Jun 25thDevotion John 5.16-29 Can’t Handle The Truth Part 3

John 5:16-29 – For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on a Sabbath. 17 But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.”  18 For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.  19 Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “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 the same way. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. 22 For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. The one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. 24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, the one who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.  25 Truly, truly, I say to you, a time is coming and even now has arrived, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For just as the Father has life in Himself, so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; 27 and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. 28 Do not be amazed at this; for a time is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, 29 and will come out: those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the bad deeds to a resurrection of judgment.

“For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.”  It is true that did the signs that were foretold the Messiah would do.  He healed the sick and raised the dead.  It was plain for all to see that Jesus was a man from God as Nicodemus revealed that even the Jewish leaders knew Jesus was from God. (John 3:2) Like Nicodemus (who saw things with natural thought) they did not see the spiritual that Jesus was revealing.  God gave Adam and Eve physical life and also spiritual life as they had not yet sinned and were spiritually alive.  (Genesis 2-3)  In Ezekiel 37 we see a picture of God first putting the bones back together and though their bodies were whole, they were lifeless.  It was not until the Spirit breathed life into them that they will come alive.  Ezekiel 36:26 speaks of God, in the later days, giving His people a new heart and a new spirit within them.  In Joel 2:28-29 the Lord speaks about an outpouring of His Holy Spirit and blessing and changing His people which we saw in Acts 2.  In V21 shows that it is God who raises the dead and gives life and we know that it is Jesus who also moves the dead (now all people are born spiritually dead) as they believe Him and follow Him. John 3:18 and John 3:36 clearly show the spiritual death that all are born into (because of Original Sin) and that it is through Jesus souls are moved from spiritual death to spiritual life.  Jesus, both physically and spiritually, raised the dead.

“22 For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. The one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.”  The Father has given the power of judgement to the Son.  That judgement comes by a person’s own decisions in life.  Romans 3:23 clearly shows that eternal life is only through Jesus, as the salvation plan of God clearly states. (1 John 5:11-12) The judgement that leads to the second death is clear, it is for those who reject Jesus.  Some will say they are “spiritual” but they will not believe the Gospel exclusively.  Therefore, because of their relationship with Jesus eternal judgement is made known.

‘“Truly, truly, I say to you, the one who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”’  The one who does not believe who rejects Jesus has also rejected God’s witness of Jesus (The Old and New Testaments).  Such a person not only calls Jesus a liar, but also calls God the Father a liar.  That will earn a person a permanent place in Lake of Fire.  The good news is that all who love and believe the Father and Jesus, will be removed from the path of eternal death and will be put onto the path of eternal life.  Praise God!

“Truly, truly, I say to you, a time is coming and even now has arrived, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For just as the Father has life in Himself, so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; 27 and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. 28 Do not be amazed at this; for a time is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, 29 and will come out: those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the bad deeds to a resurrection of judgment.”  We remember that when Jesus says “Truly, Truly” we better listen, listen.  Everything Jesus said was important, but when He said that, He was telling something great importance.  He was telling the Jews and us who He was.  Jesus was God incarnate.  I have heard people say that they would believe if God appeared to them and spoke to them.  Family and Friends, Jesus was God in the flesh and He told us everything we needed to know concerning the salvation of our souls.  He had and gave to us the words of life.  Let’s receive Him and His words through Scripture and His Spirit.  We all were born spiritually dead because of the fallen nature of all mankind.  The words of Jesus will bring us from spiritual death to spiritual life.  Jesus will come in and live with us and change our fallen nature to a living and vibrant born again life.  He will take us out of death and into life.  The secret to an abundant eternal life is Jesus and the secret is being spread throughout the world.  The big question is if one will hear and believe.

There is a time coming when all those who loved Jesus and have died will be resurrected to be eternally with Him. (Revelation 20:6, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)  Dear Family and Friends it is a blessing to enjoy our life on earth, but to be happy here is not the goal.  The goal, the sure promise is that Jesus will bring us to live eternally with Him. John 14:1-3 ““Do not let your heart be troubled;believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be.”  That is a promise of eternal peace and joy.  That is what we strive for, it is our high and sure hope.  Let our lives be lives that are lived through and for Jesus.  That is what the Lord wants for our lives.  Truly, I hope to see you all in eternity with Jesus.  Praise God.

Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.  Praise the Lord!

Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.

Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

Numbers 6:24-26 – The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.