John 5:17-30

Meditation: Who can claim all authority and power over life and
death itself? Jesus not only made such a claim, he showed God's power to
heal and restore people to wholeness of life. He also showed the mercy
of God by releasing people from their burden of sin and guilt. He even
claimed to have the power to raise the dead to life and to execute judgment
on all the living and dead. The Jewish authorities were troubled with Jesus'
claims and looked for a way to get rid of him. He either had to be a mad
man and an imposter or who he claimed to be – God's divine son. Unfortunately,
they could not accept Jesus' claim to be the Messiah, the anointed one
sent by the Father to redeem his people. They sought to kill him because
he claimed an authority and equality with God which they could not accept.
They failed to recognize that this was God's answer to the long-awaited
prayers of his people: "In a time of favor I have answered you, in a day
of salvation I have helped you" (Isaiah 49:8). Jesus was sent by the Father
as "a covenant to the people" to reconcile them with God and  restore
to them the promise of paradise and everlasting life. Jesus' words and
actions reveal God's mercy and  justice. Jesus fulfills the prophecy
of Isaiah when he brings healing, restoration, and forgiveness to those
who accept his divine message.
The religious authorities charged Jesus as a Sabbath-breaker and a blasphemer.
They wanted to kill Jesus because he claimed equality with God – something
they thought no mortal could say without blaspheming. Little did they understand
that Jesus was both human and divine – the eternal Son with the Father
and the human son, conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of Mary. Jesus
answered their charge of breaking the Sabbath law by demonstrating God's
purpose for creation and redemption – to save and restore life. God's love
and mercy never ceases for a moment. Jesus continues to show the Father's
mercy by healing and restoring people, even on the Sabbath day of rest.
When the religious leaders charged that Jesus was making himself equal
with God, Jesus replied that he was not acting independently of God because
his relationship is a close personal Father-Son relationship. He and the
Father are united in heart, mind, and will. The mind of Jesus is the mind
of God, and the words of Jesus are the words of God.
Jesus also states that his identity with the Father is based on complete
trust and obedience. Jesus always did what his Father wanted him to do.
His obedience was not just based on submission, but on love. He obeyed
because he loved his Father. The unity between Jesus and the Father is
a unity of love – a total giving of oneself for the sake of another. That
is why their mutual love for each other is perfect and complete. The Son
loves the Father and gives himself in total obedience to the Father's will.
The Father loves the Son and shares with him all that he is and has. We
are called to submit our lives to God with the same love, trust, and obedience
which Jesus demonstrated for his Father.
If we wish to understand how God deals with sin and how he responds
to our sinful condition, then we must look to Jesus. Jesus took our sins
upon himself and nailed them to the cross. He, who is equal in dignity
and stature with the Father, became a servant for our sake to ransom us
from slavery to sin. He has the power to forgive us and to restore our
relationship with God because he paid the price for our sins. Jesus states
that to accept him is life
– a life of abundant peace and joy with God. But if we reject him, then
we freely choose for death
– an endless separation with an all-loving and merciful God. Do you want
the abundant life which Jesus offers? Believe in him, the living Word of
God, who became a man for our sake and our salvation, and reject whatever
is false and contrary to the gospel – the good news he came to give us.
"Lord Jesus, increase my love for you and unite my heart and will with
yours, that I may only seek and desire what is pleasing to you."
This reflection is courtesy of Don Schwager (c) 2012, whose website is located at http://www.rc.net/wcc/readings

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Robin K Brookes
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