Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: March 13, 2024

Date:  Wednesday of the 4th Week of Lent

Scripture Text:  John 5:17-30

Jesus answered the Jews: "My Father is at work until now, so I am at work." For this reason, they tried all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the sabbath, but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God. Jesus answered and said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for what he does, the Son will do also. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything that he himself does, and he will show him greater works than these, so that you may be amazed. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so also does the Son give life to whomever he wishes. Nor does the Father judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 

Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation but has passed from death to life. Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he gave to the Son the possession of life in himself. And he gave him power to exercise judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come out, those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked deeds to the resurrection of condemnation."I cannot do anything on my own; I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me."

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

 The gospel for today from John immediately follows the gospel text we read yesterday that recounted Jesus’ healing of a man at the pool of Bethesda. Because Jesus had healed on a Sabbath, He was criticized. Today’s text is Jesus’ response to those criticisms.

Jesus responded by uniting Himself with the Father in all His works and all His authority. He speaks of His power as coming from the Father without whom He could do nothing. And He proclaims that whoever would deny Him denies the One who sent Him.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I recognize Jesus as the Son of God? Do I seek the Father’s will as Christ showed me through word and deed?  

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, we come to You this day as believers, as Christians who have accepted your beloved Son Jesus Christ as our Savior and who seek to follow in His footsteps to You. Send your Spirit to guide us, to help us to discern your will as Christ teaches us. Instill in us the spiritual fortitude to remain with You. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.