John 5:26 and Christology

[John The Baptist]

‘For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.’

Is this according to Jesus’ divine nature or human nature?

In other words, is this describing the communication of the divine essence to the eternal Son or is it descriptive of his role as the Son of Man?

 

[Contra_Mundum]

‘For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.’

Is this according to Jesus’ divine nature or human nature?

In other words, is this describing the communication of the divine essence to the eternal Son or is it descriptive of his role as the Son of Man?

It might be preferable to interpret the term "grant" not strictly as to donate, but as to approve/authorize or to recognize in law (cf. v27 which references the authority given to Christ from the Father). In other words, the Father acknowledges the Son's unique power, proceeding from his divinity, to have life from himself; unlike other men of purely creaturely nature, whose life is in every sense derivative and even gifted him from God his creator and judge. In that case, we are less concerned whether Christ's human or divine nature may be under discussion. Christ's office is the main thing in view.