17 But Jesus answered the religious leaders, “My Father is still working, so I am working, too.” 18 For this cause therefore the Jewish leaders 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. 19 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. 20 For the Father has affection for the Son, and shows him all things that he himself does. He will show him greater works than these, that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he desires. 22 For the Father judges no one, but he has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who doesn’t honor the Son doesn’t honor the Father who sent him.

24 “Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. 25 Most certainly, I tell you, the hour comes, and now is, when the dead will hear the Son of God’s voice; and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, even so he gave to the Son also to have life in himself. 27 He also gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man. 28 Don’t marvel at this, for the hour comes, in which all that are in the tombs will hear his voice, 29 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. 30 I can of myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is righteous; because I don’t seek my own will, but the will of my Father who sent me."

John 5:17-30 - World English Bible

In John 5:1-16, Jesus healed a paralytic on the Sabbath. To the leaders who objected to his activity on the holy day, he had an answer, "My Father is still working (on the Sabbath), so I am working, too." In one sense, divine activity never ceased on the "seventh day," for, without the will of God, creation would cease. So, as the Father acted, even on the Sabbath, the Son acted in the healing and redemption of humanity.

The leaders correctly concluded that Jesus equated himself with his Father and protested. He answered their objection with comments about his relationship with his Father in three ways: his dependence upon his Father, the revelation/power he received from the Father and his relationship with his followers. First, he depended upon the Father for his direction and power. Not only did he do what the Father did (5:19), the Father implicitly worked through him, fulfilling his will (5:30).

Secondly, because the Father revealed his affection for and his will to his Son, He empowered his Son to raise the dead to new life (5:21b, 26). Within that ability came the power to judge. In other words, resurrection itself was a sign of judgment. God would call all to life (5:28); those who heard his voice and did good would live, those who did not would be condemned (5:29). (Notice, Jesus equated hearing the call of the Father with doing good; they were one in the same.)

Third, those who honored the Son would be raised; their resurrection would honor the Father (5:23a, 24). Those who denied the Son and his power did not honor the Father and, implicitly, did not look forward to the Final Judgment (5:23b, 30).

Sometimes, wading through John's gospel can be difficult, but, if we unpack today's passage, we can see simple outlines. Jesus and the Father are one in power and purpose. As the Father creates, the Son saves. The Father will create anew when he calls all from the tombs; those who hear his call (by believing in the Son) will have eternal life. Indeed, he calls us now and, through his Son, gives us that everlasting life even in our present state.

Have you heard the call of God recently?