NOTE.—Jesus had healed an impotent man at the pool of Bethesda, in Jerusalem, on the Sabbath day. For this cause "did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay Him." Following this record comes the reply of Jesus to their accusations, which constitutes the lesson for this week.
17 "But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh even until 18 now, and I work. For this cause therefore the Jews sought the more to kill Him, because He not only brake the Sabbath, but also called God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.
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.
20 For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth Him all things that Himself doeth; and greater works than these will He 21 show Him, that ye may marvel. For as the Father raiseth the dead and quickeneth them, even so the Son also quicken- 22 eth whom He will. For neither doth the Father judge any 23 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 24 Him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth Him that sent Me, hath eternal life, and cometh not into judgment, but hath passed out of death into 25 life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour cometh, and 26 now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; 27 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."
Golden Text.—"This is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world." John 4:42.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) What circumstances led up to the words of Christ contained in this lesson? See introductory note. (2) What did Jesus answer them? V. 17. (3) Then what did the Jews seek to do? Why? V. 18. Note 1. (4) What did Jesus then say of the power of the Son? V. 19. (5) What is the Father's regard for the Son? What does the Father show the Son? What would be the effect upon the people? V. 20. Note 2. (6) What further power does the Father give to the Son? V. 21. (7) To whom is judgment committed? V. 22. (8) Why is this authority bestowed upon the Son? What is the effect of not honoring the Son? V. 23. (9) What is the result of hearing and believing the Word? V. 24. (10) What did Jesus say was then coming to pass? V. 25. Note 3. (11) In whom is the source of life? V. 26. (12) Why does the Son have authority to execute judgment? V. 27.
NOTES.
1. "Had broken the Sabbath day."—The accusations against Jesus were always false. He had not broken the Sabbath day. He never broke the Sabbath day, or any other commandment. He was absolutely without sin (Heb. 4:15), which could not have been true if He had broken any one of the commandments (James 2:10; 1 John 3:4). He disregarded the traditions of the Jews concerning the observance of the Sabbath, as in many other things, but He did not disregard the Sabbath day. There never was any controversy between the Jews and Christ, or between them and the apostles, or between them and the church during the first century, as to the day of the Sabbath. The Jews only complained of Jesus and His disciples because of their manner of keeping the Sabbath; and He showed them that their traditions, which were unnecessary burdens, were in violation of true Sabbath-keeping. "It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day." "Making Himself equal with God."—This was also a false accusation. As a man, Christ never claimed equality with God only in the ordinary sense in which a son is equal with a father—in those things in which He was made equal by the Father. Verse 19 is emphatic on this point: "The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do." See also verses 26, 27, and chapter 8:28. Again Jesus said, "My Father is greater than I." Chapter 14:28.
2. The Father's love for the Son.—"To love is expressed by two words in the New Testament. Agapao indicates a reasoning, discriminating attachment (the deliberate choice of one out of a number) founded on the conviction that its object is worthy of esteem, or entitled to it on account of benefits bestowed. Phileo represents a warmer, more instinctive sentiment, more closely allied to feeling, and implying mere passion. Thus phileo represents the affectional element of love, and agapao the intelligent element. Men are bidden to love (agapao) God; never phileo, since love to God implies an intelligent discernment of His attributes, and not merely an affectionate sentiment. Both elements are combined in the Father's love for the Son (agapao in John 3:35; phileo here, 5:20). Agape is used throughout 1 Corinthians 13. Erao, 'love' in which the idea of sensual passion predominates, is never used in the New Testament."—Vincent's Word Studies.
3. "The dead shall hear."—This means the spiritually dead, as is indicated by the expression, "the hour is coming, and now is." The resurrection is future, and is referred to in verses 28, 29.
