The Witness of Another

Scripture: John 5:32 (ESV) – “There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true.”

Jesus continues building His case—not by defending Himself with personal claims, but by pointing to another who testifies on His behalf. Though He does not name this witness explicitly in this verse, the surrounding context makes clear that He has the Father in view. This is not mere human support—it is divine confirmation.

Christ’s confidence is unwavering: “I know that the testimony he bears about me is true.” This is not the voice of insecurity, but of certainty. The Son is not seeking credibility from others out of need—He is revealing how God the Father has confirmed His identity, not only through words but through works.

William Gouge comments that the authority of Christ is not rooted in human approval, but is established by the testimony of heaven. “Though men deny Him, yet God speaks for Him,” Gouge wrote, affirming that when God testifies, truth stands unshaken. This divine witness is foundational—it is through the Father’s voice, through the Spirit’s power, through fulfilled prophecy, and through the Son’s own works that Christ’s identity is confirmed.

This verse is a reminder that our faith is not grounded in our feelings or experiences alone, but in the objective witness of God Himself. To believe in Jesus is to rest in the testimony of the One who cannot lie.

Reflection Questions:

  1. Why is it significant that Jesus does not rely on self-testimony, but appeals to the Father’s witness?
  2. What sources of assurance do you look to when your faith feels uncertain?
  3. How can meditating on the Father’s witness to the Son increase your confidence in Christ?

Prayer:

Gracious Father, thank You for testifying to Your Son. Thank You that our confidence in Christ is grounded in Your unchanging truth. Strengthen our faith, not by signs or feelings alone, but by the deep assurance that You have spoken. Help us to rest in the testimony You have given. Amen.

This devotional is based on John 5:32, with reflection informed by the writings of William Gouge and the preaching of Pastor Chris Cousine.

A Testimony Worth Hearing

Scripture: John 5:31 (ESV) – “If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true.”

Jesus here acknowledges a principle rooted in God’s law: a matter is established by multiple witnesses, not by self-assertion alone. Though Jesus is the Truth incarnate, He does not ask for blind allegiance based solely on His own claims. He willingly subjects Himself to the structure of lawful testimony—not because His word is unreliable, but because He condescends to meet fallen man with patience and clarity.

In doing so, Jesus opens the door for what follows: a series of divinely appointed witnesses who confirm His identity—John the Baptist, His miraculous works, the Father’s voice, and the Scriptures themselves. These witnesses are not offered because Christ lacks authority, but because He invites faith that is not irrational, but reasoned and responsive to revealed truth.

William Gouge observed that this willingness to appeal to multiple witnesses was not a sign of weakness, but a mark of divine gentleness. God does not merely declare His truth—He confirms it with grace and abundance. The witness of Christ is trustworthy, and the fault lies not in the evidence, but in hearts unwilling to receive it.

If we are slow to believe, it is not for lack of testimony—it is for lack of hearing. Jesus has not spoken in secret. He has not asked us to leap in the dark. The light is shining. The witnesses are many. The question is not whether Christ has spoken—but whether we are listening.

Reflection Questions:

  1. What does Jesus’ appeal to outside witnesses tell you about His character?
  2. Are you quick to receive the testimony God has already provided—or are you still waiting for more proof?
  3. How might you deepen your trust in Christ by meditating on the witnesses He presents in the verses that follow?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You for not leaving us in the dark. You have not demanded blind faith but provided sure testimony. Give us ears to hear, hearts to receive, and minds that are ready to believe. May we not harden ourselves against what You have already made known. Amen.

This devotional is based on John 5:31, drawing insight from William Gouge and the preaching of Pastor Chris Cousine.

A Just Judge Doing the Father’s Will

Scripture: John 5:30 (ESV) – “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.”

Here Jesus affirms again that He is not acting independently of the Father, but in full unity and submission to Him. He has just declared that He will raise the dead and execute judgment. Now He assures us that His judgment is perfectly just—because it proceeds not from self-interest, but from the Father’s will.

This is the opposite of human judges, who are so often swayed by personal bias, politics, or limited understanding. As Pastor Chris Cousine so clearly puts it, “Jesus is claiming that His justice will be perfectly just.” Why? Because it is not grounded in human opinion or preference, but in the perfect, holy will of God.

William Gouge would highlight the perfect moral integrity of Christ as both divine and human Judge. In His divinity, Christ shares fully in the omniscient wisdom of the Father. In His humanity, He listens, obeys, and enacts the Father’s will flawlessly. “To hear Christ judge,” Gouge wrote, “is to hear justice itself speak.”

There is great comfort and gravity here. Comfort, because if Christ is your Advocate, His justice is not a threat—it is your shield. Gravity, because His justice cannot be manipulated or avoided. Every decision He makes is rooted in righteousness.

Reflection Questions:

  1. Why does Jesus emphasize that His judgment is not His own but the Father’s?
  2. How does Christ’s perfect justice shape your trust in His rule and coming judgment?
  3. Are you more likely to fear Christ’s judgment—or find peace in it? Why?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You that Your justice is perfect, because it flows from the will of the Father. Keep us from presuming upon Your grace or fearing condemnation. Teach us to trust that in You, justice and mercy meet. Help us to walk in obedience, knowing that You are both Judge and Savior. Amen.

This devotional is based on John 5:30 and shaped by the preaching of Pastor Chris Cousine and theological reflection from William Gouge.

What I Saw at the Alberta Prosperity Project Rally

Last week I attended what I suppose you’d call an information rally hosted by the Alberta Prosperity Project (APP) in Calgary. It was an eye-opening experience, encouraging in some ways, but not without its disappointments. Let me explain.

The venue had a capacity of around 1,000 people, and it was packed to the rafters. That alone was heartening. It confirmed to me that the sovereignty movement in Alberta is no longer just a whisper among a fringe few, it’s becoming something tangible. People are motivated. They’re willing to take time out of their day to show up, to listen, and to learn.

Demographically, the crowd was mostly white and middle-aged or older, but I was glad to see some ethnic diversity and a few younger folks in the mix. Overall, the makeup of the crowd gave me hope. There’s energy here.

When the event kicked off, the host expressed her excitement at the turnout. She mentioned how APP events once drew fewer than ten people. That’s real progress. But then she added something that left a sour taste: she said that normally they would open in prayer, but due to the number of non-Christians in attendance (how she could possibly know that, I have no idea), they would skip it this time.

Disappointing. Nothing like asking God to bless your efforts, and then ignoring Him when He shows up. That’s not how covenant works. Proverbs 3:6 says, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.” We can’t plead for God’s favour in private and then snub Him in public. If we’re not willing to be identified with Christ when the crowd grows, what exactly are we trying to build?

That said, the speakers themselves were engaging and passionate. Their frustrations with the federal Liberals, and with those who keep voting them in, were echoed throughout the evening. They talked about our lopsided place in Confederation, and how little our interests seem to matter in Ottawa. These are all legitimate concerns, and they need to be voiced. Many Albertans simply don’t understand the depth of the problem. These events help close that gap.

But here’s the challenge: if we’re going to advance the cause of Alberta sovereignty, we need more than just a list of grievances. We need a vision. We must be able to say, with clarity and conviction, what we’re for, not just what we’re against.

We have so much to offer. We have abundant resources, industrious people, and a deeply rooted spirit of independence. Let’s build on that. Let’s stop bleating ad nauseam about the injustices (as real as they are) and start painting a picture of what Alberta could be. People are drawn to hope and courage, not just outrage and despair.

I met a lovely senior lady from Newfoundland, she’s lived in Alberta for thirteen years. She was one of the most enthusiastic people in the crowd, completely sold on the idea of Alberta going its own way. “Good riddance,” she said. How refreshing. No cynicism, no bitterness. Just resolve.

There’s been some online chatter (not from this event, to be clear) about whether those not born in Alberta should be allowed to vote in a referendum. I think that would be a serious mistake. Frankly, I’ve found that the people who love Alberta the most, the ones willing to work, contribute, and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with us, are often the ones who chose to come here. They see Alberta for what it is: a place of opportunity, resilience, and freedom. Bring them in. Let them fight alongside us.

More of these APP meetings are coming in the weeks ahead. If you care about Alberta’s future, whether or not you support separation, you owe it to yourself to get informed and get involved. The worst thing we can do is sit idly by.

And as for our critics (Nenshi, Jann Arden, et al.), every time they open their mouths to mock the movement, they only fan the flame. Let them. Meanwhile, we need to stay calm, stay rational, and stay focused.

We’ve got work to do.

Resurrection to Life—or Judgment

Scripture: John 5:29 (ESV) – “…and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.”

Jesus now completes His declaration about the final resurrection. Not only will all who are in the tombs hear His voice, but they will also rise with distinct and eternal destinies: some to the resurrection of life, others to the resurrection of judgment. There is no neutrality—every man will rise and enter eternity either in joy or in judgment.

William Gouge, in his meditations on eternal judgment, emphasizes that this resurrection is not merely a return to life but a divine summons to accountability. All men—righteous and wicked, rich and poor, believer and unbeliever—will be raised and brought before Christ’s judgment seat. Gouge writes, “The grave cannot shield, nor time erase, the deeds of men; they shall rise in the very bodies which once served either for sin or for righteousness.”

It’s vital to understand that when Jesus speaks of those “who have done good” and “those who have done evil,” He is not advocating salvation by works. Rather, He describes the visible fruit of inward faith or unbelief. As Gouge explains, “Good works are not the cause of resurrection unto life, but the evidence of it.” Faith that is genuine bears fruit, and those fruits bear witness at the final judgment.

This verse confronts us with eternal seriousness. There will be a resurrection—but it will not be the same for all. Christ will divide the risen into two groups: those who are His, and those who are not. The resurrection of life means glorified existence with God forever. The resurrection of judgment means eternal separation, punishment, and wrath.

Let this truth produce in us both holy fear and holy longing—fear, that we not presume upon Christ without true repentance and faith; longing, that we may live each day in obedience to the One whose voice will one day call us from the grave.

Reflection Questions:

  1. How does this verse challenge the modern tendency to assume everyone ends up in the same eternal place?
  2. What does it mean to “do good” in light of the gospel? How do good works relate to saving faith?
  3. Does the reality of a final resurrection to life or judgment stir you to live more intentionally today?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, we will all hear Your voice one day. Prepare us for that day now. Give us hearts that are truly Yours—full of faith, bearing the fruit of righteousness, and longing for the resurrection of life. Keep us from complacency, and teach us to fear You rightly, that we may walk in joyful obedience until the grave gives way to glory. Amen.

This devotional is based on John 5:29, enriched by William Gouge’s Puritan teaching on the final judgment and the visible fruit of saving faith.

Marvel Not: The Resurrection Awaits

Scripture: John 5:28 (ESV) – “Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice”

Having just declared His authority to judge as the Son of Man, Jesus now points forward to the final resurrection, when every person who has died will hear His voice. He says, “Do not marvel at this,” not to diminish the wonder of what He’s said, but to prepare His hearers for an even greater revelation: the resurrection of the dead is real, certain, and will be personally commanded by Christ Himself.

William Gouge, reflecting on this text, emphasizes that Christ’s voice, which once called Lazarus from the tomb and now raises dead souls to spiritual life, will one day call all bodies from their graves. It will not be a general force or impersonal power, but the deliberate, personal summons of the Son of God. “His voice shall pierce through marble tombs and dust-scattered remains,” Gouge writes, “and the bodies of men shall rise at once, obeying their Maker’s call.”

What should astonish us is not just that the dead will rise, but that it is Christ’s voice that raises them—He who once was crucified and buried, now speaks as Sovereign Lord of death and life. This verse sets the stage for the final judgment, where every man will stand before Christ—none exempt.

To those who heard Jesus speak, this claim must have seemed nearly unthinkable. And yet, He speaks with full assurance. Just as He gave spiritual life to the soul (v.25), so He will give physical life to every body in the last day.

This truth should awaken both holy fear and great hope: fear for those who remain in unbelief, and hope for those who trust in Christ. The hour is coming. His voice will be heard. The dust will rise.

Reflection Questions:

  1. Why do you think Jesus tells us not to marvel, even as He speaks of resurrection?
  2. How does it affect your faith to know that Christ Himself will raise all the dead with His voice?
  3. Does the certainty of bodily resurrection shape the way you live today—in hope, in urgency, in holiness?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, You are the Lord of life and death. Let me not take lightly the reality of the resurrection to come. Teach me to live each day in light of eternity, knowing that Your voice will one day call every man from the grave. Keep me awake, faithful, and ready. And may I always marvel—not at the power alone—but at the mercy of the One who speaks. Amen.

This devotional is based on John 5:28, with insights from William Gouge’s teaching on the resurrection and the sovereign authority of Christ.

The Son Appointed Judge

Scripture: John 5:27 (ESV) – “And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.”

This verse completes the majestic arc begun in verse 26. The Son, who has life in Himself like the Father, is also given authority to judge all mankind. And what is striking is the reason Jesus gives: “because he is the Son of Man.”

Here, Jesus is not appealing to His divine nature alone but to His incarnate identity—the Son of Man, the one who has taken on human flesh and walked among us. William Gouge highlights the wonder of this: it is precisely because Christ humbled Himself, taking on our nature, enduring our weakness, and being tempted in every way, that He is uniquely qualified to judge us. He is not a distant, aloof deity. He is the God-Man, who knows both the holiness of heaven and the frailty of man.

This authority to execute judgment has been granted to the Son not in His eternal divine essence (which needs no grant), but in His office as Mediator. The Father has appointed Christ to be Judge of the living and the dead—not merely as God, but as God in the flesh. As Gouge says, “He who bore our judgment shall one day pronounce it.”

This should stir both reverence and hope in the believer. Reverence, because the Judge before whom every man will stand is Christ Himself. Hope, because the Judge is also our Redeemer. For those who are in Him, there is no condemnation (Rom. 8:1), because the One who judges has already borne their sentence.

Reflection Questions:

  1. Why does Jesus emphasize His role as the Son of Man when speaking of judgment?
  2. How does it comfort you to know that your Judge is also the One who suffered in your place?
  3. In light of this verse, how should we live in relation to Christ’s authority and future judgment?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, You are the Son of Man—the Righteous Judge who understands us fully and rules with perfect justice. Thank You for bearing judgment on our behalf. Help us to walk in holy reverence, knowing we will stand before You. And help us also to rest in joyful confidence, knowing that our Judge is also our Advocate. Amen.

This devotional is based on John 5:27 and shaped by William Gouge’s teaching on Christ’s office as Mediator and Judge.

Life in Himself

Scripture: John 5:26 (ESV) – “For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.”

This verse unveils a profound truth about the nature of Christ: just as the Father is self-existent, the very source of all life, so too the Son possesses life in Himself. This is not a life that is derived or borrowed—it is a divine quality shared fully and eternally within the Godhead.

William Gouge, reflecting on this passage, emphasizes the doctrine of eternal generation—that the Son has been eternally begotten of the Father, not made, and thus shares fully in the divine essence. To say the Son has “life in himself” is to declare that He is God, coequal with the Father, possessing all the attributes of deity, including the power to give life.

This verse is crucial in confirming that Jesus does not merely mediate life or serve as a conduit for it—He is life (John 14:6). His ability to give eternal life is not granted in time but is grounded in His divine identity. And though the language here—“granted to have life in himself”—speaks to the eternal relationship within the Trinity, it in no way implies inferiority. Rather, it reveals the perfect unity and distinction between Father and Son.

For the believer, this means that life flows from Christ not as a gift He was handed like a tool, but as His own to give. When Christ calls a man to life, He does so as the Author of it. When He sustains a soul in faith, He does so not by pleading to another, but by the power of His own person.

Reflection Questions:

  1. What does it mean that the Son has life “in Himself”? How is that different from us or any created being?
  2. How does this deepen your confidence in Christ’s ability to give and sustain eternal life?
  3. How does this verse help you worship Jesus not just as Savior, but as truly and fully God?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, You are the source of all life—eternal, uncreated, and divine. Help me to rest in the truth that the life You give is grounded in who You are. Teach me to worship You with deeper reverence, knowing that You share fully in the glory of the Father. May I find my life, my breath, and my hope in You alone. Amen.

This devotional is based on John 5:26 and guided by William Gouge’s reflections on the divine nature of Christ and the eternal unity of the Trinity.

The Hour Has Come

Scripture: John 5:25 (ESV) – “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.”

This verse carries both urgency and assurance. Jesus declares that a time is not only coming—but has already arrived—when the spiritually dead will hear His voice and come to life. His words reach into the grave of unbelief and summon men to salvation. This is the miracle of regeneration.

William Gouge, reflecting on the power of Christ’s word, taught that when the gospel is preached, it is not bare instruction, but divine summons. Christ speaks not only to the ear, but through the ear—to the soul. Those whom the Father has chosen will hear, and in hearing, they will live. This “hearing” is not passive reception, but spiritual awakening.

Jesus refers here to the present spiritual resurrection that occurs when a man believes. This is not yet the bodily resurrection—that will come—but the first resurrection of the soul. And it happens whenever the voice of Christ pierces the heart. The same voice that stilled storms and called Lazarus from the tomb now calls sinners to life.

Gouge emphasized that this is entirely a work of grace. The dead do not wake themselves. The voice of the Son creates the very life it calls for. This verse should humble the proud and embolden the preacher. Salvation belongs to the Lord, but He uses means—His Word, preached and heard.

Reflection Questions:

  1. What does it mean to hear the voice of the Son of God? Have you heard Him calling you to life?
  2. Do you think of salvation as something you initiated, or as a miracle Christ accomplished by calling you from death?
  3. How can this truth shape the way you pray for and witness to those who are still spiritually dead?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, You are the Resurrection and the Life. Thank You for calling me from death to life with Your powerful word. Help me to never forget that I live because You spoke. Use me as a vessel to carry Your Word to others, and may Your voice awaken many to life everlasting. Amen.

This devotional is based on John 5:25 and informed by William Gouge’s Puritan theology of regeneration and effectual calling.

From Death to Life

Scripture: John 5:24 (ESV) – “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”

This verse is one of the clearest gospel declarations in all of Scripture. Jesus speaks with solemn authority—“Truly, truly”—and offers the stunning promise that eternal life is not merely future, but present. The one who hears His word and believes the Father has eternal life, even now. They do not await judgment—they have already passed from death to life.

William Gouge, in his rich reflections on justification and union with Christ, would point to this verse as a gospel anchor. For Gouge, the movement from death to life is not a gradual religious improvement but a decisive spiritual resurrection wrought by faith. It is not works, feelings, or rituals that secure this passage—it is the hearing of Christ’s word and believing the Father who sent Him.

Note the simplicity and power of the condition: hear and believe. And the outcome? Eternal life now, freedom from future condemnation, and a present status of having already crossed the line from spiritual death to spiritual life. This is the heart of gospel assurance. The believer is not waiting on probation. He or she is already alive in Christ, and judgment is no longer a threat but a settled issue—Christ bore it all.

Gouge would emphasize that this truth should lead to comfort for the weary soul and boldness in faith. If you are in Christ, you are no longer under wrath. You are no longer walking among the spiritually dead. You are alive. Secure. Justified.

Reflection Questions:

  1. What does it mean to “hear” Christ’s word? How is this different from simply knowing about Him?
  2. Do you live with the assurance that you have already passed from death to life through faith in Christ?
  3. How might this verse change your view of judgment day or your daily confidence in God?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You for the clarity and comfort of Your words. Thank You that through faith in You, I have passed from death to life and will not face condemnation. Strengthen my faith, renew my joy, and help me to walk in the freedom and peace that comes from knowing I am truly Yours. Amen.

This devotional is based on John 5:24 and shaped by William Gouge’s Puritan reflections on saving faith, assurance, and the believer’s new life in Christ.