I know that life is good.
It has to be. It was created, and everything the Lord God created was good. [Gen. 1:31]
The author of Genesis illustrated the Source of life to the reader through the image of a fruit bearing tree in the middle of a perfect environment. In the same manner, our Lord Jesus Christ demonstrated that same Source to be only through Him existing in the center or our lives.
But nothing in the texts of the New Testament reveals many details concerning what His term “life” actually consisted of. It would, however, be reasonable to assume that most everyone He taught already had some understanding of what He meant by it.
[What’s “eternal life?” see: The Precious Pearl of Life.]
In fact, the Gospel accounts suggest that any interest in the subject probably surfaced as an inquiry about how to get it rather than what it was. [see: Mk. 10:17, Lk. 10:25]
But does the present day disciple of Christ actually perceive life in the same way that the Teacher Himself and the apostolic authors did?
For example, consider Jesus’ response to a group of the Jews during a feast in Jerusalem as recorded in the gospel account of John:
Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel.
For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, in the same manner, the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, so that all might honor the Son even as they honor the Father.
He who is not honoring the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who is hearing My word, and believing in Him who sent Me, possesses eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has moved out of the death into the life.
Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear shall live. For just as the Father has life in Himself, in the same manner, He also gave to the Son to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.
Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.” [Jn. 5:19-29] [my emphasis]
The first conclusion I could draw from this passage would be that a distinct, unshared capacity to give life exists in the Father, Who has life in Himself. Also, the Father gave that same ability to have life in Himself to the Son, Who does everything in like manner of His Father.
I’d also be careful to note Jesus’ words concerning exactly who actually “possesses life” and recognize the continuous aspect of the phrases “hearing my words” and “believing in Him,” indicating that Jesus considered anyone possessing life to be demonstrating a consistent, obedient lifestyle as a testimony to the principles He was teaching.
But what could I expect as a result of possessing life? Having “moved” out of death into life, can I consider myself immortal at that point?
[Are God’s people immortal? see: Bridging the common gap of fear.]
I could, but I’d have to totally disregard the obvious. Both Jesus and the Biblical authors often defined this term “life” using the adjective “eternal,” suggesting that immortality defines an ultimate quality of living meant to be experienced only through the miracle of a life-giving resurrection.
A popular translation of Jn. 5:24 reads:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”
It’s easy to assume that this sentence confirms that I will never die if I already understand it to mean that when I read it. But the context neither addresses nor cancels the inevitability of human death. Jesus was asserting that the one who in fact “has” [or who is possessing] life shall not be judged on the basis of his belief. And, that, on that basis, he’s able to regard himself as one in custody and ownership of that possession.
As a result, he shows the Son—and the world, that he does indeed possess that life through his words and actions. His possession is in the form of a type of down payment, to be fully realized beginning with a miraculous future life-giving event confirmed by the Author of life Himself. [read: Jn. 5:29 again]
Can you hear what the Source of life says? How many chances will I get to lay my hands on that life which only the Son can give back?
And who will deny Him that sole authority?
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Last Updated: July 13, 2024 by cjournalme
LIFE IN THE BALANCE: Hearing Its Source
I know that life is good.
It has to be. It was created, and everything the Lord God created was good. [Gen. 1:31]
The author of Genesis illustrated the Source of life to the reader through the image of a fruit bearing tree in the middle of a perfect environment. In the same manner, our Lord Jesus Christ demonstrated that same Source to be only through Him existing in the center or our lives.
But nothing in the texts of the New Testament reveals many details concerning what His term “life” actually consisted of. It would, however, be reasonable to assume that most everyone He taught already had some understanding of what He meant by it.
[What’s “eternal life?” see: The Precious Pearl of Life.]
In fact, the Gospel accounts suggest that any interest in the subject probably surfaced as an inquiry about how to get it rather than what it was. [see: Mk. 10:17, Lk. 10:25]
But does the present day disciple of Christ actually perceive life in the same way that the Teacher Himself and the apostolic authors did?
For example, consider Jesus’ response to a group of the Jews during a feast in Jerusalem as recorded in the gospel account of John:
Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel.
For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, in the same manner, the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, so that all might honor the Son even as they honor the Father.
He who is not honoring the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who is hearing My word, and believing in Him who sent Me, possesses eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has moved out of the death into the life.
Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear shall live. For just as the Father has life in Himself, in the same manner, He also gave to the Son to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.
Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.” [Jn. 5:19-29] [my emphasis]
The first conclusion I could draw from this passage would be that a distinct, unshared capacity to give life exists in the Father, Who has life in Himself. Also, the Father gave that same ability to have life in Himself to the Son, Who does everything in like manner of His Father.
I’d also be careful to note Jesus’ words concerning exactly who actually “possesses life” and recognize the continuous aspect of the phrases “hearing my words” and “believing in Him,” indicating that Jesus considered anyone possessing life to be demonstrating a consistent, obedient lifestyle as a testimony to the principles He was teaching.
But what could I expect as a result of possessing life? Having “moved” out of death into life, can I consider myself immortal at that point?
[Are God’s people immortal? see: Bridging the common gap of fear.]
I could, but I’d have to totally disregard the obvious. Both Jesus and the Biblical authors often defined this term “life” using the adjective “eternal,” suggesting that immortality defines an ultimate quality of living meant to be experienced only through the miracle of a life-giving resurrection.
A popular translation of Jn. 5:24 reads:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”
It’s easy to assume that this sentence confirms that I will never die if I already understand it to mean that when I read it. But the context neither addresses nor cancels the inevitability of human death. Jesus was asserting that the one who in fact “has” [or who is possessing] life shall not be judged on the basis of his belief. And, that, on that basis, he’s able to regard himself as one in custody and ownership of that possession.
As a result, he shows the Son—and the world, that he does indeed possess that life through his words and actions. His possession is in the form of a type of down payment, to be fully realized beginning with a miraculous future life-giving event confirmed by the Author of life Himself. [read: Jn. 5:29 again]
Can you hear what the Source of life says? How many chances will I get to lay my hands on that life which only the Son can give back?
And who will deny Him that sole authority?
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