The Message of the Lord
Read the Text: John 5
Memorize the Text: Don’t you say, “There are still four more months, and then comes the harvest? Listen to what I’m telling you: Open your eyes and look at the fields because they are ready for harvest.” (John 4:35)
Consider the Text: John 5:24
Jesus summarized the importance of his mission and our response to the gospel in one simple verse, John 5:24. Jesus declared, “Truly I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.” Such a pointed but dynamic declaration of truth. Today, may we remember four eternal truths.
First, we must HEAR THE WORD OF GOD. Jesus revealed the reality that the only message with eternal significance is the message of the Lord. The words of people exist as momentary and empty, but the message of the Lord is eternal and life-altering. God’s message is the one true message and does not exist with alterations or adjustments. The message does not depend on the temperature of the cultural climate but rests in the person and character of the Lord. Thus, we must guard against hearing any message that isn’t the Lord’s message and guard against giving such a message too much authority.
Second, we must BELIEVE IN JESUS. Jesus pointed everyone to the Father. To believe means more than believing in the existence of the Lord but means to completely trust and lean on him. Jesus reveals a belief that comes in a faith-based relationship. He leaves no room for believing in anyone else, but he denotes the exclusiveness of belief in the Lord. Ultimately, this belief would be revealed through the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord and would be made available through faith in Christ alone.
Third, we can ESCAPE DESERVED JUDGMENT. The necessity of salvation becomes known as Jesus reveals that such belief is the only avenue of escaping the deserved judgment of the Lord. Everyone struggles with sin and is guilty of rebellion and disobedience before a holy God. As a result, the sin in our life means that we deserve the judgment of death because of our unfaithfulness to the Lord. Jesus declared in this verse that though we deserve death, God made a way for the judgment to be escaped. This escape comes only when we hear the message of the gospel and believe in and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Fourth, we can GAIN ETERNAL LIFE. It is a massive blessing to escape the deserved wrath of God, but with the great escape in faith comes the great gift of eternal life. Eternal life means one dwells with the Lord forever and as a result, does not face the ongoing, eternal punishment of the Lord. Thus, the message is not only about escaping the judgment but the receiving a blessing. The most important and amazing blessing available, eternal life.
Jesus stated the hope found only in the redemptive plan of the Lord with clarity. He revealed the importance of hearing the word of the Lord and not gaining knowledge but responding to the message. The only true response would come as faith in the Lord in order to escape the deserved judgment and receive the merciful and grace-filled gift of eternal life. Have you heard the message? Have you received the message?
This blog is part of the Coffee and Quiet Time with Jesus Devotional Series found at equippingfaith.com. Join the journey of reading through the New Testament this year. More information can be found at equippingfaith.com.
