We have been observing Jesus’ power and authority to give life and change people’s destiny. Jesus came as a light into the world and began revealing His glory.
John 1:14 NKJV And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus’ glory was revealed in many ways. His glory was seen in His works, miracles, healings and wonderful words of life.
- He met the woman at the well and gave her living water. Many of the Samaritans from her city came to believe in Jesus as the Savior of the world.
- Then Jesus healed the nobleman’s son who was dying of a fever. Jesus simply told the man, “Go your way, your son lives.”
- In Jerusalem, the man at the Pool of Bethesda was as good as dead. His life was full of suffering, disappointment, and pain until Jesus stepped into the scene. At Jesus’ word the man arose, took up his bed and walked.
And we beheld His glory!
Then Jesus said He had power and authority from His Father to give life to whomever He is pleased to give it. It is hard to grasp the full significance of His comments. We noticed that He is equal with God the Father in power, knowledge, authority, and self-existence. He is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent. Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Anyone who comes to Jesus and puts their trust in Him can find rest for their soul, (Matthew 11:28-30).
Jesus was saying that He can change the destiny of anyone who believes in Him. In our previous studies, we observed Jesus’ power and authority over the destiny of certain individuals. Jesus’ statements revealed His equality with God the Father and the control and authority that was granted to Him.
We are going to explore in greater detail His authority over our destiny. We need to know that nothing is too hard for God.
John 5:24-30 NIV84 I tell you the truth, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself. And He has given Him authority to judge because He is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and My judgment is just, for I seek not to please Myself but Him who sent Me.
Jesus’ power and authority changes your destiny.
Destiny refers to both our eternal destination and the change of daily circumstances and God’s will for our lives. Jesus just declared that He has the power and authority to change lives and the destiny of those who believe in Him.
Most often people think of the short-term destiny of their journey, career, job, or personal well-being. The short-term destiny of our lives refers to temporary needs and desires. In the Gospel account, this was the main focus of the people who came to Jesus. A man came to Jesus because his child was sick and dying. A man was paralyzed and hopeless, but Jesus changed his destiny.
People who came to Jesus wanted relief from their burdens, disaster or crisis. Someone was sick, hurting, or dying. They were hungry and about to faint, and needed to be fed. Many people came to Jesus for relief, miracles, and healing. When the burdened and oppressed come to Jesus, He is able to bring real relief.
When Jesus changes destiny, He is able to bring real change that reverses the negative impact of sin and death.
There are two kinds of reversal.
First, there is the unfortunate happening that hinders or impedes progress.
You have a financial reversal; you were doing well and had a reversal. You have a physical reversal in your health; you were doing well and suddenly everything changed. Something terrible happened and you had a reversal.
Second, there is the reversal that occurs when everything starts looking up.
You were about to die, but something happened and now you are alive. You were about to lose everything, but you had a reversal, and things are going great.
Jesus can change your destiny right now. Jesus said those who hear and believe Him can cross over to life right now. This is the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
You do not have to be dominated by the power of your past. You can get up and take your bed and walk. You can go home for your son is alive. You can live in freedom from the negative choices of your past.
Jesus Christ has the power and authority to change lives. As we progress through the Gospel of John, watch as Jesus gives real change to people’s lives.
It is important for us to know that Jesus has the power and authority to make real change in our lives right now.
He can cleanse your spirit and soul and remove the condemnation of past sins. The Lord can give joy and gladness where sorrow and sadness reigned. He can break addictions and destructive life-style patterns. Jesus has the authority and power to reverse the negative and destructive patterns of your life. The Son of God can change your future and give you a life filled with hope, peace and joy.
His power to impact our destiny is not just with the temporary and historical issues of our lives. Jesus offers complete answers for our lives. Jesus can change your eternal destiny and give you a place in the Father’s presence. The ultimate reversal is coming when our bodies will entirely be set free from the effects of sin and death. The Lord’s claim over us in this is tremendous.
Romans 8:18 AMP talks about “the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us and for us and conferred on us!” Then just a few verses later we are shown that the potter has power over the clay to make a vessel of honor or dishonor.
Romans 9:23-24 NKJV That He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, even us whom He called…
Right now, Jesus has the authority and power to radically change your life, but a greater change is coming. In John 5, Jesus demonstrated His authority to give real life to a man who had been crippled for 38 years.
After healing and delivering that man from his bondage and sickness, Jesus said He has power to raise all of the dead.
Think about this. Jesus has the power and authority to change our lives right now, but He also has power to make a greater change in us.
Romans 8:23-24 NKJV Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?
What is this saying? The Lord makes a tremendous change in us when we are saved and given the Holy Spirit. It is amazing grace and power divine that changes our lives.
There is a great day coming when we shall be changed! The day that we are glorified will be a day of great victory. On that day, our last enemy, death will be destroyed.
1 Corinthians 15:25-26 AMP For [Christ] must be King and reign until He has put all [His] enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be subdued and abolished is death.
1 Corinthians 15:54-55 NKJV …then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”
There’s a great day coming! The Lord Himself is going to usher in the greatest reversal the universe has ever known. He conquered death in His own body, but there is more to this than the Lord’s resurrection to life. Jesus is going to change our eternal destiny.
John 5:25 NIV84 I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.
This “new life” impacts our destiny right now! Ephesians 2 describes the impact that Jesus has had on our destiny and lives.
Ephesians 2:1-7 NKJV And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
You were dead in your old life of sin, but Jesus came in and gave you life.
Are you walking in newness of life? Thank God for the glorious change, but there is a better day coming. The joy you have right now cannot compare with what is coming.
John 5:28–29 NKJV Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
This is the future resurrection of believers. We who trust in Christ anticipate this great resurrection day.
John 5:28–29 AMP Do not be surprised and wonder at this, for the time is coming when all those who are in the tombs shall hear His voice, And they shall come out—…to the resurrection of [new] life…
The trumpet of God shall sound and the dead in Christ shall arise. We who are alive and remain on this earth shall be changed. In a moment we will receive a new body and be in the presence of God the Father and all of the holy angels. What a day that will be!
Daniel 12:3 NIV Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
Jesus made a major statement about His power to impact the destiny of people in John 5:29. Jesus said He has the power to change the destiny of both good and evil people.
John 5:29 NKJV All who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth …those who have done good to the resurrection of life …those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
Think about this.
Jesus’ voice will cause all of the dead to respond. We are not just seeing Him raise the righteous to life, Jesus Christ will raise the evil to condemnation.
This resurrection to condemnation takes place after the millennial reign of Christ.The first resurrection of the redeemed will be over and the redeemed of the Lord will be in His presence. All rewards and blessings will have been received and we will be in the presence of God and the Holy Angels.
Revelation 20:11-15 speaks about this great event. This is the great white throne Judgment.
Jesus is going to call the dead from their graves and from the sea, and they shall stand before God and the books will be opened. Death and Hades will deliver up the dead who are in them.
When this happens, they will give account of their lives before God. Everyone who has rejected Christ will be judged at the great white throne. This has nothing to do with getting into heaven. This resurrection and judgment refers to punishment in the lake of fire.
Everyone who stands at the great white throne judgment stands condemned.Jesus has the power and authority to raise all of the dead.
All power has been given to Him in heaven and in earth.
Romans 14:11-12 NKJV For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.
The Bible is very clear about Christ’s authority and power. One day every knee shall bow to Him and every tongue shall confess to God.
What will they be confessing to God?
Philippians 2:9-11 NKJV Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
If you know Him today, you have joy and hope.
If you have accepted His salvation, it will affect your eternal destiny.
If there is anything in your life that condemns, you should turn it to Jesus now.
Today is a good day to turn our lives to the Lord.
Right now Jesus can change your destiny.
