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Commentaries
English
John
  
25"Truly, truly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.26For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son also to have life in himself, …"


Jesus makes clear that he is the Truth, in saying, "Truly, truly I say to you". He fulfils the predictions relating to his coming more profoundly than the people of the Old Testament imagined. He raises the dead today and tomorrow. All are dead in sin and corrupt. But Jesus is the Holy One, the Son of God Incarnate, who in his body overcame sin; to make us partake in his life by faith. He who gives heed today to the Gospel of salvation, and understands it and clings to Jesus, receives God’s life. From the Day of Resurrection we know that our faith is the faith of life, not the religion of death and doom. Jesus puts the Spirit of his life in those who listen to him, while not fully grasping yet, but they long to realize the fullness of his words. In them he creates the genuine hearing, and in them the miraculous word is effected. The dead cannot rise or listen of their own accord, but Jesus brings life to them and so they give heed.
Our earthly life perishes, but the divine life granted us abides for ever. As Jesus put it; "I am the resurrection and the life. He that believes in me though he be dead, yet shall he live; and whoever lives and believes in me, shall never die."
Christ can revive us, since the Father bestowed the fullness of eternal life on him. Christ is like a massive spring from which flows the water of life without ceasing. From him we receive light upon light, love upon love, truth upon truth. From him no corruption or darkness proceed, nor evil thoughts. He is full of love, as Paul expressed: Christ is compassionate and a friend does not envy or boast; he does not seek things for himself or think evil of others or rejoice over guilt. He endures all things, and is patient with all; his love never fails. This he bestowed on us by his Spirit. Let us become fountains of life.