2. He “Imitates” the Father John 5:16-30 p. 982

3. Today’s outline W orking for the World I mitation from Intimacy L ife for the Lost L iving for the Lord

4. 1. W orking for the World Jesus heals a paralytic  On the Sabbath !!! Jesus’ answer: The workings of the Trinity  How it makes sense in a monotheistic belief system Speaks to how we should relate to God

5. 1. W orking for the World... Jesus “working” on the Sabbath (10 commandments, Dt 5:12 )  Jewish Dilemma: Is God “working” on Sabbath sustaining the universe?  Breaking his own commandment  Jesus confirms God is “always at work” (v 17)  Uses this to justify that he too is working  Offends the Jews:  Calls God “MY Father”  equates himself with God.  Outrageous Blasphemy in their eyes.

6. 2. I mitation from Intimacy If Jesus is “equal” with God – there are TWO Gods  Contradicts the “shema”. Deut 6:4 “Yhwh is our God, Yhwh is ONE” Jesus’ answer:  The Son can do “nothing from himself” (v 19)  Jesus is in complete unity and oneness with the One True God.  Not “another” God !!!

7. 2. I mitation from Intimacy... Four parallel statements:  FOR... whatever the Father does the Son also does (v 19)  FOR... the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does (v 20)  FOR... just as the Father gives life, so also the Son gives life (v 21)  FOR... the Father has entrusted all judgment to the Son (v 22) The constant unified co-activity of Father & Son is based in the unity of perfect Love.

8. 2. I mitation from Intimacy... Are there TWO Gods? NO !!! Supremacy in the Godhead belongs to the Father.  Their “equality” is in their unity and complete intimacy & trust.  They differ in their station. Jesus is so in unity with the Father, he perfectly reveals him  “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (14:9)  Based first not on love for us, but mutual love between Father & Son.

10. 3. L ife for the Lost The Father has entrusted judgment to the Son  Who will have Life Son came not to judge (condemn) but to save (3:17)  World is condemned already – all the defilement cannot go on forever  Jesus came on a rescue Mission!  Everyone is “dead” (v 25)  All who “hear” and “believe” have “crossed over from death to life” (v 24)

11. 3. L ife for the Lost... The one on the Throne is the “son of Man” (v 27, cf Dan 7:13-14) Three strands come together:  Jesus as “Son of Man” is given an eternal kingdom to rule  Jesus is just in judging because he has been a human being  He is the one who perfectly revealed the Father to us There is no excuse left – we must “hear” and “believe” !

12. 4. L iving for the Lord In the same way...  Our love for God is intimately reflected in our faithful obedience  Through this “imitation” we grow in our knowledge of Him.  This causes our love for Him to grow.  This also, through faithfulness, reveal him to others.  Loving faithfulness is more precious than silver.

13. 4. L iving for the Lord Faithfully loving God will allow us to know God more intimately and to reveal Him to others