In John 5:16–18, Jesus' healing of a lame man on the Sabbath leads to a confrontation with the Jewish leaders. When Jesus says, “My Father is working until now, and I myself am working,” they understand His words as a claim to equality with God.

This sermon examines the Jewish understanding of the Sabbath, including the question of how God could continue working on the Sabbath while commanding His people to rest. Through the rabbinic concept of the eruv and a historic discussion about God's work on the Sabbath, we see the background that helps explain the Jews' response to Jesus.

The sermon then considers what Jesus means by calling God “My Father” and claiming to do the work of the Father. Jesus is presented as the Son who shares the Father's authority over the universe—the Creator, sustainer, governor, and ruler of all things.