John 5:20 – “For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.”

Extended Explanation

In this verse, Jesus continues explaining His relationship with God the Father to the religious leaders who were upset with Him. He has just declared that He does nothing on His own but only what the Father does (John 5:19). Now, He takes it further by explaining why: because of the love between the Father and the Son.

Jesus says that the Father loves Him and reveals everything He does. This is a deep statement about the unity between God the Father and God the Son. There is no separation of will or purpose between them—they are completely united in love and mission.

Then Jesus makes a promise: the Father will show Him even greater works than the miracle they had just witnessed (healing the paralyzed man). These greater works likely include giving eternal life and raising the dead (which He will talk about in the following verses). Jesus is telling them that what they’ve seen so far is just the beginning—God will reveal even more, and they will be amazed.

Historical Context

The religious leaders were furious with Jesus because He had healed on the Sabbath and called God His Father (John 5:16-18). They saw His claims as blasphemy, but Jesus was not backing down. Instead, He boldly declared that His relationship with the Father was based on love and perfect unity.

The idea that God loves the Son and reveals all things to Him would have been a shocking claim to the Jewish leaders. They believed in one God (Deuteronomy 6:4) and would have seen Jesus’ statements as a direct challenge to their understanding of God’s nature.

The phrase “greater works than these” is also significant. The healing of the paralyzed man was an incredible miracle, but Jesus was preparing them for even more dramatic demonstrations of His divine power—such as raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11) and ultimately His own resurrection.

Theological Implications

1. The Love Between the Father and the Son – This verse shows that the relationship between God the Father and Jesus is built on love, not hierarchy or division. They are one in purpose and action.
2. Jesus Reveals God’s Work – Since the Father shows everything to the Son, Jesus fully reveals God’s heart and will to the world. To know Jesus is to know God.
3. God’s Power Will Be Displayed Even More – Jesus hints at even greater miracles that will leave people amazed. This includes both physical miracles (like raising the dead) and spiritual miracles (like granting eternal life).

Literary Analysis

John’s Gospel is carefully structured to highlight Jesus’ divine identity. This verse serves as a bridge between Jesus explaining His relationship with the Father (John 5:19) and His coming discussion on judgment and eternal life (John 5:21-30).

The phrase “the Father loves the Son” is especially powerful because it emphasizes the deep, eternal relationship between them. This love is not just an emotional bond but a perfect unity in action and purpose.

The word “amazed” foreshadows the reactions people will have when they witness Jesus’ upcoming miracles. Some will believe, but others—like the religious leaders—will become even more resistant.

Biblical Cross-References

• John 3:35 – “The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.” This reinforces the idea that Jesus has full authority from God.
• John 14:9 – Jesus tells Philip, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.”
• Matthew 11:27 – Jesus states that only the Son truly knows the Father, and vice versa.
• John 11:43-44 – Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, one of the “greater works” He was talking about.
• John 20:19-29 – The resurrection of Jesus, the ultimate display of God’s power.

What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian

This verse reminds us that Jesus is not just a good teacher—He is the perfect revelation of God. If we want to know what God is like, we need to look at Jesus. Everything He says and does comes from the Father.

It also encourages us to expect great things from God. Jesus promised greater works, and He is still working in our lives today. We should never doubt His power or His ability to transform lives.

Finally, this verse teaches us about the love of God. The Father’s love for the Son is a model of the love He has for His children. Just as Jesus trusted the Father completely, we are called to trust Him in all things.

How This Verse Relates to a Loving God

God’s love is not distant or abstract—it is deeply personal. The love between the Father and the Son is the foundation for everything Jesus does. This love extends to us as well, because Jesus came to bring us into a relationship with the Father.

This verse also shows that God delights in revealing Himself. He is not hiding from us; He wants us to see His work and be amazed. Through Jesus, we get a clear picture of who God is and what He is doing.

How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ

Jesus is the perfect reflection of the Father. Everything He does is a direct revelation of God’s will and power. This verse confirms that Jesus is not a separate being from God, but fully united with Him.

• John 1:1-3 – Jesus, the Word, was with God from the beginning and was God.
• John 10:30 – “I and the Father are one.”
• John 14:6 – Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life—the only way to the Father.
• Colossians 1:15-17 – Jesus is the image of the invisible God, through whom all things were created.

Everything Jesus does is an expression of God’s will and love. There is no division between them.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. What does this verse teach us about the relationship between God the Father and Jesus?
2. How should this verse shape our understanding of Jesus’ authority?
3. Why do you think Jesus mentioned “greater works” to the religious leaders?
4. How have you seen God work in ways that amazed you?
5. What does it mean for us today that Jesus fully reveals the Father?

This verse invites us to stand in awe of God’s work. Jesus is not just a teacher or prophet—He is the full revelation of God’s power and love. The question for us is: Are we paying attention to what He is showing us?