March 30

March 30, 2022
Wednesday in the Fourth Week of Lent

John 5:19-29

Friends, in today’s Gospel reading, Jesus answers his critics who challenged his authority to claim himself equal to God.  Jesus doubles-down on his assertion, that not only does he work as God is working, but he expands and makes very explicit the claim of his equality with God - that he possesses the power over life and death, the authority of final judgment, and the claim of honor due to God.

To the first century Jew, this claim is outrageous and blasphemous.  They cannot imagine that God would ever work this way, sending “a Son” who claimed to be Messiah, not to conquer the Romans, not just to be a rabbi, or even a prophet who has power to heal the broken, but as divine himself.  In Jesus, the invisible God has come in flesh.

How much do we believe Jesus’ claim?  And how does that belief affect you today?

Reflection by Keith Tan