A Tour Through John, Lesson 12

<p>For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ <a href="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/tour-john-lesson-12/" target="_blank"><strong>website.</strong></a></p><p>19 Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Fatherdoes, the Son does likewise. 20 The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished. 21 Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever he wishes. 22 The Father judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life.</p><ul><li>Jesus describes God as his father. This unique appellation annoyed the religious leaders.</li><li>What the Father does, the Son does, even including initiating the resurrection of the dead.</li><li>And yet they are not the same person. The Father <i>sends</i> the Son. This raises the question of the nature of the Trinity. More than the Synoptics, John gives us a lot of material about the Father, Son, and Spirit.<ul><li>Father, Son, and Spirit are all divine. They are all God in nature, or essence.</li><li>Yet the Son and the Spirit proceed from the Father. The Son is begotten, not made. The Father is their origin. Further, we see in John a consistent pattern of obedience: Son to Father. This is not limited to the time of Jesus' earthly ministry. It is true also of time in eternity. The Son is incarnate, not the Father. And the Son will turn the kingdom over to the Father at the end (1 Cor 15). So the members of the Trinity are equal in nature, but not in order (rank).</li><li>Thirdly, the members of the Trinity have different attribute