The others last week, but it's good to be here to meet with one another locally and
what an encouragement it is.
We gather together to hear the voice of the risen Lord Jesus.
John chapter 5, and we're going to read from verse 19 to 30.
John 5, starting at verse 19.
Verse 19.
Jesus gave them, that's the religious leaders, this answer.
Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself.
He can do only what he sees his Father doing.
Because whatever the Father does, the Son also does.
For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does.
Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.
For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.
Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son.
That all may honour the Son, just as they honour the Father.
Whoever does not honour the Son, does not honour the Father who sent him.
Very truly, I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged, but is crossed over from death to life.
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.
For 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 judge because he is the Son of Man.
Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 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.
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.
Well, let us turn to God and ask for his spirit to be at work with us today.
Father, thank you for your Son.
And we thank you for his word.
And we need your help now.
The power of your spirit.
To breathe life into our lives.
So that we may see and know Jesus for who he is.
And honour him.
As you have called us to.
Help us we pray.
Amen.
I want to start with a question today.
Do you like authority?
Well, you see, it depends, doesn't it?
If I am in authority, that's one thing.
If I'm the one who gets to set the rules and decide what happens.
Well then, yes, I'm all for authority.
But if I am under authority, it's a different matter.
If I have to live under the rules and have to do what others say,
well, that's a different matter altogether, isn't it?
The truth is, we like to be the ones in authority.
We don't like being under authority.
Now, in our text this morning,
Jesus claims to have authority over our life.
Authority to give life and to execute judgment.
Look at verse 21.
You may have noted that.
Verse 21.
For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life,
even so the Son, that's Jesus,
gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.
He gives life on the one hand,
and then verse 22.
Moreover, the Father judges no one,
but has entrusted all judgment to the Son.
Jesus says,
I have authority to give you life,
and I also have authority to judge your life.
Well, you say, how can Jesus say that?
What authority does he have to determine
if I receive life or face judgment?
What right does Jesus have over my eternal destiny?
Well, in the section that we've just read,
Jesus claims to be God.
We didn't read it, but just have a look at verse 18.
For this reason, they,
that's the religious leaders who were in opposition to Jesus,
tried all the more to kill Jesus.
Not only was he breaking the Sabbath,
but he was even calling God his own Father,
making himself equal with God.
That's been the purpose of these opening chapters of John's Gospel,
to show us, to prove to us that Jesus is God.
That's what we are to see.
Jesus is not just a man who can do miracles.
He is the very self-revelation of God.
Look at Jesus,
and we see God.
He continues,
verse 19.
Jesus gave them this answer,
very truly I tell you,
the Son can do nothing by himself.
He can do only what he sees the Father doing,
because whatever the Father does,
the Son also does.
The work God the Father does,
the Son also does.
They are one in their purpose.
Now that doesn't just simply mean that Jesus represents the Father,
or works on behalf of the Father.
No, it's much greater than that.
The Father acts,
and we can say the Son also acts.
In other words,
what Jesus does,
is with the very authority of God.
Now the way in which Jesus acts out his authority,
is through his word.
You may remember,
a couple of weeks back,
we looked at Jesus,
and the healings that he performed.
Just go back to chapter 4,
verse 49.
Do you remember the royal official who came to Jesus?
His child was dying?
Chapter 4, verse 49.
The royal official said,
Sir, come down before my child dies.
Go, Jesus replied.
Your son will live.
Or literally,
your son lives.
Even though he was at a far away distance,
by his very words,
Jesus enabled the son to live.
And then have a look at chapter 5,
verse 8.
It's the story,
the account of the cripple
who had been paralysed for 38 years.
Verse 8,
Jesus said to him,
Get up.
Pick up your mat and walk.
And at once,
the man was cured.
He picked up his mat
and walked.
Astonishing, isn't it?
Just his words.
And life is given,
and people are healed.
His authority is expressed
through his very words,
through his voice.
And this same Jesus
is speaking to us right now.
His word has authority over us.
So the question we need to ask is,
are we today
listening
to his voice?
It's a matter of life and death
because Jesus has authority
to give life
and to execute judgment
all at his word.
So let's see how Jesus' word
has authority over us.
Two things.
First,
Jesus has authority
to give life.
Look at verse 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.
Amazing.
to hear the word of Jesus
and believe
is to move from a place
of death
to a place of life.
It's a difference
to being wheeled
into the morgue
and being carried out
of the maternity ward.
So how do we,
how can anyone
have this life
that Jesus is offering?
Well,
two things.
First,
we must accept
we are dead.
Verse 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.
Well,
who are the dead?
Well,
it's people.
People like you and me.
Oh yes,
you say,
I have physical life,
I can move my arms
and kick my legs.
But inside,
we are spiritually dead.
In a couple of weeks,
I'm sure you will have
children knocking on your door
looking for sweets
dressed up as zombies.
Maybe you've never seen
any of the programs
or films on TV.
But zombies are
the living dead.
They are a walking corpse
with no life,
devouring everything
around them,
but yet just spreading death.
Well,
these fictional characters
are a picture
of a spiritual reality.
we are born
spiritually dead
and we continue
to choose a life
that leads to death.
We're separated from God
and we don't want
to be reconciled to God.
We desire
an autonomy
from God
and we reject
his authority
over us.
People
all around us
in the world today
are literally
a walking dead.
dead.
Heading
for judgment.
Now,
the problem
with being dead
is
we can't make
ourselves alive.
Dead
people
are
dead.
One writer
put it like this.
You can listen.
just as the physically
dead
can't communicate
with the living,
so the spiritually
dead
can't communicate
with the eternal
living God.
What we need
is nothing less
than a
spiritual
resurrection,
a new life.
So,
not only are we
to accept
we are dead,
we must listen
to his voice.
You see,
we can't
change our
predicament.
People can't
change themselves,
but Jesus
can,
verse 25.
Very truly
I tell you
a time is coming
and is now come
when the dead
will hear
the voice
of God
and those
who hear
his voice
will
live.
Just as
that dying
official son
had no power
to give himself
life,
just as that
lame man
had no ability
to heal
himself,
so we
can't heal
ourselves
of our
deadness.
But when
Jesus
speaks
his word,
we are
raised to
new life.
We are
spiritually
healed.
You see,
when we
hear the
very word
of Jesus,
as we are
hearing right
now,
we experience
the work
of God
in our
life.
Because
Jesus
acts
through his
word,
his word
has power
and authority
to move
people from
death
into life.
It's a
spiritual
resurrection.
This new
life
is wonderfully
illustrated for
us in
Ezekiel.
If you've
got your
Bibles there,
you can
turn to
Ezekiel.
It's on
page 868
of your
church
Bible.
868.
Ezekiel
chapter
37.
Here,
the prophet
Ezekiel
has been
given a
vision.
And God
takes
Ezekiel
the prophet
into a
valley full
of bones,
dry bones
scattered all
around.
We'll pick
it up in
verse 3.
Ezekiel
chapter 37
verse 3.
God asked
me,
Son of
man,
can these
bones
live?
I said,
Sovereign
Lord,
you alone
know.
Then he
said to
me,
Prophesy,
speak to
these bones
and say to
them,
dry bones,
hear the
word of
the Lord.
what's
going to
happen?
Well,
look at
verse 7.
So I
prophesied,
I spoke
and I
was,
as I
was
commanded
and as
I was
prophesying,
there was
a noise,
a rattling
sound and
the bones
came together,
bone to
bone.
I
looked and
tendons and
flesh appeared
in them and
skin covered
them,
but there
was no
breath in
them.
then he
said to
me,
prophesy
to the
breath.
Now,
breath,
the word
breath there
is also
spirit.
Prophesy
to the
breath,
to spirit,
prophesy,
son of
man,
and say
to it,
this is
what the
sovereign
Lord says,
come
breath from
the four
winds and
breathe into
these slain
that they
may live.
so I
prophesied
as he
commanded
me and
breath entered
them and
they came
to life and
stood up on
their feet,
a vast
army of
them.
Let's go
back to
John's
Gospel.
What an
amazing
vision.
Now,
what was a
vision has
become a
reality.
Jesus is
the true
prophet who
has come
to bring
life.
You see,
when we
hear the
very word
of Jesus,
the spirit
breathes
into our
life and
we begin
to experience
the very
work of
God because
the word
of God
by the
spirit of
God does
an almighty
work of
God.
New life
is given
to the
living dead.
It's a
spiritual
resurrection
and as
we believe
in Jesus,
so we
receive
life.
A life
that now
is enabled
to surrender
our autonomy
and submit
to his
good,
kind,
loving
authority.
So hear
the word
of Jesus,
verse 26.
For as
the Father
has life
in himself,
so he
has granted
the Son
to have
life in
himself.
Go to
the source
of life.
Accept
that you
are dead.
Listen to
his voice
and be
absolutely
assured that
when we
believe,
we have
crossed over
from a
place of
death,
never to
die again,
to life
in all
its fullness.
righteousness.
Jesus has
authority
to give
life.
And
second,
he has
authority
to judge
all.
I received
a message,
a text message
from my
friend and
it said
this,
we believe
you
and only
you
should
control
your body,
life and
future.
You
and only
you
should
control
your body,
life and
future.
That sums
up the
spirit of
the age,
doesn't it?
We don't
want to be
accountable to
anyone except
ourselves.
Nobody
can tell me
what to do
or how I
should live.
No one's
to judge
me.
But that's
not what
Jesus says,
is it?
verse 27.
And he,
the father,
has given
him,
Jesus,
authority
to judge
because he
is the
son of
man.
Well,
who's the
son of
man?
Well,
the son of
man is
a title
and it
carries with
it divine
authority.
another
prophet helps
us to
understand
what Jesus
means by
referring to
himself as
the son of
man.
Go with
me to
Daniel chapter
7.
It's just
after Ezekiel.
I think it's
on page
896.
Something like
that.
896.
Daniel chapter
7.
And just
as Ezekiel
had a
vision from
God,
Daniel has
been given
a vision.
And in this
vision in
chapter 7,
there's a
picture of
different nations,
those who
stand in
opposition to
God.
And at the
end of the
vision,
we see
somebody
come forward.
Somebody with
authority and
power,
someone to
judge.
We'll pick
it up in
verse 9.
As I
looked,
thrones were
set in
place.
And the
Ancient of
Days,
that is God
himself,
took his
seat.
So here we
are in the
control room
of heaven,
the place of
all authority.
Now go to
the very
end of
verse 10.
The court
was seated
and the
books were
opened.
The books
of judgment.
Verse 13,
in my vision
at night I
looked and
there before
me was one
like a son
of man,
a human
being,
but coming
with the
clouds of
heaven.
And he
approached the
Ancient of
Days.
He came
to God
himself and
was led
into his
presence,
into the
place of
all authority.
And he
was given
authority,
glory,
and sovereign
power,
and all
nations and
all peoples
of every
language
worshipped
him.
And his
dominion is
an everlasting
dominion that
will not
pass away.
and his
kingdom is
one that
will never
be destroyed.
What a
vision.
A vision
of the
Son of
Man.
Let's go
back now
to John
chapter 5.
Because here
we read
that the
Father
has given
to Jesus,
the God
Man,
the position
of being
the Son
of Man.
For Jesus
comes into
this world
with absolute
power and
supreme
authority over
all the
nations and
over all
people.
And he
will have
the last
say.
We will
be raised
for
judgment.
Look at
verse 28.
Do not
be amazed
at this.
In other
words,
don't be
shocked,
don't be
surprised,
be ready
for a
time is
coming when
all who
are in
their
graves
will hear
his
voice
and come
out.
What a
sobering
sight that
is.
Everyone
who has
ever lived,
all who
have been
born and
have died,
at the
voice and
command of
Jesus,
will be
raised up.
A command
that we
cannot reject
or refuse.
And no
one will be
missing.
I will be
there and
you will be
there.
And every
ruler and
every leader
and every
person of
every nation,
there we
will all
stand before
Jesus,
the Son of
Man with
absolute
power and
supreme
authority,
all the
evidence will
have been
heard,
seen and
known,
every word
we have
spoken,
every deed
we have
done,
every thought
that we
have had,
all will
be considered
and weighed.
We will be
raised for
judgment
and we
will receive
the verdict.
Verse 29,
those who
have done
what is
good will
rise to
live and
those who
have done
what is
evil will
rise to
be condemned.
Well, you
say, does
that mean
Jesus is
going to
judge us
on the
basis of
what I've
done that
is good
and weigh
up the
bad that I
have done?
So as
long as
all my
good outweighs
all my
bad, is
that how
it's going
to be?
Well, no,
the good
and the
evil we
do is
evidence of
how we
have responded
to Jesus.
To help us
understand this,
just look back
to chapter
3.
I think
this will
help clear
it up.
John
chapter 3
and verse
19.
follow with
me as I
read.
This is
the verdict.
The
light,
speaking of
Jesus,
has come
into the
world.
But people
loved
darkness
instead of
the light
because their
deeds were
evil.
Everyone who
does evil
hates the
light and
will not
come into
the light
for fear
that their
deeds will
be exposed.
But whoever
lives by
the truth
comes into
the light
so that it
may be seen
plainly that
what they
have done
has been
done in
the sight
of God.
Back to
chapter 5.
this is
the verdict.
If we
refuse to
come to
Jesus
and
prefer to
stay in
the darkness
and live
out our
life in
secret and
do our
own thing,
we will be
condemned.
But if we
have come to
Jesus with
our sin and
we've come
to the light
and let him
show our
hearts and
expose who
we are,
then we
find forgiveness.
We live.
So Jesus
will judge
according to
how we
have responded
to Jesus.
Have we
come into
the light
or have
we stayed
in the
darkness?
And let's
be clear,
those who
have come
into the
light,
those who
have received
spiritual life
from Jesus,
we do not
need to fear
this judgment.
Do you
remember what
it said in
verse 24?
Chapter 5,
verse 24?
Very truly I
tell you,
whoever hears
my word and
believes him
who sent me
has eternal
life and
will not be
judged,
they will not
be condemned
because they've
crossed over
from death
to life.
We can have
complete confidence
an absolute
assurance that
we will
enjoy eternal
life with
him.
There can
be no
excuses,
no claims
of unfairness.
Verse 27,
sorry,
verse 30.
Jesus says,
by myself I
can do
nothing.
I judge
only as I
hear and
my judgment
is just.
Jesus has
all authority
to judge.
It will be
eternal joy
or terrifying
condemnation.
So what's our
response today
to the voice
of Jesus?
Well, it's
simply this.
Honor
Jesus.
Did you see
there in
verse 23?
The Father
has given
Jesus authority
to give life
and execute
judgment.
Why?
Verse 23,
that all
may honor
the Son
just as they
honor the
Father.
To honor
Jesus is to
treat him
with the
respect and
devotion that
he deserves.
So how are
we going to
honor him
today?
Well, very
quickly,
two things.
First, if
you are not
a believer
in Jesus,
if you are
here today
and you do
not yet
believe in
him,
the way
for you
to honor
Jesus
is to
accept
his
word,
that we
are spiritually
dead and
that without
him we
cannot have
life.
Verse 21,
the Son
gives life
to whom
he is
pleased to
give it.
The Son
takes no
delight
in judging,
no delight,
but yet it
pleases him.
he longs
to give
you life.
So honor
Jesus,
surrender
your autonomy
and submit
to his
authority,
hear his
voice,
believe and
you will
instantly in
this very
moment of
trust in
Jesus will
move from
death to
life right
now.
if you
are a
believer in
Jesus,
how are
you going
to honor
him?
How will
I honor
him?
Well we
honor him
as we
speak these
very life
giving words
of Jesus.
Words that
have authority
and power,
not our
own words,
but the
words about
Jesus that
bring new
life.
You see we
live in a
community full
of people with
physical life,
but they are
spiritually dead.
People are
walking around
like zombies,
the walking
dead,
unknown that
they are
heading for
judgment and
we have a
life giving
message,
message of
Jesus Christ
who came
into the
world to
die our
death,
to give
us life
through his
resurrection,
raised to
life,
conquering
death,
so that all
who trust
him may
have life
for all
eternity.
Simply put,
we are to
go and
call people
to trade
in their
dead
life for
his new
and eternal
life.
Do you
remember that
vision that
Ezekiel had?
Those dead
bones in the
valley?
You know when
we speak the
truth of the
gospel,
the spirit of
God takes
that word
and begins
to do a
work of
God and
brings people
to life.
life.
May God
give us
courage and
confidence to
speak his
life-giving
words to
those who
are dead
that they
may have
life.
Let's pray
together.
Amen.
Our Father God,
thank you for
Jesus.
Lord Jesus,
thank you for
your word,
for your
life-giving
word.
Thank you for
giving us
life today.
And thank you
that as we
go,
we can
go and bring
life to
others.
we pray for our community
we pray for our neighbours
for friends and family
we pray that they will hear
that the spirit will work
that new life would be received
we praise you for the work that you are doing
and we long Lord God that you would do even more
we pray this in Jesus name
Amen
we're going to sing about that life
that we can receive
what is our hope in life and in death