We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. --1 John 3:14
Billy Graham once said, "A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets of our society." Hedy Lamarr said, "I am not ashamed to say that no man I have ever met was my father's equal, and I never loved any other man as much." Keith Urban said, "I only hope when I have my own family that every day I see a little more of my father in me."
These quotes, of course, were all said in praise of earthly fathers. Whenever Jesus speaks of His Father, though, we get a glimpse of God for ourselves. When the Pharisees and keepers of the Law accused Jesus of blasphemy, as we saw last time in our study of the first half of John 5, He started talking about His Father. We left off with verse 18, "Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God." The following verses expand on this connection that Jesus had with the Father.
Jesus was at risk of the Jews stoning Him to death. Everyone was looking to Him, to see how He would give an answer for Himself. I'm sure you could hear a pin drop. Jesus spoke with the authority of a Rabbi, sharing three points that all start with the same phrase. In Greek, that phrase was amen, amen. We are taught to say "amen" after our prayers, meaning "may it be so." Many times Jesus doubled the word for emphasis. Most Bible translations render the phrase, "Truly, truly I say to you." When Jesus says the double-amen three times in short succession, you can bet there is a message there that we should listen to.
What the Father does
Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can to nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. --John 5:19 - 21
When the Pharisees gave Jesus the floor, ready to hear how He would defend Himself, Jesus starts talking about father/son relationships. "Like father, like son," is a popular saying now, and this concept would have been familiar to the people to whom Jesus was speaking.
Bible Scholar FF Bruce wrote, "C.H. Dodd discerned an ‘embedded parable’ in verses 19 and 20: Jesus draws an analogy from his own boyhood experience in the carpenter’s workshop, when he learned to imitate the things he saw Joseph doing, thus serving his apprenticeship.” Indeed, when the Jewish leaders heard Jesus start speaking in this way, many may have assumed that He was talking about how He was brought up in the house of Joseph, the man who raised Him. Joseph was a carpenter, a trade that he would have taught Jesus. A child would not know how to build a structure unless he saw his father do it first. A loving father will gently correct the child's mistakes, and show them the proper way to carry out the task.
Then Jesus takes a hard turn, one that must have made the other rabbis' ears perk up. He started talking about the Father raising the dead. He was clearly not talking here about Joseph taking dead pieces of lumber and raising a house or a barn for living things. He was referencing the Old Testament, where God raised the dead. Three times in the Old Testament we read of the dead being raised. 1 Kings 17:17-22 tells of Elijah raising from the dead the son of the Zarephath widow. In 2 Kings 4:32-35 we read of Elisha raising the son of the Shunammite woman. And 2 Kings 13:20-21 tells of an unnamed man killed in battle; instead of taking time to bury him, the soldiers threw his body into the grave of Elisha; as soon as the body touched the bones of Elisha, the man revived.
We know from our study of the life of Jesus that He raised three people from the dead: He raised the son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-15), He raised the daughter of Jairus (Luke 8:41-55), and He raised Lazarus (John 11). The Pharisees in this story did not know this as the events had likely not yet occurred. Jesus was foreshadowing how He would do as His Father had done, and show His power over physical death. Linguistically, there was also a bit of a double-meaning, as His ministry was specifically to raise the spiritually dead to new life in Him.
How the Father gives life
For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. --John 5:22 - 24
David Guzik writes, "Jesus used the work of judgment as an example of a division of labor between the Father and the Son. It is before God the Son that people will stand on the Day of Judgment. Even during His earthly ministry, Jesus was something of a judge among humanity." He goes on to say:
i. Just being in the presence of Jesus led one to know, “I’m not like Him.” Jesus looked at the rich young ruler, and he was judged. He looked upon Simon Peter, and he was judged. Those were not looks of anger; they were looks of love. Yet when they saw the face of Jesus they knew a love was extended to them that they were not worthy of.
ii. “Wherever Jesus was, there was the element of judgment… there was always self-reproach where Jesus was. Men were ashamed of themselves, they knew not why. His life was an unceasing act of love, and yet it was an unceasing act of judgment.” (Morrison)
This concept was already made clear to Nicodemus in John 3:16-18, and it is the second "Amen" statement Jesus makes to these religious leaders. God loves the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. God didn't send His Son into the world to condemn us, but to bring us salvation. So if we believe in Him, we are not condemned; but if we don't believe, we condemn ourselves to life apart from Him because we do not believe.
Who the Father gives authority for life and death
Most assuredly I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth--those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me. --John 5:25-30
This is the third truth bomb, the third "AMEN" statement Jesus makes in these verses. Jesus, who spoke creation into existence (Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2, and 11:3) will speak life to those spiritually dead, and eventually to those already in the grave, at the resurrection. The same Father who has the power of life in Himself granted the power of life to the Son also. Not only that, but the Father granted the Son the authority to execute judgement--calling us all to Himself, then separating the sheep from the goats (Matthew 25:31-46).
The voice of the Son of God - The voice is that by which we give command. Jesus raised up the dead by his command, or by his authority. When he did it he spoke, or commanded it to be done. Mark 5:41, "He took the damsel by the hand, and said, Talitha cumi." Luke 7:14, "and He came and touched the bier, and said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise." John 11:43, "He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth." So it is by his command that those who are dead in sins are quickened or made alive, John 5:21. And so at the day of judgment the dead will be raised by his command or voice. (Barnes' Notes on the Bible)
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary says this:
Our Lord declared his authority and character, as the Messiah. The time was come when the dead should hear his voice, as the Son of God, and live. Our Lord first refers to his raising those who were dead in sin, to newness of life, by the power of the Spirit, and then to his raising the dead in their graves. The office of Judge of all men, can only be exercised by one who has all knowledge, and almighty power. May we believe His testimony; thus our faith and hope will be in God, and we shall not come into condemnation. And may His voice reach the hearts of those dead in sin; that they may do works meet for repentance, and prepare for the solemn day.
Amen, Amen!
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