Like Father, Like Son 

[19] So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. [20] For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. [21] For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. [22] The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, [23] that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. [24] Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. [25] "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. [26] For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. [28] Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice [29] and 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 do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

- John 5:19-26, 28-30 (ESV)

This passage is the first time that John begins to unpack the deep relationship that Jesus and the Father has. He does this by sharing with you and me, the reader, what Jesus himself said.

Jesus has referenced God as His Father which has incited an angry response from the Jews. They were not simply angry. They were filled with rage and hate. They wanted to kill Jesus because he healed on the Sabbath and he made them aware who His real Father was. This is because religious people do not desire or understand deep relationship with God.

They understand efforts, laws, rules, regulations and good works. Deeds equate acceptance and approval. How can Jesus be God's Son and how can he possibly invite these normal, everyday people into a relationship with God without strict rules?

Jesus begins to detail the relationship that He has with his Father. Jesus said to those listening that the Son can do nothing on his own accord. He does what he sees his Father do. You must understand that what he was telling those who were listening to his words was this. I am actively in a relationship with my Father, who is God. I see Him, (present tense), do things and then I imitate what I see my Father doing.

In fact you might say, "like Father, like Son". Jesus went on to talk about the amazing trust that his Father had for Him. He loves the Son and shows the Son all that He (the Father) Himself is doing. Jesus is telling them that the Father keeps nothing hidden from the Son. He wants to tell me His heart was what Jesus was telling them.

In fact Jesus goes on to say that the Father will show me even greater things to do, so that "you may marvel". The Father trusts the Son to judge and to give them to the dead. The Father trusts the Son with all things.

Jesus ends with this footnote. This is why the Father trusts the Son. Because the Father knows that the Son cannot and will not do anything apart from the Father. They are that intrinsically connected. The Father and the Son love each other unconditionally. They fellowship and communicate unconditionally. They minister together unconditionally. There is nothing that the Son would ever say or do that would not honor and bring Glory to His Father.

Fellow believer, this level of relationship is amazing and breath taking and Jesus invites us into this deep place of love and fellowship with He and the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit and His Word. Come and Feast with the Lord.

- Written by Steve Shives