Daily Gospel Devotional: February 24

John 5:16-30 …

Dead or alive…

Healing on the Sabbath, and claiming to be God’s Son; making himself equal with God. The Jewish religious leaders knew that when Jesus said that God was His Father that this meant He was claiming to be God. That is why they were trying to kill Him. Don’t let anyone tell you that Jesus didn’t claim to be God (John 10:24-33).

Jesus didn’t shy away from their accusations. Instead He further revealed the nature of His relationship with His Father. Their relationship is united (vs.19), personal (vs.20), powerful (vs.21), and fully invested (vs.22). Jesus is subordinate in role (1 Corinthians 15:25-28), but the same in essence (Philippians 2:6 / Colossians 1:15-18, 2:9 / Hebrews 1:3, 8). Just as they honor the Father – If you do not honor the Son as God, and if you don’t honor Him just as much as the Father, then you are not honoring the Father.

So Jesus has this incredible power, but it goes much further than that, because believing in Jesus results in eternal life (Ephesians 2:1-7)! He is the one who we must measure up to or face eternal death; He is the standard by which all people are judged (Acts 17:31 / Romans 2:16).

These facts toppled the applecart of the apostate Jews. They also topple our temporal attitudes if we will dive into their depths.

Christians are not God, but God is in us, and we are in Him. The question is do we want to be as close as this, and when we don’t, why? When you are challenged as to your faith, do you shy away, or do you tell the truth about Jesus and your relationship with Him? Even if it means people will persecute and maybe even kill you?

If that is really true, then you need to do as Jesus says now (Luke 9:23). If in position, your spirit has passed from death to life, then in practice, your sin needs to pass from life to death (1 Peter 4:1-2 / Romans 6:11). Are you dead to God, and alive to sin, or dead to sin, and alive to God?

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©