READ: John 5:19–29 – … the hour is coming, and now is …
The Lord continues speaking to the Jews, who accuse Him of breaking the Sabbath and blasphemy (5:18). Through His healing, Jesus has already shown that He, as the Son of God, is working in service of the Father.
Now He goes even deeper. Just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so also the Son gives life to whom He wills (v. 21). In everything, Jesus represents His Father—even in judgment. He is God from God, Light from Light (see also v. 26). Let them honour Him just as they honour the Father, for they cannot honour the Father without honouring Him (v. 23).
Believing in Him is a matter of life or death! (v. 24). Jesus emphasizes this with the words “Amen, Amen”: truly, truly. There is salvation from damnation because of sin only through true faith in Him as Saviour. Only in Him is there eternal life. That faith causes one to pass from death into true life, as soon as one believes.
Jesus’ words are profound and far-reaching. They are also very decisive and timely: the choice must be made now — “Amen, Amen, the hour is coming, and now is” (v. 25)!
There is even visible proof that everything Jesus says is true: the man has been healed! Yet the Jews still do not believe in spite of this clear sign.
This shows the work of Satan, who brings spiritual death to people. But every time God’s Word is heard, there is again the promise from verse 25: “the time is now: when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.”
Honouring Jesus as the Son of God is decisive for life or death. Whoever rejects Him awaits eternal judgment. For outside of Him there is no life, only death. This becomes clear on the final day, when the graves are opened (vv. 28–29).
Those who have done good, followed the Father, and accepted Jesus—they will rise to life. But those who have done evil will face eternal damnation.
Jesus is the Saviour of life, but He also comes to judge the living and the dead. There is still a present time of grace.
Is it also “decisive” for us to believe the Sunday sermon? Sing: Ps. 40:1