26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.
John gives us further insight into this Truth at the beginning of his gospel:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. John 1:1-4 (NIV)
Indeed, just as the Father has life in Himself, so too the Son has life in Himself. I am reminded of God’s Word to Moses in Exodus:
13 Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?" 14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'" Ex 3:13-14 (NIV)
“I AM WHO I AM” quite literally meaning “I MYSELF AM HE WHO IS” - speaking to the timelessness of God who is the very foundation of all existence. “I AM has sent me to you” indicates that God will always be with His people both in plenty and in time of need, both in joy and in sorrow – He is a “with us” God. Jesus alluded to this same name in John:
58 "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" John 8:58 (NIV)
God tells us that He will never leave us nor forsake us. The writer of Hebrews states:
God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” 6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Heb 13:5-6 (NIV)
“From God, great and small, rich and poor, draw living water from a living spring, and those who serve Him freely and gladly will receive grace answering to grace.” Thomas a Kempis
Jesus promises His followers the same as well through the indwelling of the precious Holy Spirit. We find in John:
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." John 14:16-21 (NIV)
“In Christ the heart of the Father is revealed, and higher comfort there cannot be than to rest in the Father’s heart.” Andrew Murray
"Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders." Deut 33:12 (NIV)
Jesus as the Son of Man has been delegated the authority to judge. Daniel writes of this in the Book which bears his name:
13 "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. Dan 7:13-14 (NIV)
There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people--everyone whose name is found written in the book--will be delivered. 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 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. Dan 12:1-3 (NIV)
“Crown Him the Lord of Life, who triumphed o’er the grave, Who rose victorious in the strife for those He came to save. His glories now we sing, who died and rose on high, Who died eternal life to bring and lives that death may die.” Matthew Bridges