If you recall from last week, after healing the lame man and confronting the “religious police” about healing on the Sabbath, Jesus revealed a shocking truth when He said:

“My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working” (John 5:17).

When Jesus referred to God as “My Father,” the Jews were trying even harder to kill Him because, 

“…He was not only breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God” (John 5:18).

But Jesus wasn’t finished revealing spiritual truths, not only to His disciples, but also to the crowd who had gathered around Him. The truths Jesus revealed have become basic doctrines of the Christian faith. Jesus continued by saying:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner” (John 5:19).

The Apostle Paul tells us that when Jesus came to earth, He:

“…emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave and was made in the likeness of men…” (Phil 2:7).

While retaining His deity by still being “equal” with the Father, Jesus “emptied Himself,” that is, He “set aside” His divine privileges and humbled Himself to take on human flesh. Like John said in the first chapter of His gospel, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). But Jesus had more to reveal to us about how His relationship with the Father is a “personal” one:

“For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing, and greater works than these will He show Him, that you may marvel” (John 5:20). 

Of course, the “greater works” will be found when we arrive at Chapter 11 when Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. But notice the “love relationship” between the Father and the Son, which was now revealed to those in the crowd. That’s why Jesus could say that this love has been extended to “the world” as we discovered in John 3:16. And because of this love, Jesus wants to bless the world with LIFE. This is the zoe (spiritual life) that Jesus came to give us, as Jesus said: 

“For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes” (John 5:21).

First, notice that LIFE is a “gift” from the Son. And second, notice that He is the One who decides who gets the gift! So, we rightly ask the question: “To whom does He  wish to give the gift of LIFE?” 

He gives LIFE to all those who repent of their sin and believe in who He is and what He has done for us through His death on the cross. Repentance requires the conviction of sin that comes from a humble and contrite heart. As David said after his own repentance following his sin with Bathsheba:

“A broken and contrite heart, Oh God, You will not despise” (Ps 51:17).

Repentance and Faith – These are the requirements for salvation and reception of the gift of LIFE. Jesus preached “repentance” throughout His ministry, and He also called upon all to believe that He is the Messiah, the Son of the living God, who has come to redeem the world through His sacrifice on the cross for our sins. He wants to give LIFE to you, but He must first see genuine repentance and faith. Then you will receive it, free of charge because it’s a “gift” from Jesus to you.

If you have not done so, you can do it today. Just repent and turn from your sin, and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as your Redeemer and receive Him as your Lord. No sense in waiting. You can do it today.

God bless you.