Equal to God
In John 5 Jesus works
a miracle on the Sabbath (5:1-5), which leads to a charge that he “violated the
Sabbath” (5:16), which charge prompts an apologetic defense of him and his
action (5:30-47). At a later time in the history of the Johannine community, a
new controversy develops over the exalted understanding of Jesus by the
Johannine group: its confession of Jesus as a divine, heavenly figure. This
later controversy is reflected in 5:17-29, where a new charge is brought
against Jesus (“he makes himself equal to God,” 5:18), which prompts a new
apology (5:19-29).
As the following
synopsis shows, the new charge in 5:18 is not simply a doublet of the old
charge in 5:16. The prosecution by the Jews is heightened (“they sought to kill
him”0, and a new and more cogent reason for this is offered (“he makes himself
equal to God”).
Old Charge (5:16) |
New Charge (5:18) |
Old Apology (5:30-47) |
New Apology (5:19-29) |
The key to
understanding the new apology (5:19-29) lies in distinguishing two parts of the
new charge against Jesus. Part of it is simply erroneous and must be rejected (“he
makes himself”), but part of it is true (“equal to God”) and requires defense
and careful explanation.
Since Jesus enjoys
the same honor as God, the same authority, and the same extraordinary powers,
he is undeniably “equal to God.” This equality with God is not Jesus’
vainglorious self-extension; rather it is God’s will and purpose that he be so
recognized and honored. Rather to honor Jesus just as one honors God is to
dishonor God.
In summary, the
evangelist rejects the charge that Jesus “makes himself” anything. God loves
him, shows him all he does; God gives him all judgment, to have life in
himself, to raise the dead and judge them. And God wills that he be honored
equally with him. Contrary to the charge of 5:18, the proper statement
should be: “God makes Jesus equal to himself.” (Jerome H. Neyrey, Render
to God: New Testament Understandings of the Divine [Minneapolis, Minn.:
Augsburg Fortress, 2004], 213-14, emphasis added)