Responding to Jewish Leaders

5:16 Now because Jesus was doing these things28 on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders29 began persecuting30 him. 5:17 So he31 told32 them, “My Father is working until now, and I too am working.”33 5:18 For this reason the Jewish leaders34 were trying even harder to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was also calling God his own Father, thus making himself equal with God.

5:19 So Jesus answered them,35 “I tell you the solemn truth,36 the Son can do nothing on his own initiative,37 but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father38 does, the Son does likewise.39 5:20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he does, and will show him greater deeds than these, so that you will be amazed. 5:21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life,40 so also the Son gives life to whomever he wishes.41 5:22 Furthermore, the Father does not judge42 anyone, but has assigned43 all judgment to the Son, 5:23 so that all people44 will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. The one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

5:24 “I tell you the solemn truth,45 the one who hears46 my message47 and believes the one who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned,48 but has crossed over from death to life. 5:25 I tell you the solemn truth,49 a time50 is coming—and is now here—when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 5:26 For just as the Father has life in himself, thus he has granted the Son to have life in himself, 5:27 and he has granted the Son51 authority to execute judgment,52 because he is the Son of Man.

5:28 “Do not be amazed at this, because a time53 is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 5:29 and will come out—the ones who have done what is good to the resurrection resulting in life, and the ones who have done what is evil to the resurrection resulting in condemnation.54 5:30 I can do nothing on my own initiative.55 Just as I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just,56 because I do not seek my own will, but the will of the one who sent me.57