"Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God" (John 5:18).
Jesus did not challenge the Pharisees on their interpretation of Old Testament Sabbath law. Instead, he focused on Himself. If the Jews could understand who Jesus really was, any controversy concerning regulations of the Sabbath would fall away.
Jesus made three bold assertions that enraged the Pharisees—that He was equal with God in essence, in works, and in honor.
First, Jesus claimed to be the Father’s own Son, to be divine, to be equal with God. Many modern translators try to tone down Jesus’ claim, but the Jews knew exactly what He was saying. In their minds, He had not only broken the Sabbath, which deserved death, but He claimed to be God, which also deserved death. This declaration is the emphasis of John’s Gospel—that Jesus claimed to be God and for that blasphemous claim was crucified.
Second, because the Son and the Father are the same substance, their work is the same. God the Father has ceased from His work of creation, but not from His work of preservation. Jesus’ work of mercy on the Sabbath was, therefore, in conformity with the example of His own Father. In the same way, if we are truly children of God, our lives will be conforming to His. We will become like God in holiness and righteousness. Therefore if, the Pharisees said it was wrong to do any work on the Sabbath, they would be accusing God Himself of sabbath-violation.
“If up to this very moment the Father of Jesus is carrying on the work of preservation and redemption, how should not the Son, who stands in the closest possible relation to Him, do the same?” Hendriksen writes. “In the final analysis, Father and Son are engaged in one task.”
Lastly, because the Son and the Father are the same in essence and are carrying out the same work, they deserve equal honor. If you claim to honor God the Father but do not honor His Son, Jesus Christ, then you are deceived. To honor the One properly is to honor the other equally. Many say they accept and worship God, but they reject Christ. In this they are only bringing judgment upon themselves because in their rejection of Christ, they spurn the judge who can pardon them.
Read John 6:38. What was Jesus’ purpose? Read Matt. 7:2, Luke 7:46, John 15:10, and 1 John 5:2–3. Are Jesus’ commands and God’s will the same? Can you be a child of God and not keep His commands (faithfully, not perfectly)? Memorize one of these verses as a reminder of your purpose.
