Eighth Sunday after Pentecost (G)

John 5:19-29

¹⁹ So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. ²⁰ For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. ²¹ For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. ²² The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, ²³ that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. ²⁴ Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. 

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. ²⁶ For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. ²⁷ And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. ²⁸ Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice ²⁹ and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. 

The time is coming when all the tombs will hear the voice of the Son. Those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. All the dead will finally be raised. The time that has already arrived rather is the time when the dead will hear the voice fo the son of God and live.

How can they hear unless someone speaks? How can I learn unless I am taught? How can the dead be raised? Christ speaks his word into blind men's ears and they can see. Jesus opens the ears of the deaf, to hear the word of Life. This word is not spoken randomly, but the Son speaks on behalf of the Father. So if the Father has power over life and death, then so does the Son. If the Father has the right to judge and hands that over to the Son, I think that is up to the Father to decide.

Jesus is teaching us about the good things and the bad things. We are all dead. We are dead in our sins, so when the Son speaks to us he can offer us life. When we have been given life and faith through the Son, we are alive. If we do not listen to the Word of God, we do not have life, and thus we are condemned. This is the time for speaking, and proclaiming this good news. The time is coming when those who have done good will come out to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil will come out to the resurrection of judgment. Hear the Word of the LORD.