How can we defend Jesus' divinity using John 5:18 in conversations? Setting the scene in John 5 • Jesus heals a lame man at the pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath (John 5:1-16). • The miracle draws criticism because, in the leaders’ eyes, He “worked” on the Sabbath. • The conflict sets the stage for Jesus’ bold claim of divine authority. What John 5:18 actually says “ For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill Him— not only was He breaking the Sabbath, but He was even calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.” Key observations: • “Making Himself equal with God” is the inspired narrator’s explanation, not merely the leaders’ misunderstanding. • The verse treats Jesus’ claim as genuine blasphemy—or true deity. There is no middle ground. • The historical setting shows knowledgeable first-century Jews grasped His claim instantly. Why the Jewish leaders reacted • Calling God His “own Father” (Greek: idios) went far beyond the common “our Father” language; it asserted a unique, shared essence. • Equality with God (ison theō) was a capital offense under Leviticus 24:16. • Their plan to kill Him verifies they understood Jesus as claiming full deity, not mere representation. Key talking points for conversations 1. Point to the inspired narrator: John—not a hostile witness—states Jesus made Himself equal with God. 2. Emphasize that Jesus never corrects the “misunderstanding”; instead, He reinforces it in verses 19-23 (“so that all will honor the Son just as they honor the Father”). 3. Stress the legal backdrop: First-century Jews recognized only one reason to seek death—real blasphemy. 4. Note the present-tense “making” (poiōn) indicates an ongoing, deliberate claim, not a one-off slip. 5. Underscore that trying to soften Jesus into merely a moral teacher conflicts with the historical record. Supporting Scriptures that echo the claim • John 1:1 — “In the beginning was the Word… and the Word was God.” • John 8:58 — “Before Abraham was born, I am!” • Philippians 2:6 — “Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.” • Colossians 2:9 — “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily.” • Hebrews 1:3 — “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature.” • Titus 2:13 — “Waiting for…the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” Anticipating common objections • “The leaders misunderstood.” – Response: John agrees with them; if they were wrong, inspiration would correct the record. • “Jesus is only ‘a son’ like believers are.” – Response: Believers become children by adoption (John 1:12); Jesus claims unique sonship of equal nature. • “Equality just means shared purpose.” – Response: The Greek term ison denotes equal status or essence, not teamwork; the deadly reaction proves it. • “He never said ‘I am God.’” – Response: Cultural idiom matters; first-century Jews treated His words as the clearest possible claim. Simple one-sentence summary John 5:18 shows the inspired writer, hostile leaders, and Jesus Himself all agree: calling God His own Father means Jesus is truly, fully God. |
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