As the Father Raises the Dead - John 5:21

John the apostle wrote how Jesus healed a man who with an infirmity on the “sabbath day”, and He told him to “carry his bed and walk”. This caused the Jewish people to criticize him, and when they discovered it was Jesus who cured him, they began to persecute Jesus and wanted Him dead. John continued to share by telling that Jesus responded to them by saying, “The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do: for what things soever he does, these also does the Son likewise. For the Father loves the Son, and shows him all things that himself does: and he will show him greater works than these, that you may marvel”, and in chapter five and verse twenty-one of his book, John shared how Jesus tells what He does, “as the Father raises up the dead and makes them alive” where we read:

For as the Father raises up the dead, and quickens them; even so the Son quickens whom he will.

The verse reads, “For as the Father raises up the dead, and quickens them;”. John began with the words, “for as the Father” or “because, since and on account that in the same manner and likeness that the Father God” “raises up the dead” which means “elevates, raises and resurrects the non-living, without breath and inanimate”, “and quickens them” or “and makes them alive and breathing again”. John shared how Jesus also referred to the manner in which God the Father is able to “resurrect from the dead” those who are lifeless and bring them back to life again.

The verse goes on to say, “even so the Son quickens whom he will.” John continued with the words, “even so the Son” which means “in like manner and also the Son Jesus” “quickens” or “makes alive and brings back to life” “whom he will” which means “whatever person whether male or female Jesus the Son desires, craves and wishes”. John shared how Jesus said He also is able to “resurrect” and bring back to life any person He desires.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we learn how God is able to “raise” people from the dead, and Jesus is able to do the same. Jesus will demonstrate His ability to do this in our future chapters, but for now let it suffice us to know these will be a preview of things to come. God desires to grant people with everlasting life, and in order to do so, they must be “raised from the dead”. Jesus died on the cross and was raised from the dead three days later. This was a demonstration of how God will resurrect every person who puts their faith and trust in His Son Jesus, and when they do, they shall enjoy the promise of everlasting life with God in Heaven.

Next time see John shares how Jesus says, “the Father judges no man”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".