The Voice of the Son of God

Lesson #86

With this lesson we begin our study of John 5:25 – 29, which looks at two resurrections. Click on the link and read carefully our text and see what points stand out for you. As I read the ESV translation I notice there are four sentences expressing four thoughts which we will cover in four lessons. In this lesson we will focus on the three parts of verse 25: “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live” (ESV). We see that there is a special hour when something is going to happen; in that hour there will be a voice with an important message; those who hear the message will live.

In the beginning it was Jesus who spoke the universe into existence “and he upholds (or sustains) the universe by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:3 ESV). It is appointed for all to die and then to face judgment (Hebrews 9:27). The dead, who are a part of his universe, hear the voice of the Son of God, are these who are appointed to die. Everyone, without exception, will hear the voice of the Son of God. When the Day of Judgment comes it will be clear that the Son of God did speak, but what was said was ignored. Those who heard and responded will not come into judgment.

Those who hear the voice and respond in faith, coming to Jesus, will live. “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9 ESV). “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36 NASB). “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:12 ESV). Jesus, the Son of God, speaks to everyone and each will choose. Most will choose by ignoring and will remain in their sin, but those who respond in faith will live.

When is this hour that is coming and is now here? As a teen I heard the voice of the Son of God and I felt compelled to come to Jesus by faith and receive the gift of eternal life. I am confident, and have the assurance of the indwelling Holy Spirit, that I will again hear his voice as he raises me from the dead. A close childhood friend of mine has yet to respond to the first voice and if there is no response, he will one day hear the voice in his call to judgment. For each person there is an hour, a window of destiny. During that hour it is only Jesus who has the authority to speak and be heard. It is he who stands above his creation; who provided the means of salvation; who has the authority to call people to salvation.

Prayer

Father, preparing this lesson has brought to mind a conversation my friend and I had in church one day before either of us was saved. We were talking about our behavior and I expressed a concern about mine. He expressed no such sensitivity. Father, my sensitivity continued to grow to the point of salvation and his did not. It seemed that in me fertile soil had been prepared to receive the word of life and in him there was no such soil. Father, I am convinced that those you choose for salvation you prepare the heart to hear the voice of Jesus calling. Father, thank you for extending mercy to me and Lord, in mercy your gift of eternal life.