The Son of God, pt. 2

When the Dead Hear

When someone is teaching effective communication, one of the first things that they will teach is that communication is very multifaceted.

What you think you say

What you actually say

What they hear

What they think they hear

What they think they say

What they actually say

In between all of this is mode of communication, body language, and everything else that can muddy up the communication.

Another thing that gets taught in developing good communication skills is what is called “reflective listening”. Which is, essentially, repeating back what you interpreted as the message you recieved.

Something else about communication is this: When someone is venting to you, or confiding in you for support in an emotional time, one of the best ways you can respond is to say, “I hear you.”

Why do you think saying that would be right in that moment?

Because it means you are actively listening to what they are saying, instead of hearing the noise they are making.

Likewise to this, in John 5.25 Jesus talks about the “dead” HEARING His voice and therefore living.

What does He mean?

When the message of Christ is preached, notice that Jesus is using the present tense, it brings life to all who not only hear the sound of it but listen intently to it, leading to faith.

Romans 10:17 CSB

So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.

When a person really hears the gospel, hearing implying understanding and believing, he receives life from the Son.

We receive life from the Son because He has life within Himself to give!

John 1:4 CSB

In him was life, and that life was the light of men.

This giving of life is given to Him by the Father.

Does this mean that the Son was ever without life in Himself? No, He is God and therefore co-equal to the Father.

So, how was the Son given to have life within Himself?

The Son is begotten of the Father (Made of the same stuff as He is). Whatever the Father is or has, so does the Son. The Father and Son have never been without one another. To say that the Son was given by the Father, is that they are One together. Because of the relationship the Son has to the Father, He has recieved what the Father is and has — here specifically, to be the source of all eternal life.

So what does all this really come down to at this point? That apart from the Lord a person does not have any spiritual life within Himself. Just like you’re not going to get water without first coming to the source of that water, be it from the river or the tap, you’re never going to receive that life. You and I do not have the relationship with the Father that the Lord Jesus has — He has life in Himself as the source of it, and we are gifted from Him to have life which we did not have before. Therefore those who are dead will receive life when they listen to Jesus’ word!

Moreover, Jesus is given the right to pass judgment… Why?

Because He is the Son of Man. Why would this be the reason?

Daniel 7:13–14 CSB

I continued watching in the night visions, and suddenly one like a son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him. He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.

Revelation 1:13 CSB

and among the lampstands was one like the Son of Man, dressed in a robe and with a golden sash wrapped around his chest.

Revelation 14:14 CSB

Then I looked, and there was a white cloud, and one like the Son of Man was seated on the cloud, with a golden crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.

“Son of Man” is a designation of Jesus’ Lordship and Authority.

Therefore, because Jesus is the One who sits in the place of such high honor and authority, it is given to Him that He should have authority to judge the earth.

“Do not be amazed,” He says. He has said some really amazing things so far, but He is about to say something else!

In v. 28-29 Jesus says He will raise the dead. I’m not sure that this is talking about the end of days, because “is coming” is actually present tense in Greek.

Rather, I think Jesus is saying this:

“The time is here when everyone who doesn’t know God will hear the Son’s voice, and those who actively listen and obey will be given life! I have the power to decide your case, and if you obeyed when you heard My voice, you will have eternal life; if you didn’t heed my word you will be cut off from the Source of life forever.”

Lastly, we have again Jesus saying that He can do nothing on His own.

Why is that?

Because of His relationship with the Father, He can’t do anything of His own will, rather He does everything which the Father has shown Him to do.

So, even though Jesus has the authority to judge has the Son of Man, He only judges as the Father wills.

Side note, Jesus says that His judgement is just because He judges according to the Father’s will. It should be known that if we want to do what is just, and live justly, we must live in accordance with the Father’s will for us in Christ Jesus.

Inventory

Who have we been telling the Gospel to? Who is hearing the words of the Lord through us? If “faith comes by hearing…the word of Christ” and through hearing His word one can be given spiritual, eternal life, should we not diligently be investing in proclaiming His words? Never mind how uncomfortable it may be, souls are at stake!

Ask someone this week, “Do you believe in God?” See where that conversation takes you. If they say yes, ask them about their church and their walk with the Lord and be used by the Lord. If they say no, tell them that fulfillment and life are only ever going to be found in the Lord, and proclaim the Gospel to them!