19 “Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father doing; for what things soever he doeth, these the Son also doeth in like manner. For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth him all things that himself doeth; and greater works than these will he show him, that ye may marvel. For as the Father raiseth the dead and quickeneth them, even so the Son also quickeneth whom he will. For neither doth the Father judge any man, but he hath given all judgment unto the Son; that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth Him that sent me, hath eternal life, and cometh not unto judgment, but hath passed out of death into life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour cometh, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself, even so gave he to the Son also to have life in himself; and he gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this; for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done ill, unto resurrection of judgment.”
30 “I can of myself do nothing: as I hear, I judge; and my judgment is righteous; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me. If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. It is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. Ye have sent unto John, and he hath borne witness unto the truth. Yet the witness which I receive is not from man; howbeit I say these things, that ye may be saved. He was the lamp that burneth and shineth; and ye were willing to rejoice for a season in his light. But the witness which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father hath given me to accomplish, the very works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. And the Father which sent me, he hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his form. And ye have not his word abiding in you; for whom he sent, him ye believe not.”
QUESTIONS.
What great principle of his life does Jesus now announce?
Who is set forth as the Master-workman?
To what extent is Christ acquainted with the doings of his Father? What further revelations will be made to him? Why?
What comparison is made between the Father and the Son in their power to give life?
Who has been intrusted with the executive judgment?
What is the purpose in this arrangement?
In what way is the Father dishonored?
What is received through effectual hearing? From what is such a hearer delivered? What change is experienced?
What class of persons are able to hear Christ’s voice? With what result?
How did Christ become the Lifegiver?
What special authority has been given to him? Why?
Who are yet to hear Christ’s voice? What will they then do?
What differences will then be manifest?
What principle of his life does Jesus reiterate? What is the basis of his judgment? What kind of judgment is it? Why?
Did Jesus expect the Jews to receive his own unsupported statements?
Did he have any corroborative testimony? What kind was it?
From whom had the Jews had testimony about Christ?
Did such testimony strengthen Christ’s faith? Why did he refer to it?
Was it of temporary benefit to the Jews?
What gave stronger evidence of Christ’s divine mission?
Who had borne personal testimony to the same effect?
In what three particulars did the Jews lack knowledge of the Father?
What proof is given that they did not know his word?
NOTES.
1. The statement in verse 19, repeated in verse 30, brings before us the position of entire dependence upon the Father which Jesus voluntarily took, in order that he might be our example, when he assumed our nature. “Christ came from heaven to give to the world a correct representation of the Father. . . . The love and justice of God, and also the immutability of his law, are made manifest by the Saviour’s life, no less than by his death. He assumed human nature, with its infirmities, its liabilities, its temptations. Matt. 8:17; Heb. 2:17, 14. He exercised in his own behalf no power which we can not exercise. As man, he met temptation and overcame in the strength given him of God. He gives us an example of perfect obedience. . . . His life testified that, by the aid of the same divine power which Christ received, it is possible for man to obey God’s law.”
2. “Few realize the full force of Christ’s words in regard to his connection with the Father. They teach man that he should consider himself inseparably bound to his heavenly Parent, that, whatever position he may occupy, he is responsible to God, who holds all destinies in his hands.”
3. The lesson to Nicodemus; the lesson to the woman of Samaria, the lesson in the healing of the nobleman’s son, and the impotent man, are all set forth in verse 21,—“life only in Christ.”
4. “They were to behold greater wonders than the healing of the poor sufferer at Bethesda. They would see the Son of God restoring the dead to life, and this would be a testimony to them of his power to restore to spiritual life those who were dead in trespasses and sins. It was his work, through his teachings, attended by the power of the Holy Spirit, to beget a new life in the souls of men, to make them partakers of the divine nature. . . . This change is no less a miracle of the power of God than is the raising of the dead to life.”
5. The present possession of everlasting life through faith is again taught in verse 24; see also verse 36 of chapter 3. By comparing these two verses we shall see that believing on the Son includes hearing his words (hearkening to them) and believing on the Father. “Faith is but the appropriation of the lost life, offered to us again in Christ.”
6. God has life “in himself,” Christ has life “in himself,” but apart from God in Christ, “ye have not life in yourselves.” Chapter 6:53, R. V.
7. “Having tasted the very dregs of human affliction and temptation, he is qualified to understand the frailties and sins of men, and to pronounce judgment upon them. Therefore, the Father has given this work into the hands of his Son, knowing that he who victoriously withstood the temptations of Satan, in behalf of man, will be all-wise, just, and gracious in his dealing with him. . . . And he who gave the light, he who has followed the soul with tenderest love and entreaty, seeking to win it from sin to holiness, he it is who is to be its final judge.”
Suggestions for Further Study.
The thought that “the Son can do nothing of himself” is one of wondrous depth, and the whole subject will repay careful study. In this is wrapped up the philosophy of the temptations of Christ. He came to reveal the Father, but he was tempted constantly to reveal himself, to do something of himself.
What is the “death” and what is the “life” which are contrasted in verse 24?
Consider the true basis for being justified by works, as shown in the life of Christ, and appealed to in verse 36.
Observe the number of times that Christ mentions “the Father” in this short talk with the Jews. What truth is he thus emphasizing?
The full force of the rebuke in verse 38 can only be appreciated by a consideration of the way in which the Jews prided themselves upon possessing the Scriptures, and their elaborate study of their outward form. Compare Matt. 22:29.
