On Monday, May 24th, I will begin my renewal leave. Beginning today, and throughout my leave, the Daily Bread devotionals will be newly-edited devotionals that were published on the same date one year ago. When I return at the end of August, I will begin a series of Daily Bread devotionals that will move through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
Thank you for sharing this early moment of your day with me, with God, and with the thoughts and words of this reading that I hope you will carry with you throughout the coming day and night.
Today’s Scripture:
John 5:19-24
19 Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise. 20 The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished. 21 Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever he wishes. 22 The Father judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life.
On Monday, May 24th, I will begin my renewal leave. Beginning today, and throughout my leave, the Daily Bread devotionals will be newly-edited devotionals that were published on the same date one year ago. When I return at the end of August, I will begin a series of Daily Bread devotionals that will move through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
Tim’s Devotional Reflection for Today
In this reading from John’s gospel, we see two themes that John visits repeatedly. The first is this: If you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus. In Jesus, we see God perfectly revealed. In Jesus, we can see the nature of God. John 1:18 says, “No one has ever seen God. God the only Son, who is at the Father’s side, has made God known.”
The second great theme of John’s gospel is life—abundant life and eternal life. Jesus, speaking of his followers, said, “I came so that they could have life—indeed, so that they could live life to the fullest.” (John 10:10) For John, eternal life isn’t about quantity but quality. It is a way of life that begins in the present and extends to eternity. Notice the present tense in verse 24: “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life.”
The apostle Paul wrote that all who have been baptized into Christ were baptized into his death. He continued,
4 Therefore, we were buried together with him through baptism into his death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too can walk in newness of life. 5 If we were united together in a death like his, we will also be united together in a resurrection like his. 6 This is what we know: the person that we used to be was crucified with him in order to get rid of the corpse that had been controlled by sin. That way we wouldn’t be slaves to sin anymore, 7 because a person who has died has been freed from sin’s power. 8 But if we died with Christ, we have faith that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ has been raised from the dead and he will never die again. Death no longer has power over him. 10 He died to sin once and for all with his death, but he lives for God with his life. 11 In the same way, you also should consider yourselves dead to sin but alive for God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:3-11, CEB)
How we understand eternal life matters. It is so much more than “pie in the sky by and by.” Eternal life is the new life we have in following Jesus and trusting in his grace—a life that isn’t destroyed by death.
There is a lot of theology woven into hymns. To enhance today’s reading, I recommend listening to “Sing with all the Saints in Glory”. I hope you will take a few moments to let the words of this message and the emotion that always connects us to music connect with your soul.
1.Sing with all the saints in glory,
Sing the resurrection song!
Death and sorrow, earth’s dark story,
To the former days belong.
All around the clouds are breaking,
Soon the storms of time shall cease;
In God’s likeness we, awaking,
Know the everlasting peace.
2.O what glory, far exceeding
All that eye has yet perceived!
Holiest hearts, for ages pleading,
Never that full joy conceived.
God has promised, Christ prepares it,
There on high our welcome waits.
Every humble spirit shares it;
Christ has passed th’eternal gates.
I am so grateful for you, for our church, and for the Love that will see us all through this very difficult time. Please stay safe and well and we’ll be together again in spirit tomorrow morning!
Grace and Peace,
Dr. Tim Bruster
Senior Pastor
Here’s more about this passage of scripture via Upper Room devotionals:
HOLY SIGNS
What sign of God’s goodness can I leave for others today?
