From the Daily Lectionary for Thursday in the Second Week of Lent
John 5:19-29
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. 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. Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomsoever he wishes. The Father judges no one but has given all judgement to the Son, 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. Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgement, but has passed from death to life.
“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 judgement, 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.”
This is one of those passages in John that feels more like poetry than prose. Certainly the imagery is poetic, awash in the imagination of John the writer. John’s theological foundation in his Gospel is that Jesus, the light of the world, the “reasonableness” of the universe, is the archetype for humankind at its true heart: in particular, those who follow this primordial light recognize it to be the truth of existence. Jesus will say later in this Gospel that his disciples are “sent as he is sent,” and “that they will do greater works than he.” In the prologue, the writer makes the stunning comparison between Jesus the light, and the light of humankind. The light, the mystery of the universe, is love.
The ramifications for us latter day disciples is this: We bear the authority of God in the world, just has Jesus spoke on behalf of God. We shudder at that thought. We quickly retreat into our “unworthiness.” But the reality is that we humans have been given by God the capacity to love. We share God’s DNA, as it were, because God is love… and thus, we are love as well. There is no greater authority than love. To live after the manner of Jesus is to love our neighbor. That is how God acts in the world with authority; that is how God restores and heals. It is we who are charged with raising the dead to life, bringing dignity where there is shame… loving kindness, doing justice. All of these, the means of love. And the warning: to oppose this love, or to abdicate our authority, is to bring judgement. The opposite of this divine life is living as if we were dead.
Incarnation implies all of us, not just Jesus. We also are God’s flesh and blood for the world’s nurture. How relevant the church would be if we truly owned that. What a force for good we would surely be.
A Prayer for the Human Family (BCP p. 815)
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
