In verses 16-23 we have one of the most profound and difficult statements which Jesus made. This is not surprising because Jesus is dealing with truth concerning himself which is beyond earthly language to encompass. Because of this it is something we receive by faith, and in believing are blessed with eternal life.

In verse 17 & 18 Jesus defends his right to work on the Sabbath day. He speaks of God as his Father, and refers to the fact that God is active all the time, even on the Sabbath. Although God rested on the 7th day from his work of creation, he has never stopped his work in maintaining his creation. Jesus in healing was doing the work of his Father, God, in maintaining his creation.

The Jews plainly saw that Jesus was claiming to be God, and this made them more determined to kill him. The words of Jesus that follow (v.19-23) is Jesus' answer to the Jews, telling them he has every right to claim to be the Son of God and co-equal with God.

We have no way of fully understanding the fact of Christ's oneness with the Father, all we can do, and must do, is to receive the truth by faith. In these verses we see the fact of the Trinity. Jesus and the Father think the same thoughts always, and they act in unison. Neither does anything without the other. Jesus also speaks of the wonderful relationship of love which exists between the Son and the Father, and the complete oneness in thought and purpose that exists between them both. In this we see two persons, but one God. There is no division in the Godhead. They are one God.

Jesus goes on to speak of greater works the Father will show the Son. These are the works of bestowing life, and this must encompass both spiritual and eternal life. The more we may study and meditate on how people come to faith, the more we see what a monumental work of giving life this is. To raise a dead soul to life, to become a new creation, is a miracle of the greatest magnitude, and can well be described as a greater work than simply healing incurable bodily ills.

Jesus finishes his defence before the Jews by telling them that the Father has committed to the Son all judgement, and so for the Jews to judge him, the judge of all the earth, was a foolish thing, and a most heinous offence. Instead of judging Jesus the Jews should have honoured the Son, and as they did not honour the Son they were not giving honour to God. They thought they were, but in fact they were not honouring, but rather the reverse, by their persecution of Jesus.

In verses 24-30 Jesus speaks of the loss of not honouring him by refusing the truth he was teaching them about himself. To receive and believe that Jesus is God, and that God sent Jesus into the world, means we have eternal life. Here Jesus tells us of the three great gifts he bestows as Saviour on all who receive him as the Son of God. These gifts are 1. Eternal life - 2. Freedom from condemnation for their sins - 3. Entrance into the realm of life where death is no more – passed from death to life.

Jesus goes on to prophesy that a time was very near that through hearing Jesus as he is preached, the spiritual dead will hear his voice, and be raised by new birth and will live, and this is because the Father has given Jesus to have life in himself, and the authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.

This authority to judge includes the authority to give life to whom he will, and raise these people to life from the death of sin.

Jesus finishes with a declaration of his office as judge at the end of time. At this time as judge of all, Jesus will call all humanity from the dead to stand before him to be judged. Then those who have believed his word and been his disciples will rise to life. This is what it means to be good. Rising to live simply means that the faithful rise to enter into eternal life in the heavenly glory.

Others will be raised only to be condemned. Here we see that all who reject Jesus still have conscious existence after physical death, and are raised by Christ to face eternal punishment.