The Father and the Son

In John 5:19-23, Jesus makes a remarkable claim about His relationship with God the Father. Unlike the prophets of old who received periodic revelations, Jesus describes His union with the Father in present, ongoing terms. He says, "the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner" (v. 19).

The Greek text emphasizes the present tense: sees, does, shows. These are not past commands or occasional visions but continuous, ongoing realities. The Father is always showing; the Son is always seeing and doing. This grammar serves a profound theological purpose:

1. Continuous Dependence – The Son is never acting independently but is in constant harmony with the Father's will.
2. Perfect Unity – What the Father does, the Son simultaneously does. Their works are inseparable.
3. Active Revelation – God is not distant or static. The Father's love is shown in His ongoing revealing to the Son.
4. Divine Authority – Because this "showing and doing" is present and unbroken, the Son rightly exercises judgment and is worthy of the same honor as the Father (vv. 22-23).

This living union between Father and Son distinguishes Jesus from all others. Prophets spoke when God revealed; Jesus lives in continual revelation. The works of Christ are not merely authorized by God; they are the very works of God made visible in Him.

Application for Today's Skeptic Many skeptics dismiss Jesus as only a moral teacher or ancient prophet. Yet John's language does not allow for this reduction. The continuous present tense demonstrates that Jesus claimed an unbroken, divine relationship with God. For the skeptic, this presents a challenge: if Jesus spoke truthfully, then He is more than teacher–He is God's Son, sharing His authority. To dismiss Him is not to reject a philosophy, but to reject the very One through whom God acts.

Application for Today's Believer

For believers this passage is a source of deep assurance. If the Father is continually showing the Son, and the Son is continually doing the Father's works, then our faith rests on a living relationship, not a dead tradition. The same Christ who perfectly embodied the Father's will then, continues His work today through His Spirit and His Word. Believers can therefore trust that their prayers, struggles, and hopes are heard by One who remains in perfect union with the Father's heart.