“I tell you the solemn truth, a time 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, thus he has granted the Son to have life in himself, and he has granted the Son authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.” —John 5:25–27
Jesus can call the dead to life both physically and spiritually—this is a solemn truth. I am reminded of Jesus’ response to John the Baptist’s question found in Matthew asking if Jesus was indeed the One to come. Perhaps John was discouraged sitting in his prison cell, perhaps he was confused. He who had once recognized Jesus to be the Messiah now needed the truth to be reaffirmed in his soul. It is so easy to get discouraged in the midst of our circumstances and then become bewildered!
I love the way Jesus responds to John’s question:
“Now when John heard in prison about the deeds Christ had done, he sent his disciples to ask a question: ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Go tell John what you hear and see: The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news proclaimed to them—and blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me!’” —Matthew 11:2–6
Jesus refused to give a yes or no answer to the question, choosing to cite His works and let them speak for themselves. The coming Messiah’s actions had been prophesized by the prophet Isaiah and Jesus clearly demonstrated He was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s words:
“Then blind eyes will open, deaf ears will hear. Then the lame will leap like a deer, the mute tongue will shout for joy; for water will burst forth in the wilderness, streams in the arid rift valley.” —Isaiah 35:5–6
“I, the Lord, officially commission you; I take hold of your hand. I protect you and make you a covenant mediator for people, and a light to the nations, to open blind eyes, to release prisoners from dungeons, those who live in darkness from prisons.” —Isaiah 42:6-7
Jesus came as the fulfillment of God’s covenant promise to Israel and also as a Light to the Gentiles. Spiritually unredeemed Israel and Gentiles alike are blind captives living in darkness—spiritually dead in their sins—yet Jesus says that those who hear will live!
God’s gracious offer of reconciliation by righteousness through faith is held out to all. Sadly, many do not accept this Good News. Many fail to respond. It is a very sad and discouraging thing to the message bearer of God’s Word for the Word not to be embraced. It is even sadder for those who turn a deaf ear to the truth.
Become More
God tells us that He will never leave us nor forsake us. The writer of Hebrews says:
“Your conduct must be free from the love of money and you must be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you and I will never abandon you.’ So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper, and I will not be afraid. What can people do to me?’” —Hebrews 13:5–6
Jesus promises us the same through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit:
“Then I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it does not see him or know him. But you know him, because he resides with you and will be in you. I will not abandon you as orphans, I will come to you. In a little while the world will not see me any longer, but you will see me; because I live, you will live too. You will know at that time that I am in my Father and you are in me and I am in you. The person who has my commandments and obeys them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will reveal myself to him.” —John 14:16–21
Further Reflections
“I remember two things: that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior.” —John Newton
“From God, great and small, rich and poor, draw living water from a living spring, and those who serve Him freely and gladly will receive grace answering to grace.” —Thomas a Kempis