John 5:18-23: a reflection

18For this cause therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God. 19Jesus therefore answered them, “Most certainly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise. 20For the Father has affection for the Son, and shows him all things that he himself does. He will show him greater works than these, that you may marvel. 21For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he desires. 22For the Father judges no one, but he has given all judgment to the Son, 23that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who doesn’t honor the Son doesn’t honor the Father who sent him.

When Jesus is accused of making himself equal with God, he does not deny it, but speaks of his unique relation to the Father. The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son also does likewise. He shares the Father's works, gives life as the Father does, has been given all judgment; and he draws the striking conclusion: that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who doesn't honor the Son doesn't honor the Father who sent him. The Son is to be honored as the Father is honored; to honor God rightly is to honor Christ.

Notice the honor Jesus claims: to be honored as the Father is honored. He does not ask for a lesser honor than the Father's; he says all should honor the Son even as they honor the Father. And he adds the sharp corollary: the one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father. There is no honoring of God that bypasses Christ; to honor the Father truly is to honor the Son, and to refuse the Son is to refuse the Father who sent him. The Son shares the Father's honor, and is to be honored equally with him.

That is worth taking to heart, for it means we cannot honor God while neglecting Christ. We might imagine we can honor God, worship him, draw near to him, while bypassing or neglecting Christ; but Jesus says the one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father. To honor God truly is to honor Christ, the Son whom he sent; there is no honoring of the Father that goes around the Son. Do not imagine you can honor God while neglecting Christ; honor the Son as you would honor the Father, for the Son is to be honored equally with him. Give Christ the honor due to God himself, honoring the Son as you honor the Father, rather than supposing you can honor God apart from Christ; for the Son shares the Father's honor, and to honor the Father truly is to honor the Son, as Jesus said, that all may honor the Son even as they honor the Father.

Lord Jesus, when you are accused of making yourself equal with God, you do not deny it, but speak of your unique relation to the Father. The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son also does likewise. You share the Father's works, give life as the Father does, have been given all judgment; and you draw the striking conclusion: that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father; he who doesn't honor the Son doesn't honor the Father who sent him. You are to be honored as the Father is honored; to honor God rightly is to honor you. Show me the honor you claim: to be honored as the Father is honored. You do not ask for a lesser honor than the Father's; you say all should honor the Son even as they honor the Father. And you add the sharp corollary: the one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father. There is no honoring of God that bypasses you; to honor the Father truly is to honor the Son. Take that to my heart, for it means I cannot honor God while neglecting you. I might imagine I can honor God, worship him, draw near to him, while bypassing you; but you say the one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father. To honor God truly is to honor you, the Son whom he sent. Keep me from imagining I can honor God while neglecting you; help me honor you as I would honor the Father. Help me give you the honor due to God himself, Lord, honoring the Son as I honor the Father, rather than supposing I can honor God apart from you.