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A Spiritual Resurrection

What Jesus did and taught in John 5 connects directly to his Word. The man was able to pick up his mat and walk because of a word from the Lord (John 5:8). Verse 24 of John 5 began with Jesus saying, “whoever hears my word.” His words, therefore, are the catalyst, used by the Holy Spirit to bring life. Then, in the following verse, the same theme emerges. “Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live” (John 5:25, NIV).

Whenever a person hears (or reads) the Word of God or listens to a message, God is speaking. And through his Word, he desires to give life to the dead in the present. In verse twenty-four, Jesus revealed that a person who believes “has” eternal life. He expounds on this in verse twenty-five with words indicating a present spiritual resurrection. Something that he says “has now come." This present spiritual resurrection is also expressed in the following:

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved (Ephesians 2:4-5).

In the medical world, if a patient is connected to a monitor and their heart stops beating, it’s referred to as flatlining. Life has ceased. Spiritually, all of us have “flatlined” because of sin and are (were) spiritually dead. And just like something must be done to resuscitate a physical heart, something must be done to revive, or rather “resurrect” our spiritual hearts. Thankfully, because of God’s love and mercy, someone stands ready to do that—Jesus! He is the only one who can enable our spiritual hearts to begin beating. When a person hears the words of Christ and believes, they cross over from death (spiritual death) to life. A prime example of this is observed in what might have been Jesus’ greatest miracle. One that led to physical and spiritual life.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for your Word and for giving me life by trusting in you.

Ezekiel 36:25-27
Col. 2:13
Eph. 2:1-10