He that heareth my word is passed from death unto life.

Jesus' discourse to the Jews in St John 5 indicates that he is himself the God of Israel who brought Israel out of Egypt. As they celebrated the Passover, and then crossed out of Egypt into freedom, so Christ is himself the true Passover Lamb and is also the God who spoke through Moses and led his people out. And he indicated that his people are those who hear his word, even as he had said through Moses, Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord. So must all men honor him as they honor the Father, for he is himself the same God. And he warns his hearers, even as he had warned the Israelites, that they, being redeemed, must follow him. But many of the Israelites turned aside to false gods, idolatry, and immorality, and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness, while the faithful who followed and heeded were at length brought into the Promised Land. So also, let us follow him and hear his word in this world filled with darkness and all manner of idolatry, that we may gain the eternal life he promised. The Audio: Sermon for Midweek of Easter II.