The authority of Jesus and, in particular, His claim to equality with God, is being challenged by the Jewish religious leaders. Jesus is therefore reminding them that, in dishonouring Him, they are dishonouring the God to Whom they think they are giving their allegiance. He has also stated His ability, as the Son of God, both to give life and to judge the world.
If Jesus of Nazareth truly is God in human form, the Life-giver and Judge, anything He says commencing with the words ‘truly, truly’ must be of striking significance.
He calls us to do two things: to hear what He tells us (‘My word’), and to believe what God (‘Him Who sent me’) says about Him. Let’s take them in reverse order.
What does God say about Him? He opens heaven to tell us that Jesus is His Son, the One He loves, and He powerfully confirms that by raising Him from the dead (Luke 3:22; Romans 1:4).
What does Jesus tell us? In John’s Gospel, He tells us that we are stumbling in darkness without a true knowledge of God, fearful of our lives being exposed to Him (John 3:19-20). He repeatedly tells us He has come down from heaven to make God known (e.g. John 14:9). He tells us that eternal life is all about a living relationship with God (John 17:3). He tells us God has sent Him because He loves us and desires that, rather than perishing under His judgment forever, we should have eternal life (John 3:16).
So, we are called to hear that the Son of God has come to die for us (and to rise again) and to believe with our hearts that this is God’s message to us. As a result, we are promised eternal life.
There is a second part to the statement, underlining the transformation that will take place: ‘he [or she] does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.’
What a fantastic promise!
