Today’s reading: II Kings 9-11; John 5:1-24
20 So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet after Athaliah had been put to death with the sword at the king’s house. II Kings 11:20
24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. John 5:24
To be at enmity with God, our Creator, is a hopelessly depressing situation, but to be reconciled to Him brings joy and peace.
When Jehoash was crowned king at age seven, Jehoiada, the priest, led the nation to make a covenant with God to be His people. Certainly, Jehoiada was the real leader of Judah and he led well. The wicked queen Athaliah had been executed and the rightful heir to David’s throne, Jehoash, was inaugurated. There was joy in the land.
Jesus’ ministry brought division and conflict in Jerusalem. He healed a man who had been an invalid for 38 years, but the Jews criticized Him for healing on the Sabbath, calling God His Father, and “making himself equal with God” (John 5:18). Jesus made stupendous claims about Himself in this passage. He said He only did what the Father was doing. He was perfectly in sync with His Father. He was giving life to whomever He would. Jesus said the Father had given Him all authority to judge. Jesus said His word, if heard and believed, imparted eternal life and freedom from judgment and death.
Jehoiada’s leadership brought joy to the land of Judah, for a time, but the revival would not last forever. Someone greater was needed to lead the people to a permanent solution to the problem of guilt and sin. That One was Jesus. His word brings life. Do you have it? Trust Him. He and the Father give life to those who believe His word because through Him, and only through Him, we are reconciled to God.
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