CHRIST IS EQUAL WITH THE FATHER–JOHN 5:17-30–LESSON 11
Introduction:
The Lord had healed a man on the Sabbath and the Jews were trying to kill Jesus for this violation of their law. “But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” Now they have another charge against Him, that is, that He made Himself equal with God. To the Jews this was the last straw, however, we can substantiate Jesus’ claims.
I. THREE WAYS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS EQUAL WITH THE FATHER.
A. Jesus is Equal in WORKS, v. 17, “But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.”
1. They sought to kill Jesus because He had healed the man on the Sabath, v. 18.
2. They also sought to kill Him because He made himself equal with God.
B. Jesus is Equal in JUDGMENT, v. 22, “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:”
1. The Son’s ability to give life is coupled with His right to judge mankind, v. 27, “And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.”
2. The Father has placed this responsibility in the Son’s hands.
C. Jesus is Equal in HONOR, v. 23, “That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.”
1. “Jesus’ unity with His Father is so complete that the honor of God is tied to Jesus.”
2. “To reject or dishonor God the Son is to reject and dishonor God the Father.” (Edwin A. Blum)
II. THE THREEFOLD RESURRECTION.
A. The resurrection of dead sinners today, v. 24, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
1. Present tense, “He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life,”
2. Future tense, “and shall not come into condemnation.”
3. Past tense, “but is passed from death unto life.”
B. The Resurrection unto life, vs. 28–29a, “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29-And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”
1. The resurrection unto life, v. 25, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.” v. 29a, ”And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life;
2. This is the First Resurrection, Rev. 20:4-6, And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5-But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6-Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”
C. The Resurrection unto death. This is the second resurrection where the unbelievers shall be raised to be judged before Jesus Christ. Rev. 20:11-12, “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12-And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”
1. This is the great white throne judgment.
2. There the unbeliever is judged.
a. He is not judged to see if he merits hell.
b. He is judged regarding the degree of his punishment or suffering in hell.
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