So the Jewish leaders began harassing Jesus for breaking the Sabbath rules. But Jesus replied, "My Father is always working, and so am I." So the Jewish leaders tried all the harder to find a way to kill him. For he not only broke the Sabbath, he called God his Father, thereby making himself equal with God. So Jesus explained, "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing. In fact, the Father will show him how to do even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished. For just as the Father gives life to those he raises from the dead, so the Son gives life to anyone he wants. In addition, the Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge, so that everyone will honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son is certainly not honoring the Father who sent him. I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life. John 5:16-24
Meditate
on who gives life.
Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit are three-in-one, but God the Father is above all. Jesus
and the Holy Spirit operate on the words and guidance of God the Father. Since
they are equal, it wasn’t blasphemy for Jesus to declare Himself the Son of
God. He is who He is—and the Jewish leaders just couldn’t accept that truth.
Cross from Medjugorje
The life of Jesus
Now he (Jesus) is exalted to the
place of highest honor in heaven, at God's right hand. And the Father, as he
had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and
hear today. Acts
2:33
Today. Times have not changed. God’s
message is still as good today as it was in Jesus’ time. It is still the same
message. Those who believe will be judged by Jesus, never condemned, but they are
given eternal life. The truth is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
At
one time, I prayed only to Jesus—then I began humbly praying to the Father…and
even started praying specifically to the Holy Spirit. Three in one—yet
distinctively separate. We are so blessed to have such an awesome,
multidimensional God. Loving, kind, generous, considerate, compassionate,
mighty, creative, powerful—and the list could go on forever. He wants us to be
obedient to Him…and yet He lets us choose. The punishment—being cast away—for
disobedience is a great motivator. Personally, I choose to be obedient—and to
believe, recognize, and acknowledge His power and might. Like the angels, I
stand in awe of Him. Do you?
What
do we learn about Jesus from this passage? He is truthful. He is humble,
acknowledging He can do nothing by Himself—only what He is told to do or sees His
Father doing. Our Heavenly Father has declared that Jesus is the judge so that
we honor them both. Jesus gives eternal life to those who believe in Him. For what
more could we ask?
Prayer
– Lord Jesus, I stand in awe of You—well, actually, I fall on my knees…and then
on my face. You are too awesome for me to just sit and chat with—but I long to
spend time with You. Please accept my humble life—cleanse my very heart, soul,
and mind that I would be pure before God the Father, since You shed Your blood
for me. You are mighty, awesome, powerful—all knowing, all caring, and all
loving to those who love You. I love You. I am Yours—You are mine. All that I
have and all that there is on earth…and the universe…belongs to You.
Verse
of Salvation ~ Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I (Paul)
was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to
show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.
For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what
pleases him. Philippians
2:12-13
Last
day of March
© 2026 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All
rights reserved.
Portions recycled from November 12, 2024, Banquet With The King
blog.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless
otherwise noted.
New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale
House Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream,
Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
Books by Mickey M.
Hunacek
Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com
Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character
Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories
No comments:
Post a Comment