Jesus Claims to be Equal with the Father in Heaven

And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. John 5:16-18

Steps: 1, 2, 3, 11, 12

The Jewish leadership was unhappy because Jesus healed on the Sabbath day. Then Jesus amplified the situation even further by claiming that He was equal to the Father in heaven. The Jews did not accept Jesus as the Messiah and were willing to kill Jesus not only over the Sabbath but because Jesus claimed to be equal with the Heavenly Father. This was considered to be blasphemy against God and they sought to kill Him.

Prayer for Today: Father, help us to grasp this truth today, that Jesus is God as You are. We tend to think of Jesus as a man, and often forget that He is fully man as well as fully God. As You know it is difficult for us to grasp that Jesus was God and that as God He can bring healing to us. Help us to grasp these things and to understand that Jesus, was all powerful, especially as He remained connected to You. Help us to grasp that God was with us then, and is with us now. Help us to remember that You sent Jesus to us, and that Jesus was fully God. It is an amazing thought Father, please help us to accept these truths for our sakes and for our healing.