The Gospel of John: John 5.16-30.

Read and meditate on John 5.19, 20.
“Don’t blame Me,” Jesus seems to be saying. He was only doing what He saw the Father doing. But He was also saying, in effect, “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.” And He wasn’t kidding.

                      ¹⁹Answering then He said,
“Assuredly, I say to you, the Son
can nothing do but what He sees is done
by God the Father. What He does the Son 
does also, ²⁰for the Father loves the Son,
and shows Him everything He does. And He
will show Him greater works than these, so see,
and marvel.”

- John 5.19, 20

Reflect
1.  Jesus claimed to be able to “see” the works the Father was doing. How was He able to do that? Should we expect to “see” the works of God? Explain. Complete this prayer: Lord, You have made Your works to be remembered (Ps. 111.4). Show me Your works today, so that I…

2.  Do you suppose Jesus’ explanation for why He did this good work mollified the Jews at all? Did He expect it to? Then why did He make the situation worse than it was by making this statement? I must not be afraid to talk about You Lord, even though…

3.  Jesus clearly suggests that we can know God by looking at Jesus. How can you see that? What are the implications of this for our knowing, worshiping, and serving God? Lord Jesus, show me the Father more clearly today, as I…

4.  Jesus indicates that greater works than the healing of this lame man are yet to come (Jn. 5.3-15). What works? And in what way were they greater than this one? What did He mean by telling the leaders they would “marvel”? Today, Lord, as I go through my day and everything I have to do, let me not lose sight of You, or of Your great works. Let Your works, Lord…

5. For Someone Who came to earth to bring a Gospel of grace, there’s an awful lot of talk about “works.” Jesus did the works of the Father to secure salvation for us. Why should we be concerned about doing good works, as those who have received the Gospel? Bring together into one prayer the prayers you wrote for questions 1-4.

Summary
“Now we understood that the Father does not do something separately, which, when the Son has seen it, he, too, does after having examined the work of his Father. Rather, he said, ‘The Son cannot do anything of himself, but only what he sees the Father doing,’ because the whole Son is from the Father, and his whole substance and power is from him who begot him. He had said that he does these things in the same way that the Father does, so that we do not think that the Father does some things and the Son other things. Rather, with the same power the Son does the very same things that the Father does when the Father does them through the Son.” Augustine (354-430 AD)

The Good News that Jesus brought to earth entails works like those of the Father. Certain of those works were germane to Jesus’ calling, while certain others are germane to our callings. How can we know the works God intends us to do, as His redeemed children?

Closing Prayer
My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness
And Your salvation all the day,
For I do not know their limits.
I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD;
I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only.
O God, You have taught me from my youth;
And to this day I declare Your wondrous works.

Psalm 71.15-17

Psalm 71.12-16, 3 (Solid Rock: My Hope is Built on Nothing Less)
O God, be not too far from me; my ever-present Helper be!
Consume and shame my enemies; let them reproached and humbled be.
    A Rock of habitation be; command Your Word to rescue me;
    My Rock and Fortress ever be!

But as for me, my voice I raise to sing in hope and constant praise!
With saving grace my voice will swell Your never-ending grace to tell.
    A Rock of habitation be; command Your Word to rescue me;
    My Rock and Fortress ever be!

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.