Does John 5:30 Refute the Deity of Christ? On my video introduction to Trinitarian theology,
I recently received a comment from a viewer asserting that John
5:30 undermines the trinitarian teaching of the deity of Christ. In this verse Jesus states:
“I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just,
because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” (John 5:30)
The individual who left the comment charges that since Jesus says He can’t do anything on His own
initiative, He is not almighty. Because God is almighty (in other words – omnipotent
or all-powerful), Jesus, therefore cannot be God.
I’m not trying to pick on this person specifically. However,
for the benefit those watching, I see this as an opportunity to present what a consistent
interpretation of the Bible looks like. Does Jesus’ testimony undue the Trinitarian position
of Christianity? Or are these charges based on a misunderstanding of the scriptures?
In interpreting any passage of scripture – regardless of your theological persuasion – it
is fundamental to acknowledge the context in which the passage exists. Bible verses do not
exist in isolation; they are part of a coherent narrative presented by the authors.
Thus, before we examine John 5:30, we must first look at the context of John 5 as a whole.
The chapter begins with Jesus healing the sick man by the pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath.
John tells us in verse 16 that:
“For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus,
because He was doing these things on the Sabbath.” (John 5:16)
Jesus responds to this persecution by saying:
“…My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.” (John 5:17)
In saying this, Jesus makes an important equivocation – He works on the Sabbath
because He has the same authority as His Father, Who also works on the Sabbath.
The Father possesses authority over the Sabbath because the Father is by nature God.
To say that He possesses the same authority and ability as the Father to work on the Sabbath is
an affirmation by Jesus that He, also is God by nature, in the same way as the Father.
This understanding of Jesus’ position is confirmed by the response of the Jews in verse 18:
“For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him,
because He not only was breaking the Sabbath,
but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.” (John 5:18)
Jesus continues to respond to the persecution from the Jews by saying:
“…Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself,
unless it is something He sees the Father doing;
for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.” (John 5:19)
Jesus makes a similar claim here as what He will make in verse 30 – “the Son can
do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing.” Taken in isolation,
this statement could be read as a limitation on Jesus’ power. However, He also says at the
same time, “…whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.”
Jesus’ claim here is very straightforward – if the Father can do it, so can the Son.
Now, if the Father is all-powerful, in order for the Son to be able to do everything the
Father can, He must also be all-powerful. If the Father creates, so can the Son. If the Father can
destroy, so can the Son. Imagine if Moses or Isaiah or David or any other human or created
thing made this kind of a claim; it would be blasphemy of the highest order. If Jesus is
anything less than God by nature, He is lying and in sin. For Jesus to be able to make this
claim honestly, He must possess the same Divine nature as the Father. He can’t be a creature.
This understanding gives us a context for the opening of the verse. Jesus is
not attempting to limit His power. Instead, He is asserting His perfect unity with the
Father in the work that They perform. The Father and Son do not have separate agendas;
They work in perfect cooperative harmony to accomplish what They desire.
To demonstrate this Jesus gives a specific example of how He will resurrect His followers:
“For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing;
and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel. For
just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life
to whom He wishes. For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son,
so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not
honor the Father who sent Him. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who
sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the
Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave
to the Son also to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He
is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs
will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life,
those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.” (John 5:20-29)
Look at the claims Jesus makes about Himself in this passage:
•He will raise the dead and give life to whom He wishes, just as the Father (v.21)
•He executes all judgment (v.22) •He will be honored with the
same honor as the Father (v.23)
•The power of the resurrection is with His voice (v.25, 28-29)
Again, imagine if Moses, Isaiah or David ran around saying this kind of stuff. Or,
to use more egregious examples, what if Pharaoh, Jezebel, Ahab, Goliath, Pilate, Herod or Ciaphas
said this kind of stuff? Nobody would hesitate to level charges of blasphemy against whoever made
these claims, because these claims are tantamount to claiming God’s Divine nature and attributes.
Jesus is using the resurrection as a demonstration of Who
He really is and what kind of reverence He is due as the Son.
It is from this point that Jesus then states:
“I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just,
because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” (John 5:30)
This statement parallels the assertion Jesus has made
in verse 19 about His perfect cooperation with the Father.
If verse 30 is a prooftext for Jesus denying any claims of divinity, His exhortation becomes
totally incoherent, because He would have just shown Himself to be a liar and blasphemer.
One of the basic assumptions we can hold to with regards to Jesus
is that He was not incoherent – He did not make claims that were self-contradictory.
If we are going to allow Jesus to give a coherent statement about Himself
and His work, we must interpret His claim that, “I can do nothing on My own initiative,” within
the parameters He has established about Who He is and what He does from the previous verses.
As we finish the verse, we again see that Jesus Himself has provided a context
for what He means – “…My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who
sent Me.” Again, this is not a statement of Jesus’ supposed lack of being all-powerful.
It is a statement of His perfect cooperation with the Father. He does not pursue an agenda separate
from or in opposition to what the Father wants in executing His judgment. Rather,
His judgment is just because He desires the same thing as the Father does.
It is inappropriate to interpret the Bible based upon reading one verse in isolation
and then assuming a meaning from that verse to prop up the rest of
the scriptures. We must allow all of the scriptures to testify in equal measure to
the Truth that has been revealed in the Person and work of Jesus Christ.
If you would like a further introduction to basic trinitarian theology,
you can click on the card in the corner to watch my presentation on the subject.