John 5:24–30

“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. 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. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. 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. 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.”

Just in case the Jews weren’t ticked enough at Him already, Jesus now turns to the subjects of resurrection and eternal life. Jesus even claims to hold the keys. He said, back in verse 21, “For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.”

Now He says, “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. ”

This is quite a jump. Now Jesus isn’t just talking about life after death. Believers already have everlasting life. They’ve passed from death into life. That’s odd; weren’t they alive to begin with?

Not the way Jesus means it. People normally considered to be biologically “alive” can be eternally “dead.” Eternal life is a dimension that exists in the present—not just in eternity. This agrees with the next verse.

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. This isn’t about some resurrection in the future; this is about now.

And, once again, Jesus is making it about Him.

Those who hear His voice will live.

This leads to some tough questions. If eternal life starts when we hear the voice of the Son of God (and confess Him as Lord),  there should be some noticeable difference. Everything should be different.

But is it? For many people, everything isn’t all that different; Christianity isn’t what they expected. Eternal destiny may have changed, but life hasn’t. Same job; same house; same problems; same life. They wonder when this new life they were born into will start. It all seems so boring.

This passage gives the answer. It’s in the words “hear the voice of the Son of God.” “Hear” in this passage means obey. The boredom is self-imposed. Do nothing and nothing happens.

Christians who are busy obeying Christ see great things. They’re anything but bored.

These Monday—Friday DEEPs are written by Mike Slay. To subscribe to all the DEEPs click here:

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV stands for the English Standard Version. © Copyright 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NIV stands for The Holy Bible, New International Version®. © Copyright 1973 by International Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved. KJV stands for the King James Version.