Like Father, Like Son

Read This Week: John 5

Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing because whatever the Father does, the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so you will be amazed. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so, the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. – John 5:19-21 NIV

Like father, like son is an idiom that likens a son to his father and shows similarities in their mannerisms, interests, and behavior. John chapter 1 established Jesus’ solidarity and oneness with Father God and His place as the second person in the Trinity. His identity is the long-awaited Son of God to whom all prophecy and Old Testament ceremonies pointed. But here in John 5, we see perhaps the ultimate like father, like son example and the most important passage concerning the deity of Christ. Verse 19 says:

Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing because whatever the Father does, the Son also does.

Having provided proof of equality with God by healing the paralyzed man by the pool of Bethesda and then explaining the nature of His work on earth as one with the Father, Jesus claims to be equal with God and informs us that he does only what he sees his Father doing. Jesus’ authority is derived from and subordinate to the Father. His actions are the Father’s. Like Father, Like Son.

Over the next couple of verses (19-23), Jesus explains several tenets of His relationship with the Father:

• The Son is dependent on the Father’s revelation to Him
• The Son allows Himself to do only what His Father reveals
• The Son chooses in obedience to do precisely what He sees the Father doing
• The relationship of submission leads to the Father’s love for the Son
• The Father’s love for the Son leads to showing Him all He does
• The Son’s perfect dependence on the Father guarantees His equality with Him

As a result of this relationship, Jesus, the Son, gives spiritual life as a carrying out of the Father’s perfect work. Jesus said that God the Father would show them greater works through Him so they would be amazed. And these greater works were the giving of life through the Son’s death, burial, and resurrection. It was the Father’s divine work of eternal salvation through the Son that we and all those who believe benefit for all time. We are thankful and amazed for the Father and Son.

7 Comments

  1. Jeri Centers on September 28, 2022 at 11:58 am

    John 5 verse 24
    I know of a key, one that will open the door to a new life. It’s not a hard fit it’s an easy one once you turn the key your soul will be won.
    This key will change life as you know a new heart in you it will start to grow.

    What that means to me

    It will direct you, lead you each day the key to all truth. The answer to all man strife for Jesus is the key to eternal life.

  2. Ken on September 29, 2022 at 9:02 am

    I love the interconnected life with God. Jesus is such a great example of how we are to live life with the father, directed by the Holy Spirit. This makes life much easier and more successful. Thank you, Father for giving us direct access to you, through Christ, by the Holy Spirit.

  3. Heidi on September 29, 2022 at 2:14 pm

    This song goes so well with John 5:17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now [He has never ceased working], and I too am working.”

    Father God continues to do work in people and through people because He loves them. Father God loves you too.
    You can count on Father God, Jesus and His Holy Spirit to be their for you always. Father God is on your side.
    Just like Jesus continued to do the work For His Father we to can help others, for those who want too.
    Don’t get discouraged when some people don’t want to hear the good news, plant the seed and hopefully they will listen to the next person that God brings along and hopefully you will see them one day in heaven.
    Always remember there is someone who does want to hear the good news they need Jesus, just like you did when someone shared Jesus with you.

    Father I pray that those who read this will feel extra special because they chose a life with You, they are part of Your family and if someone hasn’t given their life to you I hope they will want to, desire to be Your kid and would be apart of Your family and would enjoy sharing the gospel with them.
    Thank you for the opportunity to be apart of something so great.

    The way maker

    You are here, moving in our midst
    I worship You, I worship You
    You are here, working in this place
    I worship You, I worship You
    You are here, moving in our midst
    I worship You, I worship You
    You are here, working in this place
    I worship You, I worship You

    [Chorus]
    Way maker, miracle worker
    Promise keeper, light in the darkness
    My God, that is who You are
    Way maker, miracle worker
    Promise keeper, light in the darkness
    My God, that is who You are

    [Verse 2]
    You are here, touching every heart
    I worship You, I worship You
    You are here, healing every heart
    I worship You, I worship You

  4. Alma on September 29, 2022 at 5:15 pm

    This week in John chapter 5 I got a song

    We Believe
    We worship you we worship you we worship you our Lord coming together to spread your word we all struggle going through trials and storms it’s about going to our Lord to help us through our Lord will guide us teach us to become calm in the storm when we have struggles remember to walk in love to see what our Lord wants us to see to feel his peace his joy and his love we are worshipers worshipers we are worshipers of our Lord amen

    Our Lord is always working even when we don’t think he is. He never leaves us. His spirit lives in us. Thank you Lord for always helping me through all things.

  5. reachchurch on October 2, 2022 at 12:19 pm

    This Week in the Life: John 5

    For the best experience, we suggest you listen to the first song, then the message, and then the second song.

    1. Sunday Worship: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-1002-Worship1.wav
    2. Sunday Message: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-1002-Message.wav
    3. Sunday Worship: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-1002-Worship2.wav

    Join the Party Line Live – Schedule: https://reachchurch.org/connect

  6. Javaid Ahmed on October 5, 2022 at 10:16 am

    God directed my attention towards John 5 Verses 45-47:

    45 “But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. 47 But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”

    What God said to me on this is “If your base crumbles, then you have no foundation. If you structure your heart on a faulty slab, then all that comes after will too be faulty. Do not be stuck in a slab that traps you. Be allowed to grow towards my light. Let my spirit lead you.”

    What I took from this is that it is easy to be stuck in the mud and turning our wheels fast but not getting anywhere, but when we start with God, we continue with God and that allows us to go all in on our house that we build on God’s foundation for us. We know we are on sturdy ground; unwavering ground. Thank you God!

    • Heidi on October 7, 2022 at 5:11 pm

      thank you Javaid I love this part
      When we start with God
      Because that’s where everything starts and continues as we put Him first!

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