But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working still, and I am working.” This was why the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath but also called God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, the Son can do nothing of His own accord, but only what He sees the Father doing; for whatever He does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all that He Himself is doing; and greater works than these will He show Him, that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He will. The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life; he does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
John 5:17-24
Christ is Risen!
Most of the controversy that created the necessity for the First Ecumenical Council was over the person of Jesus Christ. Was He created? Was He fully God? Was He fully man? The controversy would come back at other points throughout history, including the Fourth Ecumenical Council. There is not much controversy around whether Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, but rather over His relationship with God the Father.
There were two Greek words that were the focus of the debate at the First Ecumenical Council—homoousios and homoiousios. The word ousios (or ousia) is common to both words and means “substance.” Homo means “the same” while Homoi means similar to. The issue was whether Christ was homoousios or homoiousios with the Father.
Those who argued for homoousios argued that Christ was of the same essence as the Father. He was equal in divinity to the Father. And this was the position that ultimately ended up being affirmed at the Ecumenical Council.
Those who argued for homoiousios argued that Christ was of a similar essence, but not fully equal to the Father in divinity. He was divine, yes, but a lesser divinity than the Father.
Today’s Scripture reference is from John 5, where Jesus speaks of His relationship with the Father. The Jewish leaders who heard what He was saying understood that He was claiming to be equal with God (John 5:18) and that is why they wanted to kill Him.
In John 17, we read a prayer that Christ offered over His disciples shortly before His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. There are several indications of equality between the Father and Son. In John 17:5, Jesus references the eternal nature of both Father and Son, there was no time when the Son did not exist, He is not a created, or lesser being: “And now, Father, glorify Thou Me in Thy own presence with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was made.” In John 17:10, Jesus states the equality of dominion of Father and Son, as He prays “All Mine are Thine, and Thine are Mine.” And in John 17:21-22, Jesus prays for His disciples to have perfect oneness with Him, imitating the perfect oneness of the Father and the Son: That they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that Thou hast sent me. The glory which Thou hast given Me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one.”
St. Gregory Palamas, who was the Archbishop of Thessalonika in the fourteenth century, did extensive writing on the essence and energies of God. His conclusion was that we can know God by His energies but not by His essence. While we say in the Creed that Jesus is of one essence with the Father, we also know that that essence is incomprehensible.
One way to understand the difference between essence and energy is to think of the sun. We know the sun by its energy—we can see its light and feel its warmth. We can’t look directly into the sun and comprehend its essence. Even it’s energy we must enjoy in measured doses. We have to wear sunscreen when exposed to the sun, and too much exposure to the energy of the sun can cause us to have medical problems.
We can experience different energies of God—such as grace, mercy, wisdom, patience, love. We can experience a physical oneness with Christ through Holy Communion, which is given in a way we can handle. The essence of God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—is something we will not be able to experience in life on earth, but rather is something to be looked forward to in heaven.
Finally, Christ is Light of light, true God of true God. The very first thing created was light, and Christ was co-creator with God of that light. He is true God, not created by God the Father, certainly not inferior to God the Father. And He was part of creating everything that was created.
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me, uttering slanders against me, my adversaries and foes, they shall stumble and fall. Though a host encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though wars arise against me, yet I will be confident. One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I see after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the day of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple. For He will hide me in His shelter in the day of trouble; He will conceal me under the cover of His tent, He will set me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies round about me; and I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me! Thou has said, “Seek ye My face.” My heart says to Thee, “Thy face, Lord, do I seek.” Hide not Thy face from me. Turn not Thy servant away in anger, Thou who hast been my help. Case me not off, forsake me not, O God of my salvation! For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me up. Teach me Thy way, O Lord; and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yea, wait for the Lord! Psalm 27
Christ is of one essence with the Father, that was the main resolution arrived at by the Hierarchs of the First Ecumenical Council.
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