When Jesus Christ enters the scene, he demonstrates a different, positive, practical, and profoundly radical leadership.

Jesus Christ has claimed to be equal to God, his heavenly Father, and that immediately causes unease and anguish among the religious leaders of his day.

We read of this conflict and conversation in John chapter 5 in the New Testament.

Jesus speaks of God as My Father, and Jesus teaches us to pray Our Father, but He can say “My Father.”

Jesus is the Son of God and is made equal to God. Jesus is God in the flesh, personally coming to rescue lost sinners.

Jesus is seeing what God his Father is doing and working together with Him, and this is a pattern and an example for us.

See what Jesus is doing and ministering in that way. See how Jesus is moving and follow him and minister in the area where he is moving and pouring out the Holy Spirit.

This is how practical spiritual leadership should work. This is how the disciples of Jesus Christ should voluntarily serve.

The Jews hated Jesus not only for what he did but also for what he said. Jesus goes on to say, I tell you the truth, Amen and Amen. All this is true, and he repeats it.

The Father loves me so he shows me what to do and how to do it.

As we read in John chapter 5, verse 28, Jesus moves from healing the sick to raising the dead.

Jesus was able to give life to both the physically dead and the spiritually dead. He is the Savior who rescues and forgives, and the Lord who gives life.

Not surprisingly, it is the identity of Jesus that becomes one of the main themes in this passage from the Gospel of John.

His Word gives life. Awake. Rise from the dead.

Another thing that Jesus tells the Jews in this passage is that God is not going to judge the world by himself. He has revealed to Jesus that He is going to do it.

The Father started the concept but He is going to finish and complete it.

Honor me as you honor God. Imagine Jesus saying that to these critics. Here is the perfect leader who thought he was a spiritual leader, but he had a lot to learn and understand, but he didn’t want to. That is often the way.

Jesus is going to decide your eternal destiny. Therefore, wouldn’t it be wise to honor him?

Don’t be surprised by this. When you bury a person in a grave that is not their final resting place, and people need to hear this today. Jesus saw the physical and the spiritual. Many see only the physical.

Whether you return to dust slowly or to ashes quickly, that is not your final resting place.

One day the dead will hear and come out to judge and face Jesus Christ and respond to Jesus.

Judgment is never a popular topic and it is one that many shy away from. To some it is not even an acceptable possibility, but according to the Scriptures and the words of Jesus Christ it turns out to be true, and Jesus claims authority to judge.

Jesus destroys the opinion that death is the end. The dead will hear his voice calling “COME”. Jesus also overthrows the view that everyone hears the same verdict.

He will judge as God the Father wants Him to judge, justly and faithfully. Jesus will be perfectly fair.

Listen to him. “I’m telling you the truth.” What I say is true, because the Father told me to say it. These are remarkable and penetrating words, but also reassuring for those who believe and for those who are disciples of Jesus Christ.

sand shaw