Meaning of John 5:26

This verse from John 5:26 is a profound declaration of the Son's divine nature and his intrinsic relationship with the Father. Jesus is asserting that, just as the Father possesses life inherently and independently, he has been given the same capacity to possess life within himself. This is not a delegated or borrowed life, but a life that is as self-existent and eternal as the Father's. The Greek word zoe (life) here refers to the very essence of existence, the animating principle that is divine and eternal. By stating that the Father "has granted" this to the Son, Jesus is not implying a subordination of essence, but rather describing the eternal relationship within the Godhead, where the Son eternally proceeds from the Father and shares in his very being and attributes. This statement is central to understanding the divinity of Christ and his equality with God the Father.

Context and Background

This declaration occurs within the Gospel of John, which is characterized by its theological depth and emphasis on the identity of Jesus. Specifically, John 5 records Jesus healing a man at the Pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath. This act, and Jesus' subsequent discourse, leads to intense opposition from the Jewish authorities, who accuse him of blasphemy for, among other things, calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. Jesus' response in this section (John 5:19-30) is a sustained defense of his divine authority and origin, culminating in this statement about having life in himself. He is responding to their disbelief and hostility by revealing the true nature of his relationship with the Father and the source of his authority.

Key Themes and Messages

• The Divinity of the Son: The primary message is Jesus' full divinity. He is not merely a prophet or a created being, but possesses the very life of God, which is eternal and self-sufficient.
• Equality with the Father: By attributing to himself the same characteristic of having life in himself as the Father, Jesus asserts his equality in essence and divine attributes with God the Father.
• The Source of Life: Jesus is presented as the ultimate source of life, both spiritual and eternal. This life is not derived from an external source but is intrinsic to his divine being.
• Eternal Relationship within the Godhead: The verse hints at the eternal, ontological relationship between the Father and the Son, where the Son's being is intrinsically connected to and shares the Father's divine life.

Spiritual Significance and Application

For believers, this verse is foundational to faith. It means that Jesus is not just a moral teacher or a savior from sin in a temporal sense, but the very source of eternal life. To have life in himself means he can impart this divine life to those who believe in him. The spiritual life believers receive is not a temporary measure but an eternal reality, rooted in the very being of God. This assurance allows believers to trust in Jesus not only for salvation from sin but for an unending relationship with God.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

This statement is a cornerstone of Christology, the doctrine of Christ. It aligns with the opening of John's Gospel, where Jesus is identified as the Logos (Word) who was with God and was God, and through whom all things were made (John 1:1-3). It also foreshadows Jesus' later declarations about being "the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25) and his prayer for believers to be one with him, as he is one with the Father (John 17:21). The Old Testament progressively reveals God as the sole possessor of life (Psalm 36:9), and John 5:26 affirms that this divine attribute is shared by the Son.

Analogies

Consider a prime source of energy, like the sun. The sun generates its own light and heat; it doesn't receive it from another star. Similarly, the Father is the unoriginated source of divine life. Jesus, by having life in himself, is analogous to being another sun, possessing the same intrinsic, unoriginated, and self-sustaining life-giving power.

Another analogy could be an original blueprint or master design. The Father holds the original, perfect design of life. The Son, having life in himself, possesses an identical, equally perfect master design, not a copy or derivative.

Relation to Other Verses

• John 1:4: "In him was life, and the life was the light of men." This verse directly links the life that is in Jesus to his role as the light and revealer of God.
• John 5:21: "For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will." This immediately preceding verse highlights the Son's power over life and death, a power that stems from his inherent life.
• John 14:6: "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" This confirms Jesus as the exclusive channel to the Father, a role predicated on his divine nature and possession of life.
• Colossians 1:16-17: "For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together." This passage emphasizes Jesus' role in creation and his sustaining power, which is intrinsically linked to his possession of divine life.
• 1 John 5:11-12: "And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life." This epistles clearly articulates that the eternal life God gives is found in Jesus, reinforcing John 5:26.