V 28-29 “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth;——--.
Again we have to face it, if Jesus Christ is not God He should be totally shunned. In this scripture He claims to have the ability and authority to raise the dead! But wait a minute, only God can raise the dead and keep them alive eternally. If Christ, therefore, is not God, He’s a fraud. Imagine any preacher saying that at the end of the age the dead will hear his voice! That’s pretty far-fetched! Then imagine if he goes on to say that as a result of hearing His voice, the dead will rise from the grave. To assert this is to be whacked to the max! But, this is exactly what Christ claimed. This claim is sheer, unadulterated, arrogant insanity——unless, that is, it is true. And Jesus says “Marvel not” Marvel not? John Trapp says;
‘And yet who can but marvel at this great mystery of godliness, whereat angels stand amazed?—-It is truly affirmed of Christ that he is created and uncreated, without beginning and yet began in time, a Jew according to the flesh, and yet God blessed for ever.”
John Trapp: Commentaries.
Was Jesus telling the truth or lying when He made this and the six preceding claims to deity? If he was lying then he was either monstrously evil or “away with the fairies”. The mental asylums are filled with people who think they are God, Napoleon, the Wizard of Oz and the like and a psychiatric hospital would have been a fitting place for Jesus if He were not God in human flesh.
However, these 7 claims in John 5 are proof positive that Jesus claimed to be God. Only God and God only can talk this way and make such claims. How say you?
In these 7 claims, Jesus, if you like, is giving His testimony! He took a stand as to who He is! We likewise are called to take a stand for Him, His identity and His gospel. No Christian is exempt!
One of the most famous stands for truth made in Church history is the one made by Martin Luther. After Luther had come to an understanding of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, the hatred of Rome was kindled against him. They summoned him to ‘The Diet of Worms’ in Germany.
His writings were placed on a table and Luther was asked, “Are these books yours?” Then he was asked, “Do you renounce them?”
Now in those days when one gave one’s answer and it was not correct, one frequently wound up as bird food hanging from a scaffold and so a certain amount of care had to exercised in his response. Besides that, Luther had thought that he had come to the Diet of Worms to explain what he believed and this question about recanting was unexpected. Luther, therefore, asked for time to frame his response. He was given twenty-four hours.
The next day Luther returned to the assembly and was asked the same two questions. His lawyer advised him, “You better not answer until you’ve examined all of the books on the table because they may have inserted a heretical writing among them and then you would lose your life because of someone else’s book.”
So, Luther said, “Tell me what the books are.” They called off the name of the books and as it transpired no heretical books had been added. And so, therefore, Luther replied, “Yes, they’re all mine.” Then they asked, “Do you renounce them?” Luther answered to the effect that since popes and counsels had erred and might err again that he was bound fast by his conscious to the word of God and he, therefore, could not and would not recant. Being pressed again as to whether he stood by his writings on the gospel he replied,
“I can do no other. Here I stand. God help me. Amen.”
Likewise, we can do no other than take our stand for Jesus the Christ!
Is He God manifest in the flesh? Then tell others about the good news that God Himself has come in the person of His Son to ransom and redeem ruined sinners.
God help us—we can do no other!
And that’s the Gospel Truth!