28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice

29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

— John 5:28-29

20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that His works have been carried out in God.”

36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

— John 3:20-21, 36

23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

— John 5:23

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

God’s love and grace be with you.

At Jesus’ second coming, all people will be resurrected to receive eternal life and salvation or to face eternal death. If we choose to believe in Jesus and do good, we will rise to receive eternal life. To do good refers to coming to Christ as the source as all goodness and life. God views turning away from Jesus’ gracious offer of eternal life as evil. The choice to follow Jesus or reject Him determines the kind of resurrection one will experience. Now is the time to hear and respond to Jesus’ words. Eternity holds no second chances.

And let’s honor the Father by giving honor to His Son. Jesus’ union and equality with His Father signifies His worthiness to receive honor. To reject Jesus is to turn away from the Father because Jesus provides the only way to God. God and Jesus cannot be separated. If we do not love Jesus, we cannot claim to know God. A lot of people stumble over Jesus, whose death confronts their sin and demands a response. Let’s pray that more people will be able to recognize Jesus for who He is. He is God in flesh. He came to earth and paid sin’s price to redeem humanity. He deserves honor and worship.