AmazedSample

The Giver of Life

As Jesus became increasingly specific about who he is, what began with a healing progressed to claims about his deity (being equal with God). Claims describing the “greater works” he would do, starting with the giving of life. “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it” (John 5:21, NIV).

With that assertion, Jesus continues to emphasize the oneness between him and his Father. His words also connected him with the powers of God noted in the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 32:39, 1 Samuel 2:6, Ezekiel 37:7-10, to cite a few).

When Jesus spoke of his capacity to give life, it could encompass various truths. For example, Jesus is known as the creator of physical life (John 1:3, Colossians 1:16). Moreover, some of the “greater works” Jesus did on earth were miracles whereby He restored to life several who had died (Mark 5:35-43, Luke 7:11-17, and John 11:38-44). While these things indicate that Jesus is the Lord of life, the words in John 5 specifically refer to the giving of eternal life. A life that begins in the present and continues for all eternity.

Jesus expresses the present aspect of eternal life in the following: “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life” (John 5:24).

Those words communicate that eternal life is more than the future promise of heaven, as great as that will be. By using the word "has," Jesus conveyed that eternal life is something that occurs “now.” The moment a person trusts in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin.

But how does this relate to raising the dead? Isn’t that something that occurs in the future? Yes! The gift of eternal life unequivocally coincides with the capacity to raise the dead and will transpire at the end of the age. But it also takes place now in the form of a spiritual resurrection. A truth revealed further in other parts of Scripture.

Reflection: Since eternal life is a present reality, how does this bring hope and encouragement to your life?

Deuteronomy 32:39
Ezekeil 37:7-10.
Luke 7:11-17,
John 5:21, 24-25.