Bible Commentary

John 5:20

John 5:20

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public Domain

And greater works than these works of healing will he show him. Here the term ἔργα is used for the first time in this Gospel. It becomes the recognized phrase by which Christ describes what the world regards as "signs and wonders," "miracles" of power or grace; but it actually connotes the simple activity of God, the normal operation of his hand.

Greater manifestations than physical quickening or revival namely, the mighty changes of thought and life, the gifts of grace and peace, eternal life itself, are evermore proceeding. The Father will so show them that the Son will see and do them, and so bring them by revelation to your consciousness that ye may marvel.

Christ will not say here that ye may believe, but that ye may look on confounded and astonished. This was the first effect of Christ's work—Christ's revelation of the Father's heart, Christ's demonstration of the Father's nearness and character.

Westcott quotes the apocryphal saying of our Lord preserved by Clement of Alexandria, 'Str.,' . 45, "He that wonders shall reign, and he that reigns shall rest." The wonders of grace will never be exhausted.

New combinations, new transformations, new discoveries, new insight into the eternal love, will be effected by him whom God hath sent, whom the Father hath sanctified and sent into the world (but see verse 28).

The Daily Devotional

One devotional. Every morning.

The full reading, the passage behind it, and where to go deeper — in your inbox before the day starts. No ads, ever.

We'll send one email to confirm it's really you. Unsubscribe in one tap, any time.

Continue tomorrow

Turn Bible study into a daily habit

Read today's devotional, save your progress, and receive a gentle daily reminder.

Recommended reading

More for John 5:20

Continue with other commentaries and DiscipleDeck content connected to this verse, chapter, or topic.

Other commentaries

John 5 — OverviewJohn 5 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleWe have in the gospels a faithful record of all that Jesus began both to do and to teach, Acts i. 1. These two are interwoven, because what he taught explained what he did, and what he did confirmed what he…John 5 — OverviewJohn 5 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeJohn 5:1, Jesus on the sabbath day cures him that was diseased eight and thirty years; John 5:10, The Jews therefore cavil, and persecute him for it; John 5:17, He answers for himself, and reproves them, shewing by the…John 5 — OverviewJohn 5 · Little Bible — for children and parentsAt the pool of Bethesda, Jesus heals a man who has been ill for 38 years (just with a word), on the Sabbath. The Jewish leaders question the man and then confront Jesus. Jesus responds with a profound teaching: the…John 5:1-47John 5:1-47 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITION Here commences the second division of the Gospel (John 5:1) II. THE CONFLICT WITH THE CHOSEN PEOPLE IN JERUSALEM, GALILEE, AND JERUSALEM, TO THE DEATH SENTENCE RECORDED BY THE SANHEDRIN.John 5:1-47John 5:1-47 · The Pulpit Commentary1. Christ proved, by signs and wonders and testimonies, to be Source of life.John 5:17-30John 5:17-30 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleWe have here Christ's discourse upon occasion of his being accused as a sabbath-breaker, and it seems to be his vindication of himself before the sanhedrim, when he was arraigned before them: whether on the same…