From Death to Life
📖 Scripture Focus
John 5:24-30 (New King James Version)
24 “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. 25 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. 26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to havelife in Himself, 27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. 30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.
How to Study the Word (Understand the Context):
Author: John the Apostle
Audience: Jews, Gentiles, and new Christians in the Roman world
Purpose: To lead people to believe in Jesus as the Son of God
Date Written: Around A.D. 85–95
Location: Likely Ephesus
John 5:24–30 is a profound passage where Jesus declares His divine authority over life, death, and judgment. These verses are central to understanding His identity as the Son of God and the giver of eternal life.
“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.”
Breakdown:
“Most assuredly” (Greek: Amen, amen) – A solemn, guaranteed truth.
“Hears My word” – Not just hearing audibly, but receiving and responding.
“Believes in Him who sent Me” – Faith in the Father and His mission through the Son.
“Has everlasting life” – Present tense: Eternal life is a current possession. This is key because in the Jewish belief, eternal life was often linked to the resurrection of the dead, which was understood to occur at the end of time. Jesus, however speaks of eternal life as something that begins in the present for those who believe in Him. This new understanding of eternal life challenges the Jewish leaders’ views, as it emphasizes that eternal life is not something that will happen in the future, but something that begins in the present through faith in Jesus.
“Shall not come into judgment” – Exempt from final condemnation.
“Has passed from death into life” – A completed spiritual transformation.
“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.”
Breakdown:
“The hour is coming, and now is” – Jesus refers to the present spiritual awakening.
“The dead” – Spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1).
“Hear the voice of the Son of God” – His Word has resurrection power.
“Those who hear will live” – Faithful response results in spiritual life.
“For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself,”
Breakdown:
“Life in Himself” – God is self-existent, the source of all life.
“Granted the Son” – The Father shares this divine attribute with the Son.
Implication: Jesus is fully divine and can give life just like the Father.
“And has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.”
Breakdown:
“Authority to execute judgment” – Jesus is appointed as the final Judge.
“Because He is the Son of Man” – A messianic title (Daniel 7:13-14), showing both His deity and humanity. He judges with divine justice and human understanding.
“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.”
Breakdown:
“Do not marvel” – Don’t be surprised by His divine power.
“All who are in the graves” – Refers to the future physical resurrection.
“Hear His voice… and come forth” – Jesus will raise the dead by command.
Two resurrections:
Resurrection of life – For believers who lived by faith. This concept of resurrection was a part of Jewish belief, particularly among the Pharisees, who believed in a future resurrection. Jesus takes this belief and expands it, making it clear that belief in Him is the key to resurrection and eternal life. This would have been a radical statement for the Jewish leaders, who saw resurrection as a future event and not as something that could be experienced now through faith in the Son of God.
Resurrection of condemnation – For unbelievers who rejected God.
“I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.”
Breakdown:
“I can of Myself do nothing” – Shows unity and submission to the Father.
“As I hear, I judge” – His judgments are based on divine guidance, not human bias.
“My judgment is righteous” – It is fair, perfect, and just.
“Because I… seek… the will of the Father” – Total obedience and alignment with God’s will.
*DISCUSSION*
Jesus says believers “shall not come into judgment”. How does this assurance impact your view of salvation and security in Christ?
What does it practically look like today to “hear His voice”? Are there ways we may be ignoring or missing His voice?
How can the reality of a future resurrection shape the way we live right now? What does this teach us about eternal accountability?
Verse 30 emphasizes Jesus’ submission to the Father’s will. In what areas of your life do you need to better align with God’s will?