“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. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. — John 5:25-29
So this teaching is profound. Jesus is declaring there are two resurrections. First, a spiritual resurrection. Second, a physical resurrection. And that he has authority, knowledge, power, and judgment over both. In verses 25-26, he clarifies that spiritual resurrection is happening. They are witnessing it. It is here! The moment his ministry began was the day that the spiritual resurrection began. Exhibits A, B, and C are the miracle of water to wine in Cana, the healing of the official's son in Capernaum, and the healing of the lame man by the pool of Bethesda. These are just glimpses of his incredible authority, knowledge, power, and judgment. Just like he physically healed the lame man by the pool, he will spiritually heal all mankind.
Imagine it this way. The planet is full of zombies. We are living in the 2000th season of The Walking Dead. Everyone is finally a zombie. And suddenly, in the newest season, we discover one living man. He is the Son of Man, Jesus. This one man possesses life. He is willing to give life to all because the walking dead cannot change their zombie state. But Jesus can. He is the life-giver. And he gives it to all who believe. This is the first resurrection. And if you have heard and believed in Jesus, you have experienced the resurrection of verses 25-26 — spiritual resurrection. This is exclusively for those who believe. And they are immediately given eternal life, as we talked about yesterday.
But there is a second resurrection. It's the physical resurrection explained in verses 27-29. This will be for all people. Jesus will raise everyone who has ever died. They will then be given resurrection bodies. And then the Son of Man, Jesus, will judge them based on the choice they made during their lifetime. The choice they made to hear and believe or to hear and not believe. And those who have already been spiritually resurrected will spend eternity in heaven, and those who have not will spend eternity in hell.
Don't be a zombie and live eternity in hell. Choose Jesus and choose life.
ASK THIS: Do you want a new life?
DO THIS: Choose Jesus
PRAY THIS: God, I choose Jesus, the one who first chose me.
PLAY THIS: I Choose Jesus.
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Read through the Bible daily with Vince Miller.
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