Jn 5:17-30
17Jesus answered [the Jews], “My Father is at work until now, so I am at work.” 18For this reason the Jews tried all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the sabbath but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God.
19Jesus answered and said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, a son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees his father doing; for what he does, his son will do also. 20For the Father loves his Son and shows him everything that he himself does, and he will show him greater works than these, so that you may be amazed. 21For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so also does the Son give life to whomever he wishes. 22Nor does the Father judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to his Son, 23so 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. 24Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life.
25Amen, amen, I say to you, the 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. 26For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he gave to his Son the possession of life in himself. 27And he gave him power to exercise judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28Do not be amazed at this, because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29and will come out, those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked deeds to the resurrection of condemnation.
30“I cannot do anything on my own; I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me.”
THE FATHER GIVES POWER TO THE SON: Accused of violating the Sabbath rest by healing the sick man at the pool of Bethesda, Jesus points to his Father. One of God’s primary works is creation. God maintains and controls creation by natural law and by his word. God works even on a Sabbath to give life and to render judgment.
Jesus’ food is to do the work of him who sent him and to accomplish his work (cf Jn 4:34). Jesus says that he depends on the Father in what he does (to continue the Father’s life-giving and redemptive activity) and how he judges (vv 19-21). He acts in total conformity with his will (v 30). Moreover, he claims equality with the Father because judgment and honor have been given to him by the Father (vv 22-24). Those who listen to him and receive his life are assured of resurrection unto eternal life (vv 26-29).