Can you explain John chapter 5 verse 17?

Answer 1

John 5:17.

"So he told them, 'My Father is working until now, and I too am working.'"

Jesus say that He is connected with God, His father. If God is working then so as well Jesus - His beloved Son. Jesus chose to follow God's will (as God)- not His will (as a human).

Answer 2

John 5:24: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

One of the controversies of the early Church was whether salvation was by faith alone or by faith and good works. Here the author of John has Jesus say that salvation will be by faith alone. In this he was agreeing with Paul, but contradicting James 2:24.

Answer 3

John 3:17 says:"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."(NIV)

God is not a harsh, cruel waiting to pour out His anger on mankind. His heart is filled with tenderness toward man and He has gone to the greatest extent in order to save men.

Because the world has turned away from worshiping God, the creator and sustainer of life, He could have sent His Son into the world to condemn the world, but He did not do so. Quite the opposite, He sent His son here to suffer, bleed, and die in order that the world through Him might be saved. The work of the Lord Jesus on the cross was of such tremendous value that all sinners everywhere could be saved if they would receive Him.

Look at the John 3:18 it gives clues to the meaning of verse 17.