“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment” (John 5:24).
Today we look at two great works that the Father assigned to the Son: quickening of the dead and pronouncing judgment.
Jesus emphasized in His discourse with the Pharisees, that these works were not His own but were designated to Him by the Father. Here we see evidence of the humble obedience of Christ. This concept of Christ’s obeying the Father is somewhat difficult to understand in light of John’s emphasis on the equality of the Father and the Son. But we must think in terms of function, not of essence.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is equal with God in essence—He is divine. But He does not fulfill the same role as the Father, or of the Spirit. For example in redemption, the Father is the elector, the Son is the redeemer, and the Spirit is the counselor, the One who applies the work of redemption accomplished by Christ.
It is unfortunate that the Pharisees, who were so distressed by Jesus’ claims to divine authority, entirely missed the eternal implications concerning the nature of Jesus’ work. Here He proclaimed the Gospel, but it fell on deaf ears. Those who believe in His Word, who confess it to be true, and those who abide in Him for life, will escape judgment. While the idea of judgment did not take the Jews by surprise, they were critical of Jesus’ claim that He Himself had received the right to judge and that men would be judged according to their relation to Him. But those who are dead will not understand such a profound truth. Many, like the Pharisees, will remain hardened to the truth about Jesus because they are dead in their sins. Yet, those who have been made alive by His power will understand and accept on faith that which the Jewish leaders rejected.
Despite sinful man’s denial to the contrary, life comes only through the Son and He will be the judge of all—such is the authority of Christ. Even those who are dead in the grave will be given life by His power. Then on the day of judgment, every person will be acquitted or condemned on the basis of their relation to Him. If we have faith in Him, we will have life. If not, we will be condemned to death.
Jesus has stated that all men will be judged by Him. If you have believed in Him, you will have life. If not, you can be assured that you will be condemned to eternal punishment. Have you put your faith in Him? Do you believe that life can only come through Him? If not, believe His Word as the truth and find life in Him.
