John 5.17-30
17But Jesus answered them, “My Father is still working, and I also am working.” 18For this reason the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because he was not only breaking the sabbath, but was also calling God his own Father, thereby making himself equal to God. 19Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise. 20The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished. 21Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever he wishes. 22The Father judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, 23so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life. 25“Very truly, I tell you, the hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26For just as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself; 27and he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28Do not be astonished at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29and will come out—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. 30“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek to do not my own will but the will of him who sent me.
Thoughts. I remember showing the movie The Gospel of John during Lent a few years ago and one of the comments I got was how confrontational Jesus often sounded. It is true, in John's Gospel Jesus is often in direct confrontation with the authorities. Part of this is historical. John's Gospel was written during a time of great tension between the synagogue and the fledgling church. This historical tension that the author of John's Gospel felt personally gets reflected also in his writing. John's purpose is to bring us to faith in Jesus. He's trying to make that folks realize the claims that Christians are making--that Jesus is GOD WITH US! If this is so, then all other claims become subservient to Jesus--including laws like healing on the Sabbath.
Questions: It seems that many folks took offense at Jesus? Do you think modern folks take offense at Jesus? If so, what is so offensive about him? Are we followers of Jesus guilty of over looking this reality--or soft selling Jesus' claims?
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