The Christ

* A quick note.  I will be away from my computer for the next week and a half - at a conference and then vacation.  I will return to writing the devotionals on Monday, November 25th. 

John 5:19-29 (NRSV)

Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise. The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished. Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever he wishes. The Father judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life.

"Very truly, I tell you, the 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 just 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 be astonished at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and will come out -- those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. 

We have had a lot of resurrection narratives recently from Jesus - in Luke last Sunday, along with Job, and now with John.  (albeit in John's unique style which differs greatly from Luke's!)

Because John has such a high Christology of Jesus (the nature and person of Jesus seems to be centered more on his incarnational nature as the divine than in the other gospels), everything in this text today seems to focus on Jesus' intimate connection to God.

How differently Jesus comes across in the Gospels is often a stumbling block for a lot of people, and John in particular is weighty and dense and presents Jesus sometimes in a way that is difficult to relate to.

I used to read a lot of biographies, so I know that Luke and John aren't alone in the  differing descriptions of their subjects or the focus of their subject's life.  So, I am thankful that we have the four Gospels to give us all these shades of life to Jesus and his mission and ministry.

Since we've been in Luke all year, I get awfully fond of that version of Jesus - and his description of the Kingdom of God.  It reminds me that this life is not going to be how it ultimately is.  Kingdom life - resurrection life - will be different.

But John reminds me that Jesus didn't just come to proclaim this resurrection life as different.  He - even before his own resurrection - had power over life itself because he was not only human, but also God.  That mysterious nature of the Christ is often confounding, but Jesus reminds us today that it is also saving.

God of mystery and salvation, you are here.  You are with us and the mysteries of your nature often bewilder us.  We thank you today for your Logos, your Word that saves us even though we can not understand.  Continue to lead us to deeper understanding that we may be drawn ever closer into the wonderful life that you have prepared for us.  Amen.