John 5:24-29
The passage before us is singularly rich in weighty truths. To the minds of Jews, who were familiar with the writings of Moses and Daniel, it would come home with peculiar power. In the words of our Lord they would not fail to see fresh assertions of His claim to be received as the promised Messiah.
We see in these verses that the salvation of our souls depends on hearing Christ. It is the man, we are told, who “hears Christ’s word,” and believes that God the Father sent Him to save sinners, “who has everlasting life.” Such “hearing” of course is something more than mere listening. It is hearing as a humble learner,–hearing as an obedient disciple,–hearing with faith and love,–hearing with a heart ready to do Christ’s will: this is the hearing that saves. It is the very hearing of which God spoke in the famous prediction of a “prophet like unto Moses:”–“Unto him shall ye hearken.”–“Whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.” (Deut. 18:15-19)