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. John 5:24 NIV
With these words concerning the crossing over from death to life, Jesus continues his teaching about the authority given to him by God. As the Son of God, Jesus teaches that he does nothing on his own but only what he sees his Father in heaven doing. In this teaching Jesus affirms his direct connection to God and his obedience to the will of the Father.
As God is the source of all that Jesus says and does, those who trust in Jesus also trust in God. We read in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. WEB” The Creator sent his Son to demonstrate the love of God to mankind. He did this to reconcile sinful man to the Lord by paying our sin debt in full himself.
The Will of My Father
When we repent from our sins and put our faith in the truth of Jesus Christ, we pass from death to life. God transferred the judgment for our sin unto Christ on the cross. Forgiven for our sins, we live lives of service to the kingdom of heaven in obedience to the will of God. As Jesus says in Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. WEB”
The lesson Jesus teaches here is beyond salvation from sin and eternal life. He informs the listener that his words and deeds come directly from God. Christ says in John 5:30, ‘I can of myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is righteous; because I don’t seek my own will, but the will of my Father who sent me. WEB” This assures us that Jesus is the direct reflection of God in the flesh.
Prayer: ‘Father God, thank you for my salvation. Thank you that I have crossed over from death to life in Jesus Christ. Give me wisdom to live according to your will. Help me to live and love like Christ. In Jesus’ name – Amen”
Yesterday’s Devotional: My Disciple
