UNDAILY Episode 84
In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” For this reason, they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. 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 that 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. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 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. “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
JOHN 5, 17-30 (NIV)
As the world bombards us with trendy slogans about freedom, autonomy, and independence, how provocative seems the call that comes from Jesus Himself. He reminds us that we are not the kings of the office or the district, but we are called to follow the pattern that God has set for us through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Today's Gospel opens an extraordinary perspective on God's action in our world. Jesus explains the significance of the healing at the pool of Bethesda and emphasizes His relationship with the Father. He explains to His opponents that He acts as the Father does – giving life and resurrecting the dead. The Messiah puts the Sabbath law in second place, because first, He placed the Father and Himself as the Son, which, from a human point of view, became one of the reasons for His death on the cross.
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