Scripture: John 5:17–23 (focus: v.17) – “But Jesus answered them, ‘My Father is working until now, and I am working.’”
In response to the accusation that He had violated the Sabbath by healing a man, Jesus offers what is, on the surface, a defense—but in reality, is a declaration of divinity. He states, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” This is not just an argument about Sabbath law; it is a claim to be equal with God.
The language here is significant. Jesus doesn’t say “Our Father,” as a Jew might have—He says “My Father” (Greek: pater mou)—a term of intimate, unique relationship. He is not merely identifying with the people of Israel; He is asserting oneness of purpose and being with the God of creation.
From the earliest pages of Scripture, we learn that God rested on the seventh day of creation. But as Jesus rightly implies, God’s sustaining work has never ceased—He upholds all things (cf. Acts 17:28). Jesus now places Himself in that ongoing divine work, indicating that He too never ceases to work, even on the Sabbath. In this one statement, Jesus challenges the Jewish leaders’ understanding of the Sabbath, of God, and of Himself.
William Gouge, a Puritan known for his writings on the person of Christ, once observed that “Christ was never more gloriously revealed than when He unveiled His divine will under the veil of human flesh.” Jesus is doing just that here—unveiling His divine authority, not through spectacle, but by claiming the right to act as His Father does.
This verse is not merely about a healing on the Sabbath. It is about Jesus showing us the Father. He is not a renegade miracle-worker; He is the eternal Son of God, doing the very work of God, revealing God’s nature in human form.
Reflection Questions:
- Why do you think Jesus ties His activity to the ongoing work of the Father?
- What does it mean that Jesus never stops working on our behalf—even on the Sabbath?
- How does Jesus’ use of “My Father” shape your understanding of His relationship to God?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son to reveal You to us. Lord Jesus, thank You for working continually to uphold, heal, and redeem. Help us to see in You the fullness of the Father’s will and love. Teach us to honor You rightly, that in honoring the Son, we may also honor the Father. Amen.
This devotional is based on John 5:17–23, using Pastor Chris Cousine’s sermon as its foundation and supplemented by the Christological insights of William Gouge.
Covenant Presbyterian Church 