John 5:24-47

Summary
We see in this chapter how Jesus explained the communion between God the father and the son (Christ). Jesus Christ explained here that anyone who hears his words, and believes in his father who sent him, is guaranteed everlasting life and free of condemnation. He also emphasized that the time was coming, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and be alive. Jesus said that as God the Father has life in himself; so has he given to the Son to have life in himself. Simply, Christ has the ability to bring the dead to life again. In addition, Jesus stated candidly that he can of his own self do nothing: because all he seeks is the will of his father.
Jesus made references to John the Baptist, and declared that a greater witness than John is here, even the scriptures can attest to it, he added. He told the Jews listening that since God the father and the scriptures can attest to his ministry on earth, he need not persuade them to attest to it, because they would rather accept the ministry of a preacher coming in his own name other than accept that Jesus is the son of God.

Life application
Just as Christ walked with God in his ministry; we also can emulate him in our daily walk with God. We must accept that we can of our own do nothing and live our lives in a way that God the father and his word can truly attest that we are sons of God. Let the world see your light and give glory to God on our behalf.

Personal declaration
I live my life in total dependence on your word.

Reading – John 5:24-47

²⁴ “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. ²⁵ Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come 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 judge because he is the Son of Man.

²⁸ “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice ²⁹ and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. ³⁰ By myself I can do nothing;I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.

Testimonies About Jesus

³¹ “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. ³² There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true.

³³ “You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. ³⁴ Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. ³⁵ John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.

³⁶ “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. ³⁷ And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, ³⁸ nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. ³⁹ You study^[a] the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, ⁴⁰ yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

⁴¹ “I do not accept glory from human beings, ⁴² but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. ⁴³ I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. ⁴⁴ How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God^[b]?

⁴⁵ “But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. ⁴⁶ If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. ⁴⁷ But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”

Footnotes:

1. John 5:39 Or ³⁹ Study
2. John 5:44 Some early manuscripts the Only One