John 5

21 Now just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, just so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. 22 In fact the Father does not judge anyone but has committed all the judging to the Son,*I suppose this means that it will be the Son who sits on the ‘great white throne’ (Revelation 20:11). 23 so that all will honor the Son just as they honor the Father.*Of course someone who does not honor the Father will not honor the Son either. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.*I take it that the Lord Jesus is saying that monotheistic people (Jews, Muslims) who claim to honor the Father, but do not honor the Son, are not really doing so. (Perhaps that would not apply to those who have never heard about Jesus.)

The Son is the just Judge

24 "Most assuredly I say to you that the one listening*Most versions render ‘hear’ instead of ‘listen’, both here and in the next verse, but from the context it seems clear that Jesus is not talking about sound striking the eardrum; He is talking about acting on the basis of what is heard. to my word and believing on Him who sent me has eternal life; he will not go into judging but has moved out of the death into the Life.*"The death" refers to Satan’s kingdom; "the life" refers to Christ’s kingdom (and they are the only alternatives in this world).

25 "Most assuredly I say to you that a time is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of the God, and those who listen will live.*It seems clear that the picture here is different from that in verses 28-29. Here Jesus says "now is", so He is not talking about future judgment; so the dead here are spiritually dead, and those who listen to Him receive spiritual life. In verse 28 the reference is to the physically dead, who are raised to face the final judgment. 26 Because just as the Father has life in Himself, just so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; 27 furthermore He gave Him the authority to pass judgment, because He is Son of Man.*We as human beings will be judged by another human being, someone who knows what it’s like. There is no definite article with either "Son" or "Man", so this is not the title He normally used. 28 Do not marvel at this, because a time is coming in which all those in the graves will hear His voice 29 and will come out—those who did good things into the resurrection of life,*Notice again the emphasis on doing, because what you do reflects what you really believe, and what you really believe is what you are—and you cannot kid God. "All those in the graves" means everyone who has died; all will be raised, and all must face the final Accounting. but those who practiced evil things into the resurrection of condemnation. 30 I am not able to do anything from myself. As I hear, I judge, and my judging is just, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the Father who sent me.

Four witnesses to Jesus

31 "If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid.*According to the Law at least two witnesses were required, so if Jesus had only His own word it would not be enough, would not be valid (even though He told the truth).