Thoughts for the Day

Jesus said, 'Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgement, but has passed from death to life.

‘Very truly, I tell you, the 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 he has granted the Son also to have life in himself; and he has given him authority to execute judgement, because he is the Son of Man..... ‘I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge; and my judgement is just, because I seek to do not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

In this passage we learn some amazing things about Jesus. John is writing later than other writers, and has had time to think about what he has learnt. In the first of some long passages he looks at Jesus, his Heavenly Father, and his mission to reconcile the world to God. Jesus makes an astounding declaration that he is the 'Son of Man'. This title originated in the book of Daniel during a time of terror and persecution, and offers a vision of the day when God's Kingdom will bring in a time of peace. Enoch in the time between the Old and New Testaments also used this title for the one who waited in heaven until being sent to rule over God's Kingdom. By the time of Jesus this was the common name for the Messiah.

But there is another claim made in this passage. Jesus says that because he is the 'Son of Man' he is here to raise the dead and to judge them. This appears to mean the spiritually dead as well as well as the physically dead. We are spiritually dead when we stop learning about God or stop trying to follow His ways, or when our daily life stops us from committing to Him. When we accept His judgement we are offered life, and always this judgement comes not with terror from a warrior King, but with love by the Prince of Peace.

This Lent may we continue to reflect on this offer and our acceptance, and spend time giving serious consideration to whether we are spiritually dead or alive?

Lord Jesus,
you offered the hand of love
to all who followed You
as your disciples,
and You offer that same love
from the Father to us today.
May we review our life this Lent,
revive our spiritual life
and accept Your offer of love.
Amen.