0280604 Sabbath Healing Challenged – John 5:16-47, A.D. 27 Jerusalem in Judea
And for this cause the Jews persecuted Jesus, because he did these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, “My Father is still working, so I am working, too.” For this cause therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God. And Jesus therefore answered and said to them, “Most certainly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise. 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 them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he desires. For the Father judges no man, but he has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. And he who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
“Most certainly I say to you, he who hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. Most certainly, I say to you, the hour comes, and now is, when the dead will hear the Son of God’s voice; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, even so he gave to the Son also to have life in himself. And he gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man. Do not marvel at this, for the hour comes, in which all that are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come out; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment. 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 Him who sent me.
And if I testify about myself, my witness is not valid. It is another who testifies about me. And I know that the testimony which he testifies about me is true. You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth. But the testimony which I receive is not from man. However, I say these things that you may be saved. He was the lamp that burns and shines, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John, for the works which the Father gave me to accomplish, the very works that I do, testify about me, that the Father has sent me. And the Father, who sent me, has testified about me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his form. And you do not have his word living in you; because you do not believe him whom he sent.
“You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which testify about me. And you will not come to me, that you may have life. I do not receive glory from men. But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. 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. How can you believe, who receive glory from one another, and you do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
“Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you, even Moses, on whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote about me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”
