John 5:17-30 “Jesus is God” (Nov, 16th,2025)

In John 5:17-30, Jesus makes a bold and unmistakable claim: He is God. This truth is not just a theological statement but a reality that should shape every aspect of our lives. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day were deeply offended by His words and actions, not only because He healed on the Sabbath but because He called God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. Their reaction reveals a profound truth: what we truly believe is shown by how we live. If we claim to believe in Christ’s authority and the Great Commission, but our lives do not reflect that, our real beliefs are exposed.

Jesus’ confrontation with the religious leaders exposes the idols in their hearts. They had elevated obedience to the law above everything else—even above God Himself. This is a warning for us as well. Good things—like family, work, or even religious practices—can become ultimate things, taking the place of God in our hearts. Idolatry is not just about statues or images; it’s about anything we love, trust, or serve more than God. Jesus, in His love, presses on these idols, not to harm us, but to free us.

If Jesus were not God, we would have no hope of forgiveness or true life. The world’s systems—whether secular or religious—cannot offer the kind of forgiveness and hope that Jesus brings. In Christ, forgiveness is not something we earn, but something we receive because He, as God, willingly went to the cross for us. Our hope is anchored in His resurrection, which assures us that suffering and death are not the end.

Jesus describes His relationship with the Father as one of perfect unity and love. Like a son apprenticed to his father, Jesus does only what He sees the Father doing. This unity is so complete that to honor the Son is to honor the Father; to reject the Son is to reject the Father. There are not many paths to God—there is only one, and that is through Jesus Christ.

Finally, Jesus is not only Savior but also Judge. The basis of His judgment is not mere outward deeds, but faith—hearing and believing His word. Good works done apart from faith are empty, but faith in Christ brings new life, transforming us from death to life. Jesus’ authority as Judge and Giver of life is the ultimate sign of His divinity and love.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Idolatry is elevating good things above God Even religious devotion or obedience can become an idol if it takes the place of God in our hearts. When we look to anything—success, relationships, morality—for our ultimate security or meaning, we are worshiping a false god. Jesus lovingly exposes these idols, not to shame us, but to invite us into true freedom and worship. [05:13]
• 2. Jesus’ divinity is the foundation of forgiveness and hope If Jesus were not God, forgiveness would be impossible, and hope would be an illusion. True forgiveness is not about self-improvement or earning favor, but about receiving what only God can give. Our hope in suffering and death is anchored in the resurrection of Christ, who alone has authority over life and death. [12:53]
• 3. Faith, not works, is the basis of eternal life Jesus makes clear that eternal life is not earned by good deeds, but received by hearing and believing in Him. Even the best works, if done apart from faith, are empty. True goodness flows from a heart transformed by faith in Christ, who gives us His perfect obedience and calls us children of God. [26:58]
• 4. The unity of the Father and Son is inseparable To know and honor God the Father, we must know and honor Jesus the Son. There are not many roads to God; Jesus is the only way. The unity between Father and Son means that salvation, judgment, and revelation all come through Christ alone. [23:49]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:41] - Stated Belief vs. Actual Practice
• [01:57] - Jesus’ Sabbath Healing and Its Implications
• [03:59] - Jesus Confronts Religious Idolatry
• [05:46] - Modern Idolatry and the Heart
• [07:38] - Elijah, Jezebel, and Idol Crushing
• [09:35] - Why Jesus’ Divinity Matters
• [12:17] - Forgiveness: Uniquely Christian
• [14:10] - Like Father, Like Son: Jesus’ Unity
• [16:02] - The Apprentice Son and Loving Father
• [17:54] - Honor, Shame, and True Sonship
• [19:52] - Jesus, the Perfect Son of Obedience
• [21:51] - The Only Way to the Father
• [23:49] - The Trinity: United Yet Distinct
• [25:44] - Jesus as Judge and Giver of Life
• [28:52] - The Greater Sign: Resurrection
• [32:16] - Faith, Motives, and True Goodness
• [36:11] - Jesus: God, Judge, and Savior

Bible Reading

John 5:17-30 (ESV) —
> 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” 18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
> 19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 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.
> 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
> 25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an 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. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
> 30 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

Observation Questions

1. What specific claim does Jesus make about Himself in verses 17-18, and how do the religious leaders react to it? ([01:57])
2. According to verses 19-23, how does Jesus describe His relationship with God the Father?
3. In verse 24, what does Jesus say is the basis for having eternal life?
4. What authority has been given to Jesus, according to verses 22 and 27?

Interpretation Questions

1. Why were the religious leaders so offended by Jesus’ claim to be equal with God? What does this reveal about their understanding of God and their own priorities? ([03:59])
2. The sermon mentions that even good things like religious devotion or family can become idols. How does Jesus’ confrontation with the religious leaders expose the idols in their hearts? ([05:13])
3. What does it mean that Jesus and the Father are perfectly united? How does this unity affect our understanding of who Jesus is and how we relate to God? ([14:49])
4. Why is faith, rather than good works, the basis for eternal life according to Jesus? How does this challenge common assumptions about what it means to be “good”? ([26:58])

Application Questions

1. The sermon says, “what we truly believe is shown by how we live.” Are there areas in your life where your actions don’t match what you say you believe about Jesus’ authority? What might need to change? ([01:20])
2. Can you identify any “good things” in your life—like work, family, or even church activities—that might be taking the place of God in your heart? How can you tell when something has become an idol for you? ([05:13])
3. Jesus lovingly exposes our idols not to shame us, but to set us free. Is there an area where you feel Jesus is pressing on an idol in your life right now? How are you responding? ([06:59])
4. The sermon points out that forgiveness is only possible because Jesus is God and went to the cross for us. Do you struggle to receive or extend forgiveness? How does knowing Jesus’ divinity and sacrifice change your perspective? ([12:53])
5. Jesus says that eternal life is received by hearing and believing, not by earning it. Are you tempted to rely on your good works or religious habits for your sense of security with God? How can you shift your trust to Jesus alone? ([26:58])
6. The unity of the Father and Son means there is only one way to God—through Jesus. How does this truth affect the way you think about other religions or spiritual paths? How might it shape your conversations with friends or family who believe differently? ([23:49])
7. Jesus is not only Savior but also Judge. How do you feel about Jesus as Judge? Does this aspect of who He is bring you comfort, concern, or something else? Why? ([31:35])