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#31.
The link between the third and fourth sign (5: 16 - 47).
Equality of honour of the Father and the Son established.
pp. 115 - 119
The charge laid against the Saviour in this chapter of John's Gospel is twofold.
(1) That He had broken the Sabbath day, and (2) that He called God His Own Father,
making Himself equal with God.
The opening and closing words of the Lord's great defence, have occupied our
attention in the preceding article. There we found that He claimed several vital and
exclusive things.
(1)
He saw and He heard what the Father did.
(2)
He did whatever He saw the Father do.
A possible objection is now met by the Lord's subsequent words. True, a Pharisee
may interpose, you do those things which you "see" the Father do; but what you actually
see may be but a remnant of His ways and deeds; therefore your answer does not justify
your claiming equality with God. To this the Lord gives a conclusive reply, leaving no
loophole for further objection on the score of the possible limitation of His Own vision:
"For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth Him all things that Himself doeth"
(John 5: 20). Here are three most conclusive elements in the argument:
(1)
The great actuating principle of love.
(2)
Not only did Christ "see", but the Father "showed".
(3)
Not only did the Father show, but He showed "all things".
This is not the first time that the love of the Father to the Son has been given as the
great reason why "all things" were committed into His hands.
"He that cometh from above is above all: He that is of the earth is earthly, and
speaketh of the earth; He that cometh from heaven is above all. And what He hath seen
and heard that He testifieth; and no man receiveth His testimony. He that hath received
His testimony, hath set His seal to this that God is true. For He Whom God hath sent
speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the spirit by measure unto him. The
Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand" (John 3: 31-35).
Here the Lord's ministry is compared and contrasted with that of John the Baptist. He
came from above; He came from heaven; He both heard and saw. He was sent; the
Spirit was given to Him without measure, and, being loved of the Father, all things were
given into His hands.
"All things."--Let us acquaint ourselves with the way in which this expression is used
of the Lord in John's Gospel: