Verily Verily

“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come 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 also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. John 5:24-27 NKJV

Jesus Christ the Lord asked the question to the invalid for thirty eight years, “Do you want to get well?” Then Jesus Christ commanded him, “Rise, take your mat, and walk!” The Lord Jesus Christ found a man who was ill for almost four decades and set him free from his illness. For this, our Lord Jesus Christ came down to the earth from heaven above. He is the firstborn of all creation, meaning not that he was the first creature but that he is the owner of all creation (Colossians 1:15).

“For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” (Colossians 1:16-18 NKJV)

The Lord Jesus Christ asked a question to the invalid, “Do you want to get well?” Why did He ask him? Is it not obvious for him to be get well? Not necessarily. He might have not really wanted to be healed at all. He might have wanted to remain as he had been without any change. He might have feared to be healed and thus to live without dependence. He might have thought that it would be better that way.

There are so many church-goers week after week and year after year, but without a hint of change. They sing hymns, offer offerings, pray with heads bow down, and listen to sermons, but inside no change at all. They think and behave just like any worldly people do. They do not grow but always want to be fed by elementary teachings (Hebrews 5:12-6:3).

Therefore, we shall pay our careful attention to the Lord Jesus Christ when He asked, “Do you want to get well?” When we take heed to His words, our spirit is awakened and strengthened to obey His words by faith. When this man paid attention to the Lord Jesus Christ, he was stirred up and believed that he could rise and walk just as the Son of Man said.

In fact, when he paid heed to the living words of Jesus Christ, he actually took his mat and walked although it was the first time to hear the Son of Man. It demonstrates the act of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The faith in the words of Jesus Christ made him get well instantly. Faith is quality like a mustard seed. The power can be released only by the act of faith without any delay.

That’s what our Lord Jesus Christ said: “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.” It is the time to hear His word and believe the Father God who sent the Son and have eternal life. What a good news it is!

The Son Jesus Christ has power to give eternal life right now. He is the author and owner of the resurrection life because He was the firstborn from the dead. Apostle John said, “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:12 NKJV) Jesus Christ is the key to life. Do you take heed to His word now? Do I?