John 5:19-29

3. The Son’s equality with the Father 5:19-29

The preceding controversy resulted in Jesus clarifying His relationship to His Father further. Jesus proceeded to reply to His enemies’ charge that He was not equal with God the Father. This is the most thoroughgoing statement of Jesus’ unity with the Father, divine commission, authority, and proof of Messiahship in the Gospels. Jesus moved from clarifying His relationship to the Father to explaining His function as the judge of humanity to citing the witnesses that established His claims. [Note: See Stephen S. Kim, "The Christological and Eschatological Significance of Jesus’ Miracle in John 5," Bibliotheca Sacra 165:660 (October-December 2008):413-24.]