Page 52 - The Gospel of John - Student textbook

The Most Startling Claim Ever Made
John 5:17 – 24

Jesus Is Equal to God in His Person

18
John 5:17 But Jesus responded to them, “My Father is still working, and I am working also.” 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.

Using the Jews’ Own Law

There was something subtle in this statement from Jesus. The Jewish rabbis also had a theory about God’s work.
They granted that God continue to labor after He finished creation, but the question with which they wrestled
with was this: “is it acceptable for God to work on the Sabbath?” The rabbis had formulated reasons why it was
acceptable and legal for God to work on the Sabbath day. The rabbis had composed 39 laws that defined which
work was acceptable and which was not on the Sabbath day (see below). The final law prohibited the Jews from
moving their possessions from one place to another. But how about God? Was he free to move His possessions
on the Sabbath day?

The rabbis taught that God was exempt from their 39 laws. People, being finite, were not allowed to move in
day and from one dominion to another on the Sabbath, but since God was infinite and His dominion is infinite,
he rises above that restriction. The rabbis therefore said that whatever God does on the Sabbath day always
takes place within the confines of His personal dominion.

The rabbis taught that God was exempt from their 39 laws.

Jesus used this teaching as a basis of His defense he argued: “My Father is still working, and I am working
also.” Since it is permissible for God to work, and since God it is My Father, therefore I’m allowed to do it. If you
argue with what I’m doing on the Sabbath day, you’re arguing with God. In short, Jesus claimed to be God. The
issue of working on the Sabbath was a regular flashpoint for disagreement between Jesus and the authorities.
On another occasion He said, the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore, the Son
of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:27 – 28). Here Jesus was even more straightforward. When he spoke
these words, everyone understood what He was saying. Everyone knew that God created the Sabbath, so only
God could be the Lord over the Sabbath. Jesus was clearly claiming to be God. What follows this declaration by
Jesus is not surprising:

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.

51