The Unity of the Father and the Son
A. Beith, D. D. John 5:19-23 Then answered Jesus and said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do… The Jews sought to kill Jesus in obedience to the law(1) because He wrought a miracle on the Sabbath; (2) because He vindicated Himself on the ground of His equality with God, who constantly works such miracles in His providence on the Sabbath. So far from disclaiming the Jewish inference He here confirms it. Note — I. CHRIST'S RELATION TO THE FATHER IN ALL HE DOES (ver. 19). 1. Unity of operation. These words assert that as it is impossible for the Son to do anything of Himself, so it is impossible that the Father can do anything without the Son. The cure of the impotent man, therefore, was by both. 2. Distinction of persons. The Father shows, the Son sees; the Father purposes, the Son executes. 3. Identity of works. They do the same, not similar things. The same Jesus stands in the midst of us and says, "Wilt thou be made whole?" If we despise Him speaking in His word we despise the great God with whom we have to do. II. THE GROUND OF THIS RELATION (ver. 20). 1. Love is the expression of the Father's feeling toward the Son. 2. He communicates Himself to the Son and makes Him His counsellor. 3. This relation Christ made known that they might marvel — admire God's glorious manifestation of Himself and give Him glory. III. INSTANCES OF THE WORKS ILLUSTRATIVE OF THIS RELATION. 1. (ver. 21). Resurrection and quickening, including no doubt the physical, but referring mainly to the spiritual process. (1) Raising up. Sin, as a frightful incubus, rests on the soul exerting its paralysing influence. This spiritual death is chased away. (2) Quickening. New life is imparted. Death implies previous life. A tree cut down and withered is different from a stone. In Adam the soul died; when the Son quickens a new and more glorious life is communicated. (3) There can be no consideration more alarming than our continuance in this death. How dreadful to pass away without having the experience of this raising up and quickening, and to lie for ever in condemnation as self-destroyed. 2. (vers. 22-23). Judgment. (1) To Him is committed the whole administration of the gospel; and when His supreme government is asserted as here, it means that the Father judgeth no man alone — both judge. (2) He will preside at the eternal awards. IV. IMPORTANT INFERENCES DEDUCED FROM THIS RELATION. 1. If Christ is not worshipped God is not (ver. 23). God must be approached according to the revelation He has made of Himself: we cannot do so unless we know Him as the Father who sent the Son. 2. Salvation comes by the word of Christ (ver. 24). (1) This hearing, no doubt, includes listening with the outward ear; a great and necessary duty. But it is also (ver. 25) of a kind which awakens to life, with the mind and spirit, therefore, prompting to action, so that we become not hearers only, but "doers."(2) Salvation is by resting on the true object of faith — in God as sending the Son not as the Creator, etc. (3) This salvation is everlasting life — a great salvation therefore. "How shall we escape if we neglect it." (A. Beith, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. WEB: Jesus therefore answered them, "Most certainly, I tell 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.