| When Jesus Christ walks onto the scene he | | | | Another thing Jesus says to the Jews in this passage |
| demonstrates leadership that is different and positive | | | | is that God is not going to judge the world by Himself. |
| and practical and profoundly radical. | | | | He has revealed to Jesus that He is going to do it. |
| Jesus Christ has claimed equality with God His | | | | The Father began the judgment but He is going to |
| heavenly Father and that immediately causes upset | | | | finish and complete it. |
| and distress among the religious leaders of his day. | | | | Honour me as you honour God. Imagine Jesus saying |
| We read of this conflict and conversation In John | | | | that to these critics. Here is the perfect leader who |
| chapter 5 in the New Testament. | | | | thought they were spiritual leaders, but they had much |
| Jesus speaks of God as My Father, and Jesus | | | | to learn and understand, but did not want to. That is |
| teaches us to pray Our Father, but He can say "My | | | | often the way. |
| Father". | | | | Jesus is going to decide their eternal destiny. |
| Jesus is the Son of God and is making himself equal | | | | Therefore would it not be wise to honour Him? |
| with God. Jesus is God in the flesh, coming personally | | | | Do not be amazed at this. When you bury a person in |
| to rescue lost sinful men. | | | | a grave that is not their last resting place, and people |
| Jesus is seeing what God His Father is doing and | | | | need to hear this today. Jesus saw the physical and |
| works alongside Him, and this is a pattern and example | | | | the spiritual. Many see only the physical. |
| for us. | | | | Whether you return to the dust slowly or to ashes |
| See what Jesus is doing and minister in that way. See | | | | quickly, that is not your final resting place. |
| how Jesus is moving and follow Him and minster in the | | | | One day the dead will hear and come out to judgment |
| area where he is moving and pouring out the Holy | | | | and face Jesus Christ and answer Jesus. |
| Spirit. | | | | Judgment is never a popular topic and it is a subject |
| This is how practical spiritual leadership should work. | | | | from which many turn away. To some it is not even |
| This is how disciples of Jesus Christ should willingly | | | | an acceptable possibility, but according to the |
| serve. | | | | Scriptures and the words of Jesus Christ it just |
| The Jews hated Jesus not just for what He did but | | | | happen to be true, and Jesus claims to have authority |
| also for what He said. Jesus goes on to say, I am | | | | to judge. |
| telling you the truth, Amen and Amen. All this is true, | | | | Jesus demolishes the view that death is the end. The |
| and he repeats it. | | | | dead will hear His voice calling "COME". Jesus also |
| The Father loves me so He shows me what to do | | | | demolishes the view that all hear the same verdict. |
| and how to do it. | | | | He will judge as the God the Father wants Him to |
| As we read on in verse 28 of John Chapter 5, Jesus | | | | judge, righteously and faithfully. Jesus will be perfectly |
| goes on from healing the sick to raising the dead. | | | | fair. |
| Jesus was able to give life to the physically dead as | | | | Listen to Him. "I am telling you the truth." What I say is |
| well as to the spiritually dead. He is the Saviour who | | | | true, because the Father told me to say it. These are |
| rescues and forgives, and the Lord who gives life. | | | | remarkable and penetrating words but they are also |
| No wonder it is the identity of Jesus that becomes one | | | | so reassuring to those who believe and to those who |
| of the main issues in this passage in John's Gospel. | | | | are disciples of Jesus Christ. |
| His Word gives life. Awake. Arise from the dead. | | | | |