Death, Resurrection, and Judgement
By Blesson Selvanesan
The Word
25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an 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. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. John 5:25-31(ESV)
In this passage, Jesus claims his divinity and declares himself the Son of God capable of raising the dead back to life and executing judgements after the resurrection. He is talking about two resurrections here. First one is the resurrection of those who are dead in sin. Jesus being the source of life can speak life in to these deadones and give them a resurrected, born-again life. Jesus did this by sharing the Gospel wherever he went. The other is the literal resurrection of physically dead people starting from His own resurrection. Tombs will break open one day and new body will be given us all to make the resurrection possible. Jesus is co-equal to God and sits on the judgement throne to execute judgements.
Application: Jesus has the ultimate power over everyone’s destiny. To the contemporary Jews only Jehovah God had that ability over life, death, resurrection and judgement. Jesus claims his divinity and says that He can do the same and he calls Jehovah God His father. Thereby showing that He and His father are one. The good news is that His word gives us new life and He is capable of spiritually and physically resurrecting us. He also sits on the judgement throne and judge people for their actions and delivers the right and just judgements. Everyone will be resurrected and judged.
Death is not the ultimate, by His resurrection Jesus showed to everyone that resurrection is possible. Even today many don’t believe in life after death. Using the word ‘judgement’ is almost a taboo today. Resurrection and judgements are real and will happen as narrated here by Jesus. Even if you don’t believe in these, you will also be resurrected and judged. So, get ready! Jesus never lied or gave false statements, these words came out of His own mouth and so His words will always come true.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for who you are. You have power over the dead and the death. Your words are life and gives us new life. Let your words speak life into me today and renew my soul. Let my sins be washed away and make me worthy to stand righteous when you judge me. Thanks for being a righteous and just judge. Help me to trust in your judgements. In your holy Name. Amen