The Son Does What He Sees the Father Do - John 5:19

John the apostle wrote how Jesus told a man who was crippled to “rise, take up your bed and walk”, and “immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for you to carry your bed. He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up your bed, and walk. Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto you, Take up your bed, and walk? And he that was healed did not know who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, you are made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto you. The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. But Jesus answered them, My Father works hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God”, and in chapter five and verse nineteen of his book, John shared how Jesus said, “the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do” where we read:

Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do: for what things soever he does, these also does the Son likewise.

The verse reads, “Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do:”. John began with the words, “Then answered Jesus” or “therefore, wherefore and on this account the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation responded and began to speak” “and said unto them” which means “and uttered, declared and proclaimed to the Jews who were persecuting and attempting to kill Him”, “verily, verily” or “truly, truly and surely, surely” “I say unto you” which means “I, Jesus, utter, declare and proclaim to you Jewish people” “the Son” which refers to “God's Son Jesus” “can do nothing of himself” or “is able and capable to do not one thing on His on accord or by His own self”, “but what he sees” which means “except for that which the Son, Jesus, observes, discerns and perceives” “the Father do” or “that God the Father does and performs”. John shared how Jesus told the Jewish people certifiably that He was unable to “perform” any act without “observing” His Father doing the same.

The verse continues, “... for what things soever he does, these also does the Son likewise.” John added the words, “for what things soever he does” which means “because, since and on account that whatever acts and deeds that Father God makes, performs and produces”, “these also does the Son likewise” or “the same acts and deeds Jesus does in the same manner and likeness”. John shared how Jesus said whatever the “Father” does, He does as well.

When we consider John's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus “observed” His Father God and acted as He acted. In other words, Jesus was so intimate with His Father God that He could “see” Him work, and do the same things. God sent His Son Jesus to have a personal relationship with every person, and when they see Jesus work, they see the work of the Father. God came in the flesh in Jesus, (See John 1:14), and those who observe the life of Jesus will discover what God is like, requires and expects as well as His love, grace and mercy extended to mankind.

Next time see John shares how Jesus says, “the Father loves the Son, and shows him all things that himself does”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".