Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life. “Very truly, I tell you, the hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself; and he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not be astonished at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and will come out—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. -John 5:24-29 NRSV
The question that pops int my mind as I read this passage is whether Jesus is speaking of a future resurrection of bodies in the grave or if he is speaking more to the spiritually dead who are standing in front of him. I tend to lean towards the latter as Jesus seems to indicate as much when he says that the hour is now here when these things will happen.
I love how Jesus speaks about having life in himself. In truth one cannot give what they do not have. He could not give life if he was not, as John later puts it, the way, the truth and the life. Also interesting how Jesus is given the authority to judge based on the idea that he is both Son of God and Man. Jesus truly understands what it is like to be human.
Help us Lord to discern the times and live the life that you have given us to the fullest.
... this devotion is part of an ongoing series on the Gospel of John.
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