Or, Escape to Eternal Life.
Or, The New Covenant is Now.

Let's dig in deep to cover this important message that Jesus is giving the religious leaders in Jerusalem. Their expected prophecy is now fulfilled, but will they recognize the authority that is being claimed?

Let's break it down... : 19-29

19 So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.

The son is not independent, he's not a free agent. He acts in a cord with his divine nature. It's not that he's powerless, but he's a mirror of the father. He's not the slave to a master, but the son.

20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.

The relationship is one of love. Father to son. Not of the kind of obligation as a master to slave, or the duty expected as in a boss to employee relationship. The big difference is the son has access to the family business. The family secrets and mission are revealed to him.

Jesus ministry is just beginning, with greater acts to come.

21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.

Jesus is empowered by the father. The father being the one to fear, who has power over not only the body, but eternal destiny of the soul. Jesus demonstrates power over death. We see this later in raising Lazarus and others. We see this even more, with his own permanent resurrection over death.

22 The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son,
23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

The Father has a reputation of judging, but he ultimately gives it over to Jesus authority. This is good news for believers, since if the father were judge, we are all condemned already. Jesus authority comes from the fact that it's him who pays the redemption price. To dishonor Jesus is to reject salvation.. we are Left to face our self deserved condemnation.

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.

Here the Gospel message is preached by Jesus. Now it's up to those hearing it. Listen, obey, believe. Faith in the salvation provision (Jesus), detours us from destruction to eternal life. Assurance of eternal life begins now. Notice the verb tense used: Not "will have it", but "has it".

25 "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

The hour is coming and now here. The dead will live. The physical dead, like Lazarus and others. Also the spiritual dead, the woman at the well, etc.

How? They heard (which implies understanding, and obedience to) the voice of the son.

26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.

Where does life come from? Parents. We didn't spring into life on our own. God, and the son, are self existing. They have life in themselves.

27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.

Son of man. A title Jesus uses refers to himself. Being son of man, 100% human, he has authority to judge. He is intimate with the human experience.