John 5:16-30 (NIV) 

Previously in John, Jesus has been performing signs and wonders, and some on the Sabbath. Sabbath was and is an absolutely central part of Jewish life. On the 7th day God entered his rest, so on the 7th day of the week His people enter into rest. They do this in remembrance of the LORD and in anticipation of the age to come.

And with that anticipation was a growing conviction by Jesus’ day: a belief that God the Creator would raise the dead, bringing people back to bodily life to face the consequences of evil done or to share in eternal life. In this passage Jesus signals that this work has begun in him.

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1. Jesus says that because the Father is working, he’s working. What would it look like for you to say: "Because Jesus is working, so are we."? What would need to change?

2. What would it mean for you to honor Jesus today?

3. "Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me HAS eternal life and will not be judged, but HAS crossed over from death to life," says Jesus. If you believe, eternal life starts now. In what ways might you still live as if this gift of life is only for the future? What would it look like to live in it now?

----------CONNECT----------

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