Scripture: John 5:20 (ESV) – “For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.”
Here, Jesus opens a window into the love and intimacy between the Father and the Son. Their unity is not only functional but relational: “The Father loves the Son”—a love that is eternal, perfect, and overflowing with purpose. Out of that love, the Father shows the Son “all that he himself is doing.” This mutual knowing and doing within the Godhead is not a strategy—it is the essence of Trinitarian life.
Jesus then adds a promise: “greater works than these will he show him.” What are these “greater works”? Not only the healing of bodies, as the Jewish leaders had just witnessed, but the raising of the dead (v.21) and the final judgment of all humanity (v.22). Jesus is preparing them for deeper revelations of divine power, and He tells them why: “so that you may marvel.”
William Gouge reflects on this by noting that God’s self-revelation in Christ is intended not only for instruction but for adoration. “The purpose of these greater works,” he writes, “is not the satisfaction of curiosity, but the stirring of holy wonder.” When we behold Christ’s miracles—and ultimately, His resurrection—we are not merely meant to understand; we are meant to worship.
Jesus is telling His opponents (and us) that the glory of God is not static. It unfolds, layer by layer, for those with eyes to see. If we follow Christ, we should expect to be astonished. He is not finished revealing the greatness of the Father through the greatness of the Son.
Reflection Questions:
- How does the love between the Father and the Son shape your view of God’s nature?
- What “greater works” have you seen Jesus do in Scripture—or even in your own life—that have led you to marvel?
- Do you make room in your spiritual life not just for understanding, but for wonder and worship?
Prayer:
Father, thank You for loving the Son and revealing Yourself through Him. Lord Jesus, we praise You for the works You have done and the greater works yet to be revealed. Let us not respond with cold analysis but with awe, reverence, and joy. Help us never to lose our wonder at Your mercy, Your power, and Your glory. Teach us to marvel well. Amen.
This devotional is based on John 5:20, with insights from Pastor Chris Cousine’s teaching and the Puritan theology of William Gouge.
Covenant Presbyterian Church 