The relationship between God the Father and God the Son is difficult for some to understand because it is a unique relationship; there is no exact parallel in our human experience. So it is wonderful to have the words of the Lord Jesus telling us how He relates with His Father. Firstly: Jesus is not independent of the Father: He only does what Father God does, and there is nothing the Father does which the Son does not also do. Secondly: Father God hides nothing from the Son; the Father and Son totally trust each other because they totally love each other.

What will happen after we die? That great question is found in every society, and many different answers are suggested. Physically, the body decomposes; but what about the person who used to live in that body? In today's passage, Jesus says that every dead person will hear His command to meet Him, and nobody will refuse to attend. The interview will reveal every living moment, and Jesus will judge what was right and what was wrong. His verdict will be divinely just, determining the eternal destiny of everyone in a way that is pleasing to Father God.

When you want to know the truth about a person, examine what they do. Jesus used the evidence of His life as a second witness to His claim of being the Son of God. His miracles were truly remarkable; they were supernatural and John uses them as signs of His divinity. But, some may say, surely God empowered Old Testament leaders and Apostles to do miracles? Yes, but there was a great difference with Jesus. No servant of God ever claimed to be equal with God except Jesus. And no miracle-worker allowed people to worship them, except Jesus.

Jesus was very special. Some people wanted to make Him their hero; others wanted to stop Him being special. So while the crowds applauded Him, those who were jealous of His power and wisdom criticised Him. But Jesus was not interested in what people thought of Him. He knew that popularity would never achieve His purpose.