For this cause therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God. - John 5:18, World English
Unless otherwise stated, all quotations from the Bible are from
the World English Bible translation.
God's Holy Name is presented as "Jehovah,"
regardless of translation quoted.
the World English Bible translation.
God's Holy Name is presented as "Jehovah,"
regardless of translation quoted.
.
(2) Our Lord, in his quiet Sabbath walk about Jerusalem, came to the Pool of Bethesda, which had a wonderful reputation for its healing qualities, on account of which its porches and sheds were crowded with sick people with divers ailments, waiting to take advantage of what was considered to be a miraculous action in its waters. The intermittent movement of the water of the Bethesda Pool is referred to in John 5:7, but the explanation about the angel troubling the waters, etc., contained in the last seven words of the third verse, and all of the fourth verse, is omitted from the oldest Greek MSS. (the Sinaitic and Vatican). There was probably nothing whatever miraculous connected with the spring, but some peculiarity of the channel, which caused the water from one compartment to syphon out into the other at intervals; or possibly the action was caused by gas. The healings experienced were quite probably what today would be termed mind cures, a beneficial action of the mind and will upon the physical organism.
(3) We do not know that the Lord made any movement toward the general healing of the multitude who were waiting for the movement of the Pool, and hoping for relief; nor do we know that he extended his beneficence to any, except the one whose healing is the subject of this lesson, who was more helpless than the majority, and whose case was apparently hopeless, in that it was chronic, of thirty-eight years standing. It was to this heart-sick and weary one, hopeless and helpless, that the Lord addressed himself, "Do you want to be made well?" (John 5:6) The man answered, not knowing that he was speaking to the Son of God: "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I'm coming, another steps down before me." (John 5:7) Jesus did not ask the man: "Do you have faith in me?" He simply told the man: "Arise, take up your mat, and walk." (John 5:8) Jesus allowed the man's faith to be testified by his obedience: and exercising the faith, astonished and bewildered, he obeyed, taking up his couch, not even knowing his benefactor.
(4) So it is with the greater miracles performed by our Lord throughout this Gospel age -- some of the weakest and most hopelessly powerless for good are morally healed, strengthened, renewed, transformed, through the operation of faith and obedience. Yet such cases are but few compared to the world of mankind, similarly or even less diseased with sin, who are all eventually during the Millennium) to be made acquainted with the Great Physician.
(5) This miracle brought upon Jesus the opposition of the Pharisees, who, because of a wrong attitude of heart, mistook the real object and purpose of the Sabbath day, and tacking on to the divine command the tradition of the elders (Mark 7:31), had made of it a mere outward form, robbing it of its true thought. The added traditional rulings of the Jewish leaders were considered to essentially be the Law, but Jesus showed that what they actually did was to make void the true Law. (Matthew 15:1-9; Mark 7:3-16) We are not to consider that our Lord performed so many of his miracles on the Sabbath, apparently in preference to other days, as signifying any disrespect to the day, nor as signifying a desire to provoke the Pharisees. Rather, we may suppose that the performance of the notable miracles on this day was largely in order to thus point out the great Seventh Day Sabbath, the Millennial Day, the seventh thousand-year period of earth's history, when the antitypical and far greater miracles and blessings will come to mankind.
(6) In Matthew 26:4, we read: "They took counsel together that they might take Jesus by deceit, and kill him." In Mark 14:1, we find: "It was now two days before the feast of the Passover and the unleavened bread, and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might seize him by deception, and kill him." Here, these religious leaders found their deceptive cause for which to kill Jesus. (John 5:16,18) The conduct of the Jews, in wishing to kill one who, according to their own testimony, had done nothing amiss, but had done much good, simply because he interpreted the Law differently, and disregarded the "traditions of the elders," is a parallel to the opposition which is sometimes manifested by present-day Christians -- sectarians of the strictest sort. They might not indeed seek literally to kill the one who would do violence to their theories and traditions, but many of them would have very little hesitancy in assassinating his character, if thereby they could defend the falsities of their systems.
(7) Jesus did not fit the preconceived notions of these Jewish leaders of what the Messiah should be. "He is despised and rejected of men," wrote the Prophet Isaiah (53:3). "His visage was so marred", so different, from what they expected. (Isaiah 52:14) Jesus' works and humility seemed to them an insult to the importance they placed upon themselves. And, they hated Jesus the more because of the works he did in God's name. (John 10:25,32) Thus they sought any kind of deceptive "cause" or reason to kill Jesus. Thus, they, of course, came up with their "reasons", but Jesus himself revealed the real reasons they sought to kill him. (Matthew 21:38; Mark 12:7; John 8:37; 10:32) In no wise is the accusation of these Jewish leaders true. Even from a trinitarian standpoint, they are not true, since, according to trinitarian philosophy, Jesus was not simply a man making himself to be God, for they believe that Jesus is and always has been God, thus there would be no need for him to "make himself" be God.
(8) Thus John wrote: "For this cause the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill him, because he did these things on the Sabbath." (John 5:16) Please note that John does not say their "cause" was right, or that Jesus actually broke the Sabbath. John simply presents the "cause" or argument that these Jews were using, evidently to make it appear that Jesus was to be condemned under the Law. From Matthew 26:4 and Mark 14:1 we see that this was a deceptive argument. We read in Matthew that Jesus asks them: "Why do you think evil in your hearts?" (Matthew 9:4) In John we read that Jesus said: "My Father is still working, so I am working, too." (John 5:17) Jesus refers to the work that his Father had given him to do. (John 5:36; 10:25,32) Nothing is said by Jesus about his works being equal to the works of God, and that from this we know that Jesus is God. In actuality, Jesus is saying that God was the source of his power to perform the works of healing on the sabbath, that as God did not cease from doing this work, therefore Jesus, as God's Son, does continue to do these works also. Jesus often referred to his Father as God (John 6:27,45; 8:54; 10:36; 13:3; 20:17); this shows that Jesus is not Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, whom he refers to as his Father. -- Matthew 22:32; Mark 12:26; Luke 20:37.
(9) Nevertheless, our Lord's reply respecting his authority gave them more of a deceptive "cause" to seek to kill Jesus, for they did not wish to understand what he was saying, but they were looking for some "cause" in his words whereby they might kill him by deception. In his words, however, Jesus had not declared himself to be God Almighty, as many seem to think; this was not the real reason for the anger of these Jewish leaders, but they were angry because he declared himself to be the Son of Jehovah, who had been given a work to do by the Father. John wrote of them: "For this cause therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God." (John 5:18) Whether or not the Jews actually understood what Jesus meant by "Son of God", their anger was because, in claiming to be the Son of God, he was claiming an honor and place so much higher than themselves -- a place which implied a closeness of relationship and of nature to Jehovah, a claim which they desire to appear to be blasphemous. The claim that he was making himself God was false, regardless of what "understanding" they may have had. Jesus had earlier said to them: "Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word." -- John 7:43.
(10) These Jews had already made up their minds to kill Jesus long before (Matthew 12:14; Mark 3:6; 11:18; Luke 4:28,29; 6:11; 19:47; John 5:18; 7:19,20; 8:37); now they were looking for a deceptive 'cause' (Greek, Aitia, Strong's #156; kategoria, Strong's #2723, #2724) to lyingly accuse to him by deception (Greek, dolos, Strong's #1388). (Matthew 12:10; 26:4; 14:1; Mark 3:2; 15:3; Luke 6:7; 11:54; 23:10; John 8:6; 5:16,18; 11:53 -- see World English Bible translation for these verses). Both Matthew and Mark truthfully tell us that "they took counsel together that they might take Jesus by deceit (Greek, dolos), and kill him." (Matthew 26:4; see also Mark 14:1) Thus we can rest assured that their "causes" to kill him are deceitful causes, and they were the liars in their cause to kill Jesus. In John 7:1 we read of one of the instances where it is stated that the Jewish leaders were seeking to kill him. When Jesus confronted them with this, they denied it, proving themselves liars. (John 7:19,20) He then shows that the real reason they were seeking to kill him was because of his works. (verse 21). Jesus had earlier shown that they did not believe because their heart was not right. Matthew 12:24-32; 15:3-12) In Luke 6:7 we find the Jewish leaders were watching him that they might find an accusation against him. In Luke 11:54, we see that they were lying in wait for him, and seeking to catch him in something he might say, that they might accuse him. Thus we have no reason to believe the accusation of these Jewish leaders that Jesus was making himself equal to the Supreme. Again, Jesus pointed out the real reason they sought to kill him as recorded in John 10:32. Therefore, the "causes" were really simply excuses to kill Jesus, not that Jesus had actually broken the sabbath, or that he actually claimed to be equal to God.
(11) Because the Jewish leaders could not bear the words of Jesus (John 7:43) they did not understand his answers, thus whatever they "understood" does not mean that their understanding was correct -- they were seeking something to frame a charge against him, therefore they charged him with "making" himself God (or equal to God). They were looking for some reason to accuse him, and the idea that he was breaking the sabbath by healing on the sabbath provided an excuse for accusation. (Mark 3:2-6) They falsely charged him with having a demon. (Mark 3:22,30; John 7:20; 8:48,52) They falsely denied that they were seeking to kill him. (John 7:20) They falsely charged that Jesus broke the sabbath. (John 9:16) They falsely charged that Jesus was a sinner. (John 9:25) So whatever "understanding" the Jews had is relevant only in that they did not understand the truth, and their excuses to kill him as given in John 5:16,18 were false, just as all of the other accusations were false.
(12) Jesus did not break the sabbath, nor did he make himself equal to God. Jesus plainly stated later: "I have kept my Father's commandments, and remain in his love." (John 15:10) "If Jesus, being "born under the Law," (Galatians 4:4) had actually committed the sin of breaking the sabbath, then he was a sinner as all of us. He would be accursed with the rest of Israel. (John 9:16; Galatians 3:10) If Jesus was breaking the law concerning the sabbath, then that in itself was enough that he should be put to death. -- Exodus 31:14; 35:2
(13) Additionally, if Jesus had been disobedient to God's law, then he could not have redeemed those under the law, for he would have been under its curse even as the rest are condemned under the Law. (Romans 5:19; Galatians 4:3,4) Yet we read that he was obedient to death. (Philippians 2:8) If Jesus, who was born under law, had actually broken one of the ten commandments, he would not have been sinless, and his sacrifice would not have been acceptable, or those under the Law Covenant were not delivered. (Galatians 4:3-5; James 2:10; Hebrews 4:15) Thus the reasoning that Jesus had broken the law is untrue, for as Jesus said: "it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day." (Matthew 12:12) By this he showed that he had not actually broken the sabbath, but he had broken the sabbath "law" -- the tradition -- of men. Thus the reasoning of the Jewish leaders that he had broken the sabbath is false; likewise their reasoning that he was claiming to be equal to God is false, which reasoning Jesus denied was true in John 5:20-30. As he said, he was sent by God to do the works of God, thus he was not God who sent him.
(14) Some have made this claim: "One also must remember that it was John's comment that Jesus was making himself equal to God." Actually, John simply reports the grounds by which the Jewish leaders gave or thought for their persecution and accusations of Jesus, even as did the other Bible writers. (Matthew 12:10; 13:56; 16:1; 26:65,66; Mark 2:24; Luke 6:7, etc.) John does not say the grounds* for which the Jews sought to kill Jesus are true. As we have shown, the testimony elsewhere of the scriptures is that the Jewish leaders sought to frame a cause to kill Jesus by deceit (not by truth). -- Matthew 26:4.
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*See:
Thayer and Smith. "Greek Lexicon entry for Dia". "The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon".
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*See:
Thayer and Smith. "Greek Lexicon entry for Dia". "The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon".
The word dia usually means "through", but in view of other passages that use the Greek words Aitia (Strong's #156 - cause, reason, accusation; John 18:38; 19:4; Acts 13:28); kategoria (Strong's #2473, accuse; Matthew 12:10; Mark 3:2; 15:3,4; Luke 6:7; 11:54; 23:2,10,14; 8:6) and kategoria (Strong's #2724 -- accusation, charge; Luke 6:7; John 18:29), as well as the testimony that these accusations were by deceit (Greek, dolos; Matthew 26:4; Mark 14:1), we agree with the World English Bible translation of John 5:16,18, where "dia" is translated as "cause". It could also be translated as "ground" or "grounds". John, in recording these "grounds", is not stating that the "grounds" are true, but only that these are grounds, causes, or reasons promoted by the Jewish leaders who sought Jesus' death. However, it was true that Jesus broke the Jewish added-on traditional law, but he did not break God's sabbath law as given through Moses, nor did he claim to be equal to God, although the Jewish leaders evidently promoted his claim to be the Son of God to mean that he was "equal to God".
(15) The claim is made that Jesus was God Almighty, and Jesus therefore did not have to keep the Sabbath. Of course, the sabbath was made for man (under the law) not for God, who is the Supreme Law-Giver. But is this what Jesus is referring to? Is Jesus saying that he had a right to not obey the sabbath, or that he could change the Law, since he is God Almighty? Such a thought has to be added to what John said. What Jesus was saying was that the Law did not apply to the good work he had done, that is, in healing the crippled man. (Matthew 12:12; Mark 3:4) And these good works that his father had given him to do (John 5:36; 6:29; 10:32,37; 17:4; Acts 2:22) do not pertain to keeping the sabbath. Jesus knew it was "lawful" to do good works of mercy on the sabbath, and had stated such. -- Matthew 12:12; Mark 3:4.
See:
The Sabbath Was Made For Man
(16) The successors of the Pharisees in our day go far beyond our Lord's claims, and claim for him what he never claimed for himself; that is, that he is God Almighty, and that he always has been the same being as the God of whom he is the Son, and that both the Father and the Son are one omniscient being, and not two separate sentiencies of one harmonious mind, purpose, sentiment, will. These take great offence at any of the Lord's "brothers" of today who claim to be sons of God, and who apply that term in its Scriptural force and significance. Many go so far as to claim that Christ's true brothers cannot be true Christians if they do not accept their extra-Biblical, added-on trinitarian dogma.
(17) It is to these false 'causes' or 'grounds' for seeking his death that Jesus answered (John 5:16-19), and disclaimed any equality with God, but rather claimed that he was in subjection to God, could not doing anything of himself, that all he had he received from God, etc. (John 5:19-37) The declaration that "the Son can do nothing of himself," (John 5:19) backed up as it is by a score of other testimonies from the same interested and inspired Teacher, is a contradiction to the common thought of Trinitarians, that the Son is Jehovah: it is in direct conflict with the statement of the catechism, that they are "equal in power and in glory." Indeed, as Jesus himself implied, although he had the glory given to him as a sinless human (John 17:22; Hebrews 2:7; Romans 3:23), he was lacking in the glory he had with the Father before the world was made, and asked that such glory be returned to him. -- John 17:5; 1 Corinthians 15:40.
(18) Nevertheless the Father "loves [filio -- has affection for] the Son," (John 5:20), showing that the two are not one omniscient being, but that each is a separate sentient being. As a consequence of this affection the Father has shown, is showing, and will show forth through him greater marvels, greater wonders. And our Lord Jesus has promised us that, as the Elder Brother (of the Gospel house of sons), whatsoever the Father made known to him he, in turn, makes known to his friends as they are able to bear the truths. (John 15:15; 16:12; 1 Corinthians 3:1,2) This is brought forcibly to our attention in the Book of Revelation, which expressly declares that it is -- "the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things which must happen soon." (Revelation 1:1) Our Elder Brother, our Captain, has promised further, that in due time we also shall share with him in doing greater works than any that he had performed at his first advent. -- John 14:12.
(19) Amongst the greater works Jesus mentions the resurrection of the dead (John 5:28,29)-- claiming that, as the Father has the power to raise the dead, so also this power is granted to the Son. (John 5:21-26) Nor should we suppose that our Lord, in this statement, referred to the awakening of Lazarus (John 16:33-44), and the son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-18), and the daughter of Jairus. (Luke 8:40-56) These at most were awakenings, and not, in the full sense of the word, resurrections -- these individuals were not lifted up completely out of death into the sinlessness of life. Rather, we conclude that our Lord was looking down into the future -- to the resurrection of the believers in glory, honor and immortality, and to the subsequent "last day" resurrection (under trial or judgment) of the world during the Millennial age. -- John 6:39,40,44,54; 12:47,48; Revelation 20:4,11-13.
(20) This thought is borne out by the statement of John 5:22, that all judgment has been transferred to the Son. Thus Jehovah will judge the world by means of his Son. (Acts 17:31) The resurrection life is to be the reward of those who will successfully pass the judgment. The first resurrection will be the reward of the saints who walk the cramped road leading to the narrow gate of life. The Church is on judgment, on trial, under the terms of the the calling of repentance and faith in Jesus in this age. Jesus and the saints will also judge the world of mankind, redeemed by Jesus' own sacrifice, -- during the Millennial age: and in that judgment of the world he has promised to associate with himself the saints, whose judgment trial is now in progress. (Daniel 7:14;22,27; 1 Corinthians 6:2; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Peter 4:7; Revelation 20:4) Those of the world of mankind, awakened and brought to trial during the Millennial age, who shall develop characters in harmony with righteousness, and fully acceptable to the Judge, shall attain to full resurrection, and enter life, complete and everlasting, at the close of the Millennial age -- at the close of their day of trial, while the residue will be cut off in the Second Death.
(21) That this judgment of the world did not begin at our Lord's first advent, we have his own testimony: "I came not to judge the world." (John 12:47) And again, his declaration, "The word that I spoke, the same will judge [the unbeliever] in the last day." -- the last thousand-year day of the seven, the Millennial Day, the day when the dead are raised. (John 6:39,40,44; 11:24) It is in full harmony with this that the apostle declares that God, "has appointed a day [epoch, period of time] in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained" -- the Christ, Head and body. -- John 12:48; Acts 17:31; 1 Corinthians 6:2.
(22) In harmony with this, also, is the statement in John 5:17 and Hebrews 4:4,10. God rested from his work of creation when man became a transgressor, and instead of proceeding with the work, he abandoned it, placing a curse upon it, -- a penalty of death upon his chief handiwork. But although he abandoned the matter, in one sense of the word, he did not abandon it in his purpose, but intended and foretold that he would raise up a seed of the woman which should eventually crush the Evil One (Genesis 3:15), delivering the race from his power -- implying incidentally the revocation of the death penalty, a resurrection. Our Lord Jesus was in person the promised Seed of the woman, but, as we have already seen, the divine plan included also the Church, "members of his body." (Romans 12:4,5) The sufferings of Christ, Head and body, are mentioned in the promise of Eden, as the bruising of the heel by the serpent. This has been in progress throughout the Gospel age; Jesus was crucified by the forces of evil, yielding himself up a sin offering. -- Hebrews 9:26; 10:10,12.
(23) It is the members of his body who are the sons of God, heirs of God according to promise to Abraham. (Romans 8:17; Galatians 3:26,29; Hebrews 6:17) All of these are called for the purpose of becoming, not only heirs, but joint-heirs with Christ, jointly suffering in his sacrifice. Those who complete this sacrifice jointly with Jesus receive his resurrection (Philippians 3:10-14), attaining the glory of the celestial, heavenly body in the resurrection. -- 1 Corinthians 15:40.
(24) Soon the time will come when Jesus will be fully glorified, and the church will share in the glory of the Head, and the whole body will be glorified and revealed as sons of God, in the likeness of Jesus. (Romans 8:19; 1 John 3:2) Then, as the Apostle declares, "The God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly." (Romans 16:20, New King James Version) And it is this great Deliverer, whose Head and Lord has redeemed the world with his own precious blood, that the Father has appointed to be the Judge of the redeemed race, when it shall be on trial during the Millennial age, while Satan is bound. (Acts 17:31; Revelation 20:1-3) The work of the Son will not be complete until all evil has been thoroughly subjugated, which will be at the close of the Millennial age. He will reclaim, by a knowledge of the truth, and chastisements and corrections in righteousness, so many as are willing, and the residue shall be destroyed from among the people. (Acts 3:23) And when he shall thus have put down all opposing authority, rule and power, the Apostle assures us, he will deliver up the Kingdom to God even the Father. Thus the Father worked previously to man's fall, and has committed the work of reconciliation of man to the Son, and also the judgment of the race, and will receive it back again under divine jurisdiction, when, through the Son as his agent, he shall have made all things new. -- 1 Corinthians 15:24; Revelation 21:5.
(25) Our Lord's own words assure us that the Father is judging no man, for "he has given all judgment to the Son." (John 5:22) And yet since it is Jehovah who has given the judgment to his Son, it also can be said that Jehovah judges (Psalm 96:10,13; 98:9; 135:14) by means of, or through, his Son. (Psalm 72:2,4; Acts 17:3; Romans 2:16) The judgment of the Church, in progress during this Gospel age, is referred to in John 5:24: "Most assuredly I tell you, he who hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life, and doesn't come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life." Those who now hear and believe and obey to the extent of their ability have everlasting life guaranteed to them, as a result of thus favorably passing the present judgment or trial. These are assured that they will not need to come into the general judgment of the world during the Millennial age, because they pass from death unto life as the result of the judgment of this age. -- Compare 1 Corinthians 11:32.
(26) "Most assuredly, I tell you, the hour comes, and now is, when the dead will hear the Son of God's voice; and those who hear will live." In John 5:25 the general judgment of mankind during the Millennial age -- the last day (John 12:47,48)is specially referred to, when all the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, be brought to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4), and when they that hear (obey that knowledge -- Isaiah 2:2-4) shall never die (John 11:26), shall be rescued not only from the tomb but also from all the imperfections, mental, moral and physical, which have come upon the world through sin -- be raised up to perfection of life. The phrase "and now is" more than likely is an interpolation; it does not appear in the Sinaitic Manuscript. Nevertheless, the fact that this judgment work begins with the believers during this Gospel age could be suggested by the expression that the hour for the dead to hear the voice of the Son of Man has already commenced, "now is." The whole world, from the divine standpoint, is spoken of and reckoned as dead, because it is already nine-tenths dead and under sentence of death to the full. It was from this standpoint that our Lord said to one, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead." -- Matthew 8:22; Luke 9:60.
(27) "For as the Father has life in himself, even so he gave to the Son also to have life in himself. He also gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man" (John 5:25) Our Lord realized that his hearers could not appreciate the possibility of his doing so great a work as a man, and hence he makes the explanation that the Father, who only has power innate, and who has power to give life to the dead, has given the Son the same power -- life in himself to raise the dead, as well as given the commandment (authorization) that he, the Son of the Man (David), to whom the work was committed, as declared in the prophets, should execute judgment -- the divine will. And it is in view of this high honor conferred upon the Son by the Father that we are told (John 5:23), "that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father." The explanation of this statement follows, and shows that the honor to the Son is as the Father's appointed representative and agent in the great work, saying, "He who doesn't honor the Son doesn't honor the Father who sent him."
(27) Realizing that each passing day brings us closer to the end of this present evil world, and to the desired haven of God's kingdom, let us draw near to Jehovah through his Son, putting our faith and trust in the redeeming blood of Jesus, and ever desirous to be pleasing to Him, that we may be able to receive our reward in the Kingdom.
Jesus' Denial that He is Equal to his God.
(28) Some have claimed that if Jesus was not equal to God, then he should have denied that he was. These claim that Jesus did not deny being equal to God, thus this proves that Jesus is equal to God. The truth is, however, that Jesus did deny that he was equal to God in his following statements. Remembering that Jesus said that his Father is God (as the Supreme Being) (John 17:1,3), let us see:
(29) Denial #1 John 5:19: "Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless {it is} something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.'" (New American Standard Version) In response to the Jewish thinking that Jesus claimed to be equal to God, Jesus plainly says that he can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father [God, Jehovah] doing. Of course this is a denial of Jesus that he is equal to God.
(30) Denial #2 John 5:20 "For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and {the Father} will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel." (New American Standard Version) Since God has to show the works to Jesus, Jesus is not equal to God, for God does not need anyone to show him his own works.
(31) Denial #3 John 5:22: "For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son." (New American Standard Version) Since Jehovah has "given" the judgment to the Son, then the Son is not equal to Jehovah, for the Most High does not need to have any authority or power given to him by another. Additionally, the judgment -- the power to judge -- is also given to the saints. -- Daniel 7:22; Matthew 9:28; Luke 22:29,30; 1 Corinthians 6:2,3; Revelation 20:4.
(32) Denial #4 John 5:23: "So that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him." (New American Standard Version) Since it is Jehovah who sent Jesus, Jesus is plainly denying to be equal to God who sent him.
(33) Denial #5 John 5:26 "For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself." (New American Standard Version) Since the ability of "life in himself" -- power to give life in the raising of the dead -- is given to Jesus from his God, Jehovah (Micah 5:4), Jesus here denies being equal to his God.
(34) Denial #6 John 5:27-30: "And He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is {the} Son of Man." "Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good {deeds} to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil {deeds} to a resurrection of judgment." "I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me." (New American Standard Version) Since Jesus is *given* authority to execute judgment, this means that he did not always have this authority, thus he denies being equal to God. Since Jesus does not do anything on his own initiative, he is denying that he is equal with his God. Since Jesus does not judge according to his own will, but in accordance of the will of the one who sent him, he denies that he is equal to his God.
(35) Further denial: John 5:43 "I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. (New American Standard Version) Jesus came in the name of the God of Israel -- Jehovah. In verse 39 he says that the Old Testament scriptures testify of him. One of the places the testimony is given in Deuteronomy 18:19, where Jehovah says that the one like Moses (that is, Jesus) would speak in his [Jehovah's] name. And further confirmation is given in Deuteronomy 18:18, that this one is sent by the God of Israel, Jehovah. Thus Jesus is not Jehovah, nor equal to Jehovah his God.
(36) Further denial: John 8:16: "Even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent me." Jesus is not Jehovah, the only true God who sent him. -- Isaiah 61:1,2; John 17:1,3; Deuteronomy 18:15-19.
(37) John 8:25,26 They said therefore to him, "Who are you?" Jesus said to them, "Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning. I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you. However he who sent me is true; and the things which I heard from him, these I say to the world." Jesus received his instructions from God; God receives instructions from no one. Thus Jesus denies that he is Jehovah, or that he is equal to Jehovah. -- Isaiah 40:14.
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