John 5:1-23 has to do with Jesus healing the impotent man at the pool of Bethesda.  After his healing, the Jews were furious and attacked the man for carrying his bed on the Sabbath. The man rightly said that the one who healed him had told him to do it.  They then tried to force the man to tell them how and by whom he was healed.  At first the impotent man did not know, but later, when he was in the temple, he saw Jesus again and “rewarded” Jesus’ kindness by telling the Jews who it was that healed him. The Jews then began to persecute Jesus for healing on the Sabbath.

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 5:17-18, KJV).

And the Father did honor Jesus before men by making him Judge of all men. “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son” (John 5:22, KJV).

Notice the specific reason that the Father made Jesus Judge of all men in vs. 23: “That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him” (John 5:23, KJV). All this was while Jesus was on earth.

Unfortunately, some religious groups refuse to honor Jesus in the same way they honor God the Father. While on earth, Jesus was honored on several occasions; His followers worshiped Him. On one occasion they even worshiped Him after His ascension into heaven (Luke 24:52). Unlike good men and angels in the scriptures who rejected worship, Jesus consistently received worship from those whom he had created while he was present with them.  There is no indication in scripture that men worshipped Jesus when he was not physically present or had not recently been present with them.

But there is one more thing to consider. Notice what Jesus taught his apostles and disciples to do after the resurrection. He carefully explained that soon they would have sorrow, soon they would not see him for a time, but in THAT day (the immediate context refers to what will happen after his resurrection) their hearts would rejoice and no man could take that joy from them. However, there will be a change in relationship.

And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you (John 16:22-23, KJV).

We ought always to honor Jesus as he deserves, but his teaching in John 16:22-23 is the main reason we pray to the Father in Jesus’ name and why we do not worship or pray to Jesus now.

–Beth Johnson