Authority of Jesus

Words are important...

Like these words, not from scripture but maybe providence

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed

John 5:18–29 ESV

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. 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.

Words are important. ‘Truly, truly, I say to you...’ We had a dialogue with Jesus and the Pharisees. No longer. Jesus is now holding class. Three times He uses the double ‘amen’ to emphasize the Truth He is proclaiming.

v.19 The Son does what He sees the Father doing.

For, Because… The Son is copying the Father. The Father loves the Son enough to reveal, give direct insight, so the actions of Jesus were the actions of God Himself. Even Jesus’ ability to give life (as our story is moving toward with Lazarus) is dependent on the Father’s example. The result of Jesus’ dependence on God, knowing the Father’s will, bringing it to the world as He is in the world, IS judgement has been handed to Jesus.

Prophet, Priest, King, Judge…

Yes in the form of the right to condemn, but even removing condemnation and allowing it to be evaluation, decision making. Consider this in light of the cross for a moment: Jesus was handed the right and privilege to decide to go to the cross. It was the Father’s will, Jesus was doing all He saw the Father doing, so Jesus decided, judged, the cross was the best end to His time on earth. Humbling, heartbreaking, AWE inspiring...

vv.24-25 Those who believe the Word receive eternal life.

Restating of 3:18 regarding believing in relation to eternal life. But the word in v.25 literally means dead bodies. So Jesus is starting to talk of the resurrection. John’s record of this conversation holds the now ‘Jesus time had come’ in one hand and the future ‘the end times’ in the other. V.25 to the end of our text is an eschatological, an end times, statement. When those in the grave hear His voice there will be the resurrection of life for those who have ‘done good’.

Paul, in Ephesians and Philippians, and James both do a great job of reminding us believing without external evidence (faith without works) is dead. We are Christ’s workmanship, created for good works. A tree is known by his fruit.

So let’s bring this to me and you:

Am I? Are you so patterning your life after Jesus that disobedience to, acting independently of, the Father is inconceivable? The Father is working, I (Jesus) am working, those who do good works, have the fruit of obedience will join in the resurrection of life.

BUT those who do not have the fruit of obedience will join in the resurrection of judgement. And as much as this culture has tried to make sure everyone gets a prize, this judgement will be pass/fail.

Jesus is pointing us, from the pages of John 5, all the way to the Judgement Seat of Christ and the Great White Throne Judgement. He is reminding us there is an end to this struggle and a final destination for all humanity.

“Not only are we the freest of kings but we are also priests forever. This is far better than being kings, for as priests we are worthy to appear before God, to pray for others, and to teach one another divine things.” Martin Luther