April 19 - The Power to Give Life

April 19 – The Power to Give Life

Therefore the Jews started persecuting Jesus, because he was doing such things on the sabbath. But Jesus answered them, “My Father is still working, and I also am working.” For this reason the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because he was not only breaking the sabbath, but was also calling God his own Father, thereby making himself equal to God.

Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise. The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished. Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever he wishes. The Father judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 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.

 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek to do not my own will but the will of him who sent me. (John 5:16-30)
Just as the Gospel of John opened with a description of the Word of the Father acting in creation, this passage affirms the spiritual side of Jesus’ ability to give life to humanity.  Remember back in John 3 when Jesus and Nicodemus talked about the need to be born again of the spirit?  Jesus has the power to bring life to whomever he wishes and just as He is the Word that speaks creation into existence, He continues to give life and He will give new life when we are born again.

This passage affirms the connection between the Father and the Son … God and Jesus.  The power of the divine is found in Jesus Christ who lived among us as a human.  There is no question that in Him can be found both humanity and divinity. 

One of the most incredible things that we find here is the unique relationship between the Father and Son.  It is a mystery that seems to be too great to put into human terms, which is why the Doctrine of the Trinity continues to be debated to this day.  It is nearly impossible for us to understand how God can be three natures in one substance … how He can work independently as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit … yet still be one God. 

But, while we desperately want to understand the concept, all we really need to do is have faith that Jesus’ words are true.  Everything that He did while on earth was in complete unity with the Father.  And here … He has the power to give life – new life to everyone.