A Gift Worth Receiving
After Jesus healed a man who had been paralyzed for almost four decades, the religious Jews were angry with Him. This may seem strange, because healing is a good thing, but Jesus performed this miracle on the Sabbath—the day of rest. In the Old Testament, God gave believers a long list of rules to follow in order to stay right with Him, and these rules included honoring the Sabbath.
But in the New Testament, Jesus was sent to change our relationship with the Father. By sacrificing Himself on the cross, He gave us access to a relationship with God—so that long list of rules was no longer needed. Throughout Jesus' life, He shows people the nature of this new relationship. But because it didn’t line up with what the religious establishment believed, they were angry with Him.
In John 5, Jesus justifies these changes through revealing His true authority. By calling God His Father, He shared that He was equal to God. This angered the religious Jews, but it gives us a deeper look into the relationship between the Father and Son.
Jesus tells us that the Father and Son are united in love. The Son does not ‘work’ for the Father—instead they work together, and the work Jesus does perfectly reflects the will of His Father.
This relationship reveals that Jesus has authority to give us eternal life with Him.
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
John 5:24 ESV
When we hear God’s Word and believe in Jesus, we have access to a relationship with Him that will last forever. Unlike the Jews in the Old Testament before this new covenant, we don’t have to follow strict laws perfectly to gain salvation.
All we have to do is accept the gift Jesus has given us through His authority.
Reflecting on this passage from John 5, I find it deeply encouraging how Jesus bridges the gap between God's strict laws and the new freedom we receive through faith. Before, like the religious Jews who were angered by Jesus healing on the Sabbath, many believers focused heavily on following rules rather than understanding the heart behind them. But Jesus shows us that spiritual life is not about rigidly following laws; it’s about what He calls us to—a relationship grounded in love and unity with the Father. Personally, I've discovered that accepting Jesus' authority and embracing this relationship changes how I see challenges in life. When I trust in His word and love, I'm less burdened by trying to be perfect in my own efforts and more motivated to live in a way that naturally honors Him. This is truly a gift worth receiving because it frees us from judgment and brings us into a life filled with hope and purpose. The verse John 5:24 reminds me each day that belief isn’t just an intellectual agreement but a pathway to life itself—passing from spiritual death to life. It challenges me to not only hear Jesus’ words but also to share this hope and love in prayer and action with those around me. The included prayer in the image, asking for help to live a life that honors God and inspires others, feels very practical. It highlights that this relationship with God is dynamic, impacting how we live daily and connect with others, inviting them to experience this same love. In my journey, acknowledging Jesus’ works as unified with the Father has deepened my faith. Understanding that He doesn’t work alone but in perfect harmony with God reassures me that His promises, including eternal life, are trustworthy and given out of love. This reassurance encourages me to rest in His authority and to embrace the gift of salvation freely offered, which is a profound transformation from legalism to grace.