Jesus’ Deity in His Power and Sovereignty - Evangelical Caucus/Devotional

Gracetoyou.org ^ | 2008 | John MacArthur, Grace Community Church

[metmom]

“‘For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes’” (John 5:21).

By asserting His equality with God, Jesus claimed that He had the parallel power with God to raise the dead—“just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life.” The Bible teaches that only God has the power to raise the dead (Deut. 32:39; Acts 26:8; Heb. 11:19), and the Old Testament records several instances in which He did so (1 Kings 17:17–24; 2 Kings 4:32–37; 13:20–21). Because His power is the same as the Father, Jesus Christ is able to raise the physically dead (John 11:25–44). Moreover, He has the power to give spiritual life to the spiritually dead. “Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him,” Jesus promised, “shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life” (John 4:14).

Unlike Elijah and Elisha, Jesus did not merely act as God’s representative when He raised the dead, but as God Himself. “The Son” Himself gives resurrection and spiritual “life to whom He wishes.” As God is the source of life, so Jesus Christ is the source of life. As God chooses when He gives life, so does the Son choose, in perfect agreement with the Father—a truth illustrated by the salvation of sinners. All whom the Father chose before the foundation of the world to give to the Son will come to him, and He will not reject any of them (John 6:37).

Ask Yourself

Is there anything you’ve given up for dead in your own life, barely considering that God could raise it to life again?

Even the possibility of victory over sin or the presence of Christian joy can be regarded as hopeless—lost relics from the past.

Pray that Jesus would help you experience life anew.

[metmom]

Studying God’s Word ping

[imardmd1]

   ~~~~ JESUS SAVES! ~~~

1 We have heard the joyful sound:
  Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Spread the tidings all around:
  Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Bear the news to every land,
Climb the steeps and cross the waves;
Onward!—’tis our Lord’s command;
  Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

2 Waft it on the rolling tide,
  Jesus saves, Jesus saves;
Tell to sinners far and wide,
  Jesus saves, Jesus saves;
Sing, ye islands of the sea,
Echo back, ye ocean caves;
Earth shall keep her jubilee,
  Jesus saves, Jesus saves.

3 Sing above the battle’s strife,
  Jesus saves, Jesus saves;
By His death and endless life,
  Jesus saves, Jesus saves;
Sing it softly thru the gloom,
When the heart for mercy craves,
Sing in triumph o’er the tomb,
  Jesus saves, Jesus saves.

4 Give the winds a mighty voice,
  Jesus saves, Jesus saves;
Let the nations now rejoice.
  Jesus saves, Jesus saves;
Shout salvation full and free,
Highest hills and deepest caves,
This our song of victory,
   Jesus saves!
   Jesus saves!

(to listen, click here)