had
told jewish religoius leaders aboiut the One coming after him who was termed the
Prophet and the Christ. reminding his accusers of their once high regard for the
now imprisioned Joh,