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Daily Reading John 15:19-29 (Lectionary Morning Prayer 3/3/09)

19Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. 21For 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. 22Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.
24"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. 25I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. 27And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.
28"Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.

To ponder:

The image of future judgement in this reading may be puzzling for us now. But it makes more sense when we remember that John has recorded Jesus response to the murmurings that were going on following yesterday's reading of the life giving healing of the man who couldnt walk. Jesus gives life in the present and he also judges in the present - as well as in the future. Eternal life is both now and not yet - it is real now for those who have heard his voice and who believe in what he has said. We dont have to wait until we die. Fast forward to Jesus death on the cross, his resurrection and ascension, and we can understand these words in a whole new light. Perhaps our response to today's reading could be to ask ourselves, "How much does our faith in God show itself in the way we live our lives - now?"