Passed from Death to Life: Greater Works or "One More Thing": Lent Week 4

“He will show Him greater works than these.” ~John 5:20

Passed from Death to Life

After debuting stunning and even groundbreaking technology, Steve Jobs (the co-founder of Apple & Pixar) is famous for saying before leaving the stage,  “Oh…there’s one more thing.” Each year, techies everywhere would be waiting for that “one more thing,” which was sure to be the final word everyone would leave the presentation buzzing about. In John chapter 5, Jesus gives his “One More Thing” speech. You could say Jesus came up with the ultimate “showstopper,” if you will—which is something people never stopped discussing.

Jesus had just finished healing a man, who had been sick for 38 years, at the Bethesda pool. He did this on the Sabbath, which was a major no-no—in fact, His actions violated the Jewish law (which is ironic if you think about it). Immediately, He is persecuted for this, but Jesus has the last word. “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so also does the Son give life to whomever He wishes. Do not be amazed at this, because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come out, those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked deeds to the resurrection of condemnation” (26, 28, 29).

Jesus revealed to “whoever hears my word and believes” (24) that the ‘greater works’ the Father will do through Him is an end to death and the beginning of permanent life.

The best part of all is that you don’t have to pay for it, you don’t have to upgrade each year, and you don’t have to wait in line to receive it: “whoever hears my word and believes in the One who sent me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life” (24).

This Lent is a great time not only to reflect on this promise but also to shed your old life and start living the resurrected life.

Always improve the present moment.