Daily Bread

The Authority of the Son

¹⁶ So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. ¹⁷ In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father^(A) is always at his work^(B) to this very day, and I too am working.” ¹⁸ For this reason they tried all the more to kill him;^(C) not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.^(D)

¹⁹ Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself;^(E) he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. ²⁰ For the Father loves the Son^(F) and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these,^(G) so that you will be amazed. ²¹ For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life,^(H) even so the Son gives life^(I) to whom he is pleased to give it. ²² Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son,^{(J) 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.^(K)

²⁴ “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me^(L) has eternal life^(M) and will not be judged^(N) but has crossed over from death to life.^{(O) 25} Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come^(P) when the dead will hear^(Q) 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^(R) in himself. ²⁷ And he has given him authority to judge^(S) because he is the Son of Man.

²⁸ “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming^(T) when all who are in their graves will hear his voice ²⁹ 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.^{(U) 30} By myself I can do nothing;^(V) I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just,^(W) for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.^(X)