John 5 confronts every man with the most important question he will ever answer:
Who is Jesus?
Not what church did you attend.
Not what traditions you inherited.
Not whether you’re a “good guy.”
Jesus Himself forced the issue—and His enemies understood exactly what He was claiming.
“For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.”
(John 5:18, NIV)
Jesus did not claim to be a moral teacher.
He did not present Himself as a prophet among many.
He openly declared Himself equal with God.
That is why this passage matters. A man cannot stay neutral about Jesus.
Honor the Son or Reject the Father
Jesus makes an unmistakable claim about authority, judgment, and honor:
“Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 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 5:22–23, NIV)
Men like control. We like being the final authority.
But Jesus says every man will stand before Him.
God the Father has placed all judgment into the hands of the Son.
To minimize Jesus is to reject God Himself.
This is why the question “Who is Jesus?” is not academic—it is eternal.
Every Man Will Rise to Face Him
Jesus does not soften the reality of what is coming:
“A time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.”
(John 5:28–29, NIV)
Every man lives forever.
The only question is where and under whose judgment.
Doing “good” is not moral effort or self-improvement.
It is humbling yourself before God, confessing sin, repenting, and trusting Jesus as God, Savior, and Judge.
The greatest evil is not failure—it is rejecting Jesus.
Many reject Jesus’ deity because it feels impossible.
But Christmas declares the opposite: God came near.
He took on flesh so we could see Him.
Hear Him.
Touch Him.
Know Him.
Jesus lived without sin, died as a perfect sacrifice, rose in power, and now stands as the Judge of all humanity.
There is no alternative path.
There is no second authority.
There is no other name.
Jesus alone is the way, the truth, and the life.
Decide who Jesus is—and live like it.
Stop delaying obedience.
Stop redefining truth.
Stop treating Jesus as optional.
Honor the Son.
Submit to His authority.
Trust His sacrifice.
Live under His lordship.
Because every man will hear His voice—
and only those who honor Jesus now will rise to life then.
Run today’s play: Honor the Son. Obey the King. Live for eternity.
