The Son can do nothing of himself

With reference to 5:19,30—But, in the text before us, we are given to understand that Jesus and his Brethren did not do all these wonderful and mighty works by their own independent and inherent power. In the days of his flesh, Jesus said to the Jews, "I can of my own self do nothing;" and again, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself ... but what things soever the Father doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise" (John v. 19,30); and "the Father who dwelleth in me he doeth the works" (John xiv. 10). This doctrine is incorporated in the apocalyptic symbolography. It is true in regard to all the works of that remarkable prophecy. It is the Father, the Eternal Power, by the Spirit, who doeth the works: as he said to Zechariah, "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith YAHWEH Tz’vaoth" (iv. 6). Of their own selves Jesus and his Brethren can do nothing. Their almightiness is of the Father-Spirit, "Whithersoever the Spirit was to go they went" (Ezek. i. 12,20); and where they went, there the Spirit of their Father worked. Hence the peculiarity of the sentence, ta de erga auton akolouthei met’auton -- "and their works He goes with them." He attends upon them as akolouthos, a camp-follower. He is present in all their encampments; and all the defeats they give their enemies are by his power. How could it be otherwise? For, having been begotten and born of the Spirit, they are as much Spirit as that which has been begotten and born of the flesh is flesh (John iii. 6). Therefore, what they do must of necessity be done by the Spirit -- "he goes with them;" and "their works," the works of the Angel of the Covenant, signified in his roaring, in the little scroll, and in the seven thunders, He does with almighty and invincible power.