¹⁸ This made ·them [the Jewish leaders; ^Lthe Jews] try still harder to kill him. They said, “First Jesus was breaking the law about the Sabbath day. Now he says that God is his own Father, making himself equal with God!” [^CBoth breaking the Sabbath and blasphemy against God were punishable by death; Ex. 35:2; Lev. 24:16.]

Jesus Has God’s Authority

¹⁹ But Jesus ·said [answered them], “·I tell you the truth [^LTruly, truly I say to you], the Son can do nothing ·alone [on his own initiative; by himself]. The Son does only what he sees the Father doing, ·because the Son does whatever the Father does [^Lfor whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise]. ²⁰ [^LFor] The Father loves the Son and shows the Son all the things he himself does. But the Father will show the Son even greater things than this so that you can all ·be amazed [marvel; be astonished].