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).
As you might have guessed, this sent a shockwave through the crowd as the people quickly became unhinged when Jesus revealed who He really was. He went on to tell the crowd that He was actually God’s Son by saying:
“For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing;…” (John 5:20).
And then He went on to say:
“For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, so that everyone may honor the Son…He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him” (John 5:22-23).
One of Jesus’ great desires was that everyone would recognize who He really was, and honor Him as a result. He wanted to make it clear that for all those whose desire is to acknowledge and honor the Father, as the religious leaders wanted to do, they must first acknowledge and honor the Son. Sadly, this was something that they, throughout the course of Jesus’ ministry, refused to do. And then Jesus said:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who send Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life” (John 5:24).
Possessing eternal life begins when someone hears or reads God’s Word, and believes that the Father sent His Son into the world to redeem the world. Jesus began by saying “truly, truly,” indicating that this is a solemn and critical truth that He was speaking. We must believe that Jesus is God’s Son, sent into the world that we might have eternal life. Notice that possessing eternal life is not a process, but a “done deal,” and is immediately given to all those the moment they put their faith and confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.
The person who has eternal life has “passed out of death” (that is, spiritual death) and now has LIFE. That “LIFE” zoe in the Greek) is spiritual LIFE beyond our physical existence, and it is gift, free of charge, to all who believe.
Please keep in mind that the word “eternal” in this phrase is an adjective that describes the extent of the “LIFE” that Jesus came to give us. In reality, He simply came to give us “LIFE,” and this “LIFE” is found in the Son. In John’s first letter, he tells his readers:
“…God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life, he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life” (1 John 5:11-12).
In short, if you don’t have the Son, you simply don’t have LIFE. Why? Because it’s the Son who possesses LIFE in Himself, and He is the One who gives it as a gift to those who put their faith and trust in Him. Also notice that John used the definite article “the” when describing “LIFE.” He wanted to make sure that his readers understood that it was a particular life that he was talking about, namely, the “LIFE” that Jesus possessed in Himself and has come to give it to all those who believe and simply ask.
This message from Jesus began with “Truly, truly,” meaning that this is not only sober truth, but also really important stuff. We can have “LIFE” which lasts forever in the presence of both the Father and the Son. We just have to believe, that is, to acknowledge that Jesus is God’s Son, the Messiah, and that He came to redeem us from the penalty and power of sin. He came to redeem you. Just believe, and ask.
Blessings to all of you today.
