Jesus: The Judge of the World

In John 5, Jesus boldly declares His divine authority, making it clear that He is not just a prophet, teacher, or miracle worker, but the very Son of God. His words leave no room for doubt—He and the Father are one, and He alone has been given the authority to judge the world. This passage forces us to ask a critical question: What will we do with Jesus?

Jesus and the Father Are One

Jesus states, "The Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing" (John 5:19). This relationship between the Father and the Son is one of perfect unity and obedience. Just as a son in ancient times learned his trade from his father, Jesus does only what the Father does—giving life and executing judgment.

In verse 21, Jesus makes an astounding claim: "For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it." The power to give life and the authority to judge belong solely to God, yet Jesus declares that He possesses both.

Moreover, He insists that honoring the Father means honoring the Son. If we fail to recognize Jesus for who He truly is, we fail to know God at all. Many today acknowledge God but deny Jesus' divinity, yet Scripture is clear—without Christ, we cannot have the Father.

Jesus: The Ultimate Judge

Perhaps the most sobering truth in this passage is that Jesus is the one who will judge the world. "Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son" (John 5:22).

A time is coming when "all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned" (John 5:28-29). This is a promise and a warning. There will be a resurrection for all, but not all will enter eternal life. Those who reject Christ will face judgment.

However, Jesus also offers an incredible assurance: "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" (John 5:24). Faith in Jesus is the difference between judgment and life.

The Witnesses to Jesus' Authority

Jesus doesn't expect us to believe His words without evidence. He provides multiple witnesses to testify to His identity:

John the Baptist declared Him "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."
Jesus' miracles demonstrated His divine power.
The Scriptures testified about Him, yet the religious leaders refused to see it.
Moses' writings pointed to Him, but the people who claimed to follow Moses rejected the very one he wrote about.

Despite all this testimony, many still refuse to believe. Why? Because they seek human approval rather than God's truth. "How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?" (John 5:44).