When SON Equals ONE

It’s been a while since I’ve written one of these, this is a common saying of my recent posts, but that’s about to change. For those of you who follow me on here, I have currently started a season of my walk with God that is always challenging me to improve as God graciously uses me to improve others. All of this being said, this passage will be a recap and a re-up for some on a challenge I’ve already issued, while for other a new challenge and experience altogether.

“16 Therefore, the Jews began persecuting Jesus because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus responded to them, “My Father is still working, and I am working also.” 18 This is why the Jews began trying all the more to kill Him: Not only was He breaking the Sabbath, but He was even calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. 19 Then Jesus replied, “I assure you: The Son is not able to do anything on His own, but only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does these things in the same way. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows Him everything He is doing, and He will show Him greater works than these so that you will be amazed. 21 And just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son also gives life to anyone He wants to. 22 The Father, in fact, judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all people will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.” John 5:16-23 HCS

This passage is one that is either very easy to read past, or it is too confusing for some people to dig at. Let’s look at its key components and see what’s going on.  Right before this Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath and the fellow Jews are persecuting Jesus on doing such things on a day of rest, as we see in verse 16. Things seem to be a bit confusing around verse 18 because it seems outlandish in our modern American minds that when someone claims to be the son of someone, it makes you equals with that person. Almost seems as though these Jews were angry for no reason.

Let’s look at it this way. Everyone knows that England has a Queen! Duh.. What are some things that happen when the Queen enters the room? Out of honor everyone rises to their feet, as she walks past them they bow, and when she declares something to happen it HAPPENS. Why? This is because she is the Queen, and has the authority to have it this way. Further, everyone knows that the Queen of England has a grandson that was recently heard about all over the world. That’s right, he got married… YAY! Don’t get me wrong, marriage is a great thing, but people get married everyday and don’t get the press he did. Anywho, quick question, what happens when the Prince walks in the room? Everyone rises to their feet, everyone bows when he walks passed them, and he has a similar power to the Queen. He can look at the country and say something like, “By the power invested in me by the Queen of England…” about something and it will happen. Meaning he has the same power and authority of the Queen through his relationship with her.

This principle is almost exactly the same with what the Jews are feuding over with Jesus here. To call himself the Son of God, means he has the same authority and power as God and could be seen as equal to him all because of his relationship with him.

The rest of what Jesus says in this passage is actually focusing on this principle! But what does all of this equality debate have to do with us. As you read in earlier chapters of John, we see that by faith in Jesus as Savior, we too are now seen as sons and daughters of that very God. Which means everything Jesus is referring to in this passage could be said about us! This means we should only be aiming to do what we see the father doing. This means we should be aiming to do greater things that what has already been seen. This means we should have a relationship with God in such a way that people could read this passage and say or think, “I know this guy named Bryan who lives these very verses out in his everyday walk. Bryan owns this ability and his sonship so much so, that I can honestly say that what I see Bryan doing, it’s what I would see the father doing.”

I can’t honestly say that this is something that can be said about me all the time. I will say this, now that I know this standard, I will aim for it as much as possible. 

Take some time to think about what this means for your walk with God!

Where do you place yourself, Walking in God’s authority as the Prince of England does with his Queen, or not?

In what way can you improve or what area can you start to live this way?

(Feel free to leave your answers in the comment box below)

I love you beloved