Jesus Defends His Authority

And places it above scripture.

We’ve come to one of Jesus’ long speeches in John. It all stems from the religious leaders’ harassment of Jesus because of sabbath law. And here Jesus launches into a defense of his authority as the Son of God, explaining his unity with the Father in giving life and executing judgment. He highlights witnesses to his identity—John the Baptist, his works, the Father, and Scripture—calling for belief in him as the one sent by God for salvation.

It seems there are times when it is appropriate to verbalize the defense of Jesus’ ways. At other times, Jesus doesn’t respond to threats, questions, and challenges—or at least not as extensively as we might expect. But here, he certainly does.

He also says something about Scripture that is worth noting.

Examine the scriptures, since you think that in them you have eternal life. They also testify about me, yet you don’t want to come to me so that you can have life.

Jesus challenges the idea of clinging to Scripture without first holding to him. This can feel like a paradox, given that so much of what we know about Jesus comes from Scripture. What other source do we have? Unlike the disciples or religious leaders of his time, we don’t have direct access to him in person.

Even so, this challenge remains relevant for us today. The Bible—spanning all 66 books—is vast and rich with meaning. Yet, every part of it should be understood and measured through the lens of Jesus, whose life and teachings are most clearly revealed to us in the gospels.

John 5:16-47

As a result, the Jewish leaders were harassing Jesus, since he had done these things on the Sabbath. Jesus replied, “My Father is still working, and I am working too.” For this reason the Jewish leaders wanted even more to kill him—not only because he was doing away with the Sabbath but also because he called God his own Father, thereby making himself equal with God.

Jesus responded to the Jewish leaders, “I assure you that the Son can’t do anything by himself except what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise. The Father loves the Son and shows him everything that he does. He will show him greater works than these so that you will marvel. As the Father raises the dead and gives life, so too does the Son give life to whomever he wishes. The Father doesn’t judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to the Son so that everyone will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever doesn’t honor the Son doesn’t honor the Father who sent him.

“I assure you that whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and won’t come under judgment but has passed from death into life.

“I assure you that the time is coming—and is here!—when the dead will hear the voice of God’s Son, and those who hear it will live. Just as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. He gives the Son authority to judge, because he is the Human One. Don’t be surprised by this, because the time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice. Those who did good things will come out into the resurrection of life, and those who did wicked things into the resurrection of judgment. I can’t do anything by myself. Whatever I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just. I don’t seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me.

“If I testify about myself, my testimony isn’t true. There is someone else who testifies about me, and I know his testimony about me is true. You sent a delegation to John, and he testified to the truth. Although I don’t accept human testimony, I say these things so that you can be saved. John was a burning and shining lamp, and, at least for a while, you were willing to celebrate in his light.

“I have a witness greater than John’s testimony. The Father has given me works to do so that I might complete them. These works I do testify about me that the Father sent me. And the Father who sent me testifies about me. You have never even heard his voice or seen his form, and you don’t have his word dwelling with you because you don’t believe the one whom he has sent. Examine the scriptures, since you think that in them you have eternal life. They also testify about me, yet you don’t want to come to me so that you can have life.

“I don’t accept praise from people, but I know you, that you don’t have God’s love in you. I have come in my Father’s name, and you don’t receive me. If others come in their own name, you receive them. How can you believe when you receive praise from each other but don’t seek the praise that comes from the only God?

“Don’t think that I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, the one in whom your hope rests. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, because Moses wrote about me. If you don’t believe the writings of Moses, how will you believe my words?”

Psalm 2:7-8

I will announce the Lord’s decision:
He said to me, “You are my son, today I have become your father. Just ask me, and I will make the nations your possession; the far corners of the earth will be your property.

Prayer

God,

In short, I’m wrestling with when it is the right moment to speak in defense and when it is better to shut up. Jesus gives us examples of both.

I grew up in a society that taught me a lot about rights. So it’s no surprise that my initial response to what I perceive as stupid or unjust is quite often defensive. Then on the flip side, I wonder how often I hide behind the notion that I want to be “mature” and “seasoned” and unreactive. But I do believe there are times when speaking accomplishes nothing.

I don’t want to be a noisy gong. I do want to do what’s right.

So help me, God: give me wisdom, as Jesus says, to know when to speak and when to stay silent. Give me that spirit who speaks at the right moment. The one Jesus promised the disciples.

By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.