Resurrection Is Also Judgment | John 5.25–29

“Very truly, I tell you, the hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself; and he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not be astonished at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and will come out—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.”
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John 5:25–29 (NRSVUE; full passage)

First, notice that everyone gets a resurrection. Even those that are considered not the people of God.

Second, notice in this whole passage the intricate and intimate relationship between resurrection and judgment. Christians are to see the resurrection with joy. But it also has a darker side. We are to see judgment as resurrection and resurrection as judgment.

I wonder how this would change how we view other gospel moments where Jesus mentions judgment. If we substituted resurrection for judgment in those sentences, how would it change how we relate to that concept?

When Jesus talks about the severe judgment in store for those who do not believe in him, could he simply mean that they will face a resurrection before him?

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My Sermon on Christ in the Darkness (John 1)

chagall-exodus

During the Advent season, I preached a sermon on John 1.1-5,10-18, the famous Logos. In the sermon, we talk about Jesus revealing himself in the midst of the darkness of this world and our hearts, and so encouraging us to press all the more deeply into darkness rather than running from it. Looking back on it, I think it’s a very “Lent-y” sermon and so I’d like to throw it up here this week during Holy Week. It was my first sermon I preached without a manuscript, so there’s no version to read (sorry). But here it is for listening:

You can also download it here, or subscribe to our podcast here.

[Image credit: “Exodus”, by Marc Chagall]