I just copy my dad
May 10
John 5: 19Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, 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. 20For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. 21For 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. 22Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23that all may honour the Son just as they honour the Father. He who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father, who sent him.
When we read the Bible every word is important. You cannot ignore the smallest word, because therein is often the most significant meaning. In the above passage, Jesus says the Son (speaking about himself of course) can do nothing by himself. Jesus does not use the phrase “does nothing by himself” which would be easier to understand. He says he can do nothing by himself. I again believe that this is in his earthly body, that Jesus has chosen to limit himself to this method of operation.
Jesus is basically saying that he must remain closely rooted to the father so that he can absorb everything the father does and mimic it. That is what he is saying is he not? He is saying whatever my father does, that is what I do, nothing more and nothing less. I simply watch and do the same. Whys does Jesus operate this way? Well according to Jesus it is a love issue. Jesus is really saying that because the father loves the son so much, he takes the time to show him what to do, and so he just does it.
Nothing is a surprise for Jesus, including the raising of the dead. Jesus says it is the father who raises people from the dead. I have read multiple verses about Jesus being raised from the dead. Most verses refer to Jesus being raised from the dead, clearly by the father. Jesus does prophesy that if they destroy him (the temple) in three days he will raise it again. But Jesus is usually spoke of as having been raised from the dead, and so it seems the father does most of the raising.
But the wonderful relationship is brought out here where Jesus says “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”. Jesus is saying because his father leads by example, he can freely raise whoever he pleases. It again brings home to me that death is nothing to God. It is a simple state that he can speak to and can change it with a few words. Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world.