John 5:21

“And in the same way my Father can raise the dead and give them life,” He adds, “I, his Son, gives life to whomever I choose to give it.”   John 5:21 EFP

Jesus is on a roll!  As if they are not riled enough by his previous declaration about his relationship to his Father, he drops this bomb.  Just like God gives life as he pleases, I do to.  His hearers heard the stories of the prophets of old raising people from the dead.  Obviously they didn’t do it—God did.  He chose to answer the prayer of his servant and breathed life into a lifeless body.

So, if he wishes to give new life to a crippled old man, he will do so, because his Father gives him the model to follow.  Quite honestly, to be consistent with the verse, I believe Jesus is saying, “You are here standing because my Father is working all the time keeping you alive.”  That is what God does.  That is what Jesus does.  He gives life.  He restores the broken.  He breathes life into moribund dreams.  It is His will to do so.  That is God’s default, and He knows why he chooses the ones he chooses.  I am thankful, His choice is life to me…all the time.