Sermons on John 5:26
The various sermons below interpret John 5:26 by exploring the concept of divine life as distinct from biological life. Both sermons emphasize the unique nature of Jesus having life in himself, akin to the Father, and how this divine life is extended to believers. They use vivid analogies to illustrate this concept: one sermon uses the analogy of different life forms, such as a turnip and a kitten, to highlight the diversity and hierarchy of life, while another sermon draws on the image of the burning bush from Exodus 3 to convey Jesus' self-sustaining life. These interpretations underscore the idea that divine life is a higher form of existence, characterized by self-initiating and self-sustaining activities, and emphasize Jesus' ability to impart this life to others.
While both sermons focus on the theme of divine life, they approach it from different angles. One sermon presents the theme of "life indeed" as a form of eternal life that involves active participation with God, emphasizing a transformation that aligns human will with God's will. This perspective highlights the transformative nature of divine life, which transcends natural human existence and leads to a life of love and goodness. In contrast, another sermon emphasizes the abundant life that Jesus offers to believers, portraying Jesus as a giver of life in contrast to thieves who steal and destroy. This sermon encourages believers to seek more from Jesus, suggesting that he has more to offer than they have yet received, including peace, love, joy, faith, repentance, strength, and hope.
John 5:26 Interpretation:
Embracing Divine Life: Transformation Through Surrender (Dallas Willard Ministries) interprets John 5:26 by emphasizing the concept of different kinds of life. The sermon draws a parallel between the life that God has in Himself and the life that is given to the Son, which is then extended to human beings. This interpretation highlights the idea that the life from above, or divine life, is distinct from biological life. The sermon uses the analogy of different life forms, such as a turnip and a kitten, to illustrate the diversity of life and how divine life is a higher form of existence that involves self-initiating, self-directing, and self-sustaining activities.
Embracing Abundant Life: Welcoming Jesus This Christmas (Open the Bible) interprets John 5:26 by emphasizing the unique nature of Jesus having life in himself, akin to the Father. The sermon uses the analogy of the burning bush from Exodus 3, where the bush burns but is not consumed, to illustrate how Jesus has life in himself, independent of external sources. This analogy helps convey the idea that Jesus, like the burning bush, does not depend on anything else for life, highlighting his divine nature and ability to impart life to others.
John 5:26 Theological Themes:
Embracing Divine Life: Transformation Through Surrender (Dallas Willard Ministries) presents the theme of "life indeed" as a form of eternal life that involves active participation with God. This life is described as a new dimension of existence that transcends natural human life and is characterized by divine activity. The sermon emphasizes that this divine life is not merely about biological existence but involves a transformation that aligns human will with God's will, leading to a life of love and goodness.
Embracing Abundant Life: Welcoming Jesus This Christmas (Open the Bible) presents the theme that Jesus, having life in himself, offers abundant life to believers. The sermon emphasizes that Jesus came not to take away but to give life abundantly, contrasting him with thieves who steal and destroy. This theme is expanded by suggesting that Jesus has more to give than believers have yet received, encouraging them to seek more peace, love, joy, faith, repentance, strength, and hope from him.
John 5:26 Historical and Contextual Insights:
John 5:26 Cross-References in the Bible:
Embracing Divine Life: Transformation Through Surrender (Dallas Willard Ministries) references Exodus 3:14 to connect the concept of God having life in Himself with the self-existence of God as expressed in the phrase "I am that I am." The sermon also references 1 Timothy 6:13 and 6:19 to discuss the life that God gives to all living things and the idea of "life that is life indeed," which is achieved through acting with God. These references are used to support the understanding of John 5:26 as a passage that speaks to the divine life that God shares with humanity through the Son.
Embracing Abundant Life: Welcoming Jesus This Christmas (Open the Bible) references several Bible passages to support the interpretation of John 5:26. John 10:10 is used to contrast Jesus with thieves, emphasizing that he came to give life abundantly. Galatians 2:20 is cited to explain how life in Jesus becomes life in believers through faith. The sermon also references John 10:18, where Jesus states his authority over his own life, and John 5:21, which highlights Jesus' ability to give life to whom he chooses. These references collectively underscore the theme of Jesus as the source of abundant life.
John 5:26 Christian References outside the Bible:
Embracing Spiritual Life: A Journey of Discipleship (Dallas Willard Ministries) explicitly references C.S. Lewis's "Mere Christianity" to illustrate the idea that Christianity transcends mere morality and leads to a deeper understanding of goodness. The sermon quotes Lewis to emphasize that true Christian behavior is not about following rules but about being filled with goodness that comes from focusing on the source, which is God. This reference is used to support the idea that spiritual life involves an interactive relationship with God that goes beyond mere moral actions.
Embracing Abundant Life: Welcoming Jesus This Christmas (Open the Bible) does not explicitly reference any non-biblical Christian authors or theologians when discussing John 5:26.
John 5:26 Illustrations from Secular Sources:
Embracing Spiritual Life: A Journey of Discipleship (Dallas Willard Ministries) uses the analogy of a master class taught by a great artist to illustrate the concept of discipleship to Jesus. The sermon compares Jesus's teachings to a master class that offers a unique opportunity to learn and grow in spiritual life, much like how artists seek to learn from masters in their field. This analogy is used to convey the value and transformative potential of following Jesus's teachings.
Embracing Abundant Life: Welcoming Jesus This Christmas (Open the Bible) uses the analogy of a house with Jesus knocking on the door, derived from Revelation 3:20, to illustrate the concept of Jesus offering life. The sermon paints a picture of a person inside a house deciding whether to open the door to Jesus, who is not a thief but one who offers abundant life. This analogy is used to encourage listeners to welcome Jesus into their lives, emphasizing that he brings life rather than taking it away.