Truly, truly, I tell you, the hour 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 also He has granted the Son to have life in Himself. And He has given Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice and come out—those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
John 5:25-29
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A judge who is human
Many interpreters read two kinds of dead here. First, people who are alive but dead inside. They can already hear the voice of Jesus now. Later, the dead in their graves. They too will hear him and come out.
He may judge as the Son of Man, or, as you could also translate it, because he is human. He knows tiredness, temptation and pain from the inside. This is not an easy text. Those who have done good or evil: that sounds as if it all turns on your deeds. John leaves that tension standing.
Question for today
Does it give me peace or unease that my judge was himself human?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you know human life from the inside. I lay everything before you, the good and the bad. Amen.
My prayer
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