The discourse of verses 19–47 can be divided into two parts on the basis of a change from the third to the first person at verse 30. Instead of referring to himself as “the Son,” Jesus now uses the emphatic pronoun I (vv. 30, 31, 34, 36, 43). But part two of the discourse begins like part one with the insistence that Jesus’ authority is a derived authority. He does nothing on his own but acts entirely on his Father’s instructions (v. 30; cf. v. 19). If he does what he sees his Father do (vv. 19–20), he also judges according to what he hears God telling him (v. 30).

Possibly the reference at the end of verse 29 to “the resurrection of judgment” (RSV) provided a natural transition to part two of the discourse. The twofold work of life giving and judgment is still in view, but attention for …