He who hears My word

Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

Most assuredly, I say to you, the 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 as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth -- those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

- John 5:19-29

On Saturday, we read of Jesus' third miracle or sign in John's Gospel. Jesus healed a man at the pool called Bethesda. The authorities of the temple are upset at the fact that Jesus commanded the man to take up his bed and walk; this is seen as a violation of the Law. See Do you want to be made well? Today's reading continues Jesus' reply to the temple authorities.

We'll begin with a note on the entire passage from my study bible: "The discourse here shows the Father and the Son are so united in nature, will and action that the Son fully shares the divine attributes of giving life and executing judgment, but they cannot be separated. Those who respond to the Son of God in faith (v. 24) and who do good (v. 29) will receive the gift of eternal life."

Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. My study bible notes here: "Has committed all judgment to the Son: Christ in His glory will be the Judge of the world at the Second Coming." In this passage, Jesus gives us some important understanding of the nature of spiritual life and the kingdom of heaven. There is first of all the relation between the Father and the Son. Repeatedly in John's Gospel we have been given to understand through the text the importance of interrelationships: between ourselves and Christ, between Christ and the Father, and the Trinity. We are thus linked to the Trinity. Baptism confers upon us a kind of capacity for spiritual understanding so that this communication may enable such relationship - and that is but a beginning so that it may deepen and grow. We have also seen how we bring one another into these relationships. Jesus' theology of the relation of Father and Son exemplifies for us the nature of union. Furthermore, Jesus explains here that the signs (or miracles) that He does are reflective of this nature, this relationship. They point to and reflect the Father. The Son is entrusted also with the power of life from the Father - and with the power of judgment.

"Most assuredly, I say to you, the 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 as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth -- those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation." My study bible points out that this passage is read at the funeral service in the Eastern Church. It notes: "These verses refer to the general resurrection of the dead at the end of days. However, that 'hour' is already present and 'now is' (v. 25) in that an encounter with Christ results in life or judgment as a present reality, depending upon one's response. Those who believe in Christ have already passed from death into life (v. 24)." I find it interesting that Jesus says that "those who hear [His voice] will live." I realize this is meant to be the reality of the resurrection of the dead, but I also feel that this is an indication of relationship that begins here and now. We who seek this relationship, and use the spiritual gift of grace to hear His voice, will have the capacity for entry into this kingdom. To "hear His voice" is to understand spiritual things - the key to the Kingdom. And judgment is tied to the power of life and death. Christ, as Son of Man, lives as we live, and shares human life with us. The power of judgment comes after having lived as one of us and sharing our burdens and sorrows we face in the world. Jesus, as Son of Man, will pay the ultimate penalty for heeding the Father's voice. He knows what the "prince of this world" can afflict; he has walked through our difficulties in the spiritual life. He says, "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth -- those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation." This statement, in my opinion, ties relationship and relatedness - and the ability to hear and understand the spiritual things - with "doing good." As He told Nicodemus that baptism, or rebirth in Spirit, gives us a spiritual nature so that we may enter the kingdom, so I believe that Jesus is tying the capacity for the communion that this spiritual anointing allows us with "doing good." He said to Nicodemus: "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." We are graced with the gift of the Spirit so that we, too, may hear this voice in our hearts and enter that kingdom. By heeding it, we are "doing good." The two things are tied, not separate.

What does it mean to you to "do good?" How is that connected to the daily life of struggle to understand how God may wish you to act and to choose in your life? What does that have to do with your relationship to Christ? Does this confer an active spiritual seeking, or the experience of a prayer life in which one is open to "hearing" and developing the things that are "born of the Spirit" in yourself? I believe that this is a lifelong journey; and, as Jesus' words indicate, it is a relationship and communication between all and in all. We develop this relationship and relatedness as we go forward in this spiritual journey, and each one must experience it for him or herself. What choice do you face today? Can you take it to that relationship in prayer? Do you help others to do so? This is part of the support of these relationships: that we grow in that spiritual "birth" and continue to grow -- and that we help others to do so as well. Where do you find help and support? How do you take what you need to God in prayer? When we think we already have the answers to the choices that come up in life, we may be missing out on what we need to hear and new things to learn, and the creativity -- the power of Life -- that awaits our prayer and open spiritual eyes and ears of the heart.