All About Jesus

But Jesus’ judgment would not be clouded with a heart for revenge. God does not seek to punish people because they “hurt Him” or because they disagree with Him. God’s judgments are and will be based on fact and truth - righteousness. Judgment had been given to Jesus in order to bring honor to Him. By honoring Jesus, everyone will honor the Father. Jesus was declaring that He had the rights, privileges, and authority of God. This was a message the religious leaders understood.

Therefore, when we sing praises to Jesus, when we honor Him with our words, and when we pray to Him, we are also honoring the Father. This is the desire of God the Father. All honor is supposed to go to Jesus. “He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.”

Jesus Gives Eternal Life. Since Jesus is the Judge of our souls and since He determines our eternity, what standard will He use to determine what happens to you or me? Have you ever wondered what Jesus would say about eternal life? Jesus answers our question next.

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. (NASB) John 5:24

The standard Jesus will use is that you must believe what He says and believe what the Father says. God is not interested in our educated opinions and objections. He is not interested in our independent thinking and suggestions that He lies. God is God and He does not lie (Num. 23:19; Heb. 6:18). God does not need to lie when He is all powerful. Those who believe Jesus’ words will have eternal life and escape judgment. Those who do not believe Him will spend eternity in suffering. Jesus’ words are clear and obvious.

Now notice that at the end of Jesus’ comment, He promises that those who believe Him will have “passed” out of death into life. The Greek word Jesus uses for “has passed” also has the sense of “depart” and is in the perfect tense. What Jesus is saying is that all who believe in Him already have eternal life. The perfect tense means that those who believe Jesus cannot and will not go back to death. Those who believe Jesus are no longer spiritually “dead” but are spiritually “alive.” The decision is final. They have eternal life now and forever. They cannot go back. Jesus will tell us why when we come to the next chapter of John in a future study.

Jesus Will Be Our Judge. Everyone will be judged by Jesus. There will be no escape. No one can escape an all knowing God. That is the message of Jesus’ next words.

Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, 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, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment. (NASB) John 5:25-29

Jesus says that an “hour is coming.” That is, judgment is coming some day when life in this universe ends. The day is coming. Judgment is certain. There is no escape. When that day arrives, the old ashes, dead bones, and corpses will come to life and they will stand before Jesus.

Revelation 20 agrees with Jesus’ words when it says that there will be two resurrections at the end of the world. The first one is a resurrection to eternal life. It starts with an earthly kingdom (Rev. 20:4-6). Everyone who comes to life at this time will be given eternal life. The second resurrection is for those who will spend eternal life in the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:11-15). There are only two choices. There is not another option.