I once got incredibly angry at one of my roommates because he wrote a blog with what I considered bad theology. I felt I had to defend God, so I wrote him a long, impassioned email where I told him he was unbiblical, a burden to others, and even a bad example to children. Amazingly, he responded and rightly told me that my email was demoralizing and insulting. As I re-read what I wrote, the adrenaline of "being right" drained out of me, replaced by a cold pit in my stomach. I immediately confessed to him, "My email was a disaster... I am sorry." It was cruelty in the name of God.
John 5:17-29
Jesus responded to them, "My Father is still working, and I am working also." This is why the Jews began trying all the more to kill him: Not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal to God. Jesus replied, "Truly I tell you, the Son is not able to do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son likewise does these things. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing, and he will show him greater works than these so that you will be amazed. "And just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son also gives life to whom he wants. The Father, in fact, judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, so that all people may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. "Truly I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life. "Truly I tell 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. For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he has granted to the Son to have life in himself. And he has granted him the right to pass judgment, because he is the Son of Man. "Do not be amazed at this, because a time is coming when all who are in the graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done good things, to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked things, to the resurrection of condemnation."
Part of me sympathizes with the religious leaders. Perhaps they want to protect the people from a theological madman. Whenever I see someone claiming to be God, part of me wonders if they are not only mentally ill but potentially dangerous. And I've done what they've done. I've felt so completely committed to my understanding of God's will that, in my zeal, I hurt people. It's uncomfortable to realize that we can be "spiritual" enough to defend God, yet dead enough to want to kill him. But Jesus looks at the people plotting his death and doesn't retreat. He claims to see exactly what God is doing and do the same things himself. He claims power over life and death as the final Judge, and says he's worthy of the worship that belongs to God. Then, he does something shocking. He offers his enemies eternal life. It's urgent. He says the hour is now, and eternal life can begin immediately. Verse 24 says, "Anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life." He doesn't say, "If you believe in me, you will get eternal life later." No, he says, once you believe in me, you have passed from death to life. To believe is to be resurrected into a new life. Eternal life doesn't start when we die, but the moment we believe. It gives us the power to love our enemies now, trusting his promise to make all things new. We are so dead that we would kill the Author of Life. But Jesus loves us enough to raise us from the dead.
Jesus offers eternal life to the people trying to kill him. When has grace seemed offensive to you?
What's one part of your life (anxiety, anger, a relationship) that feels like it's stuck in 'death'?
When have you hurt someone because of your commitment to God?
Write down one area of your life where you've stopped believing change is possible. If you have someone to tell, tell them.
Get 5 practical emails to help you follow Jesus with a friend.
121 friends have opened a study shared with them.
Sitting at Au Bon Pain in Harvard Square, I had to lead another Bible study. But I'd already studied the Bible...
We love John 3:16 because it feels safe. It's an inspirational thought printed on bumper stickers and In-N-Out...
I was on a global Skype call with RZIM's senior leaders and Ravi Zacharias himself—the famous apologist whose...