14. John 5:19-29 Jesus, the Son Who Shares the Father’s Authority

March 15th, 2025
by Randy Eliason

1. SCRIPTURE

Vs 19: “...the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.
Vs. 23: “Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.”
Vs 24 & 28-29: “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” “...for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.”

2. OBSERVATIONS :

Jesus continues to make extremely audacious claims; claims that would be blasphemous if Jesus was merely a man rather than the incarnation of God. Jesus claims that his actions are completely aligned with God the Father’s actions. He claimed that the failure to honor him was a failure to honor God the Father. He claimed that listening to him and believing him was the means by which a person could escape final judgment and receive eternal life. Jesus claimed that one day the dead will be resurrected by his voice and judged by him.

Jesus said that the final judgment will separate “those who have done good” from “those who have done evil”.

3. APPLICATION:

What does this passage tell me about God?
It provides further evidence that Jesus is “God the Son” who is one with “God the Father”. It tells me that Jesus is worthy of the same honor that God the Father is worthy of. It also tells me that Jesus is the one who has the authority to render the final judgment over the lives of people and that if we believe in Jesus we will be rewarded with eternal life.

What does this passage tell me about me?

Jesus is worthy of my honor and my trust. I will experience eternal life through listening and believing in Him. The phrase rendered “eternal life” in our English translations refers to the duration of life and the quality of life. To have eternal life is to have a “full and forever” life.

Jesus states that eternal life is granted to those who believe in him. He also said that eternal life will be granted to “those who have done good”. These are not contradictory statements. Those who believe in Jesus begin to follow Jesus. If you KNOW... you FOLLOW.
Paul explains this clearly and succinctly in Ephesians 2:8-10
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

This passage renews my mind (attitude) about Jesus. He is worthy of all honor and possesses all power. It stirs my affections to worship him with gratitude because he has granted me eternal life. I will listen to him, trust in his word, and follow him so that my life will produce the good works he has created for me to do.

4. PRAYER:

Dear Jesus, I praise you and worship you because you are my Lord and my God. You deserve my honor, and my gratitude. Help me to recognize that you have all authority and to submit my life to your authority. Help me perform the good works that you redeemed me for.
In Your name, Amen.

Posted in The Gospel of John