January 23
JOHN 5
18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. – John 5:18-24
JOHN 5 WHOEVER HEARS THE WORD AND BELIEVES
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When you hear the word of God, harden not your heart
Obey it so that you may pass from death to life
Jesus came down to die for our sake so that we may be free
Follow what the Scriptures say and you won’t be enslaved to sin
Whoever hears the word and believes it will find strength
Even if they encounter challenges, they will be able to face it.
In this account, we experience the anger that the Jews have for Jesus. They cannot take that Jesus declares himself as the Son of God for it would mean He is equal with God. That would mean that the laws they created would be exposed as man made so that others will bow down to them. Their image and status would be devalued. They were doing their best to discredit Jesus’ claim that he was the Son of God so that they could edify themselves instead of worshipping the One true God.
No matter what they say or do, Jesus will still fulfill and follow what his Father sent Him out to do. Whoever hears his word and believes will pass from death to life.
REFLECTION
• What does it mean to pass from death to life as Jesus says in this passage?
