Today’s reading is John 5.
“Truly, truly,” or, if you are into the old King James, “verily, verily.” Years ago, I met a preacher who would say, “Listen to me now,” whenever he had something important to say. I think “truly, truly” is Jesus’s version of “Listen to me now.” It’s like the professor we all wish we had who made sure to tell us every time, “This one’s going to be on the test. Pay attention.”
Jesus says, “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.” If I understand Jesus correctly, He is explaining if we listen to His voice, we who are dead in our trespasses and sins will be brought to life by His sacrifice, raised up to sit in heavenly places even while our feet are still walking this earthly plane. He anticipated this statement shocking people. So He follows it up by saying, “Don’t be shocked by this because an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.” Essentially, if we can’t wrap our minds around Jesus giving us spiritual life, how will we wrap our minds around Jesus giving eternal life? We shouldn’t be shocked by either because Jesus does both. The one has been happening since the days He was on earth. The other will happen when He returns.
I cannot stress how important this point is. In fact, when Paul stood trial before Felix he explained his main hope in God was “that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust” (Acts 24:15, ESV). Please, understand, this is the Christian hope. Our hope is not a good job once we graduate college. Our hope is not a great marriage. Our hope is not an enjoyable retirement. Our hope is not winning the lottery. Our hope is resurrection. Our hope is there is something more than what we are experiencing now. Our hope is there is something more than we will ever experience in this present life. Jesus’s own resurrection solidifies the point: death is defeatable. But only if we follow the only one who has ever defeated it. Because if we don’t follow Him, then resurrection is not hopeful at all. Listen to me now, our options are not resurrection to life and just not being resurrected. Our options are resurrection to life or resurrection to judgment. Honestly, I don’t know precisely what either of those will look like. But I know this. You want life, not judgment.
The resurrection is coming. If you wish to one day hear Jesus call you to a resurrection of life instead of judgment, then today listen to Jesus call you to a resurrection to new life. Jesus is calling you to be baptized into His death right now that you may starting walking in newness of life (see Romans 6:4). Give your allegiance to Him. Then put your hand in His and, like Paul, count everything as loss except what will help you attain the resurrection (Philippians 3:7-11). Forget what lies behind, press forward to what lies ahead. Please, put all your eggs in the eternity basket. One day, you’ll wish you had.
Next week’s reading is John 6.
PODCAST!!!
PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family
What do you want to share with others from John 5?
Read the Bible 