The Gospel of John: John 5.16-30

Read and meditate on John 5.18.
As if working on the Sabbath weren’t bad enough, Jesus also claimed God as His Father. And the Jews did not miss the significance of what He was claiming.

                          ¹⁸They therefore plotted how
they might destroy Him, not because He broke
the Sabbath only, but because He spoke
these words, that God His Father was, and made
Himself God’s equal.

- John 5.18

Reflect
1.  What is implied in Jesus’ claim that God is His Father? How did the Jews interpret what He was saying? Explain. Complete this prayer: Jesus, You are God’s Son. You can show me the Father, and help me know His will. Today I want You to…

2.  In Jerusalem in Jesus’ day, to claim to be God was a capital offense – both within the Jewish community and according to Roman law. Why would both these communities – Jewish and Roman – have held such a claim to be worthy of death? You have called me to be Your witness, Lord. I need to tell others You are God’s Son. Give me an opportunity today to…

3.  At this point in his story, John makes it clear that the religious leaders of the day intend to kill Jesus. Jesus certainly knew this, and He pressed ahead with His mission anyway. How do you suppose knowing this affected John, Peter, Andrew, and the other disciples? I know some people get upset when we talk about You, Lord, but still…

4.  Thus far in John’s gospel we have seen that the Word of God – now incarnate as Jesus – is God, existed with God, was sent to earth by God, and is in some way God’s Son. How would you explain this to someone who asked you your understanding of Jesus? This is a great mystery, Lord, and I can’t understand it fully. But I can understand it enough to…

5.  In our day, some people deny that Jesus ever claimed to be God. How does John’s report about the Jewish leaders refute that mistaken notion? Bring together into one prayer the prayers you wrote from questions 1-4.

Summary
“The Evangelist testifies that in calling himself God’s own Son, Jesus made himself equal to God. For the Jews are not presented as saying, ‘For this cause we sought to kill him.’ Rather, the Evangelist, speaking for himself, says, ‘For this reason the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him.’ Moreover, he has discovered the cause, [in saying] that the Jews were stirred with desire to slay him because, when as God he broke the sabbath and also claimed God as his own Father, Jesus ascribed to himself not only the majesty of divine authority in breaking the sabbath but also, in speaking of his Father, the right pertaining to eternal equality.” Ambrose of Milan (333-397 AD)

The crux of the tension between Jesus and the religious leaders of His day had to do with authority. Jesus represented a challenge to their authority. They bridled at His claim about being the Son of God. They were determined to prevent Him from overthrowing their place in society (cf. Jn. 11.47, 48). Why do some people still today see Jesus as a threat?

Closing Prayer
Why do the nations rage,
And the people plot a vain thing?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the rulers take counsel together,
Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
“Let us break Their bonds in pieces
And cast away Their cords from us.”
He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;
The LORD shall hold them in derision.
Then He shall speak to them in His wrath,
And distress them in His deep displeasure:
“Yet I have set My King
On My holy hill of Zion.”
“I will declare the decree:
The LORD has said to Me,
‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.’”

Psalm 2.1-8

Psalm 2.1-8 (Agincourt: O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High!)
Why do the nations vainly rage, conspiring together from age to age?
Earth’s kings and all of their counselors stand against the Lord and His Right Hand.:

“Now let us cast His yoke below, His Kingdom authority overthrow!
Throw off His Law, reject His Word; no more be governed by this Lord!”

The Lord in heaven laughs in wrath at all who embark on this cursèd path.
His angry Word to them is plain: “Yet shall My King in Zion reign!”

Proclaim the message far and wide, that God has exalted the Crucified!
From heav’n He sent us His only Son, Who has for us salvation won!

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.