What Does John 5:26 Mean Regarding the Son Having Life in Himself?

John 5:26 does not mention a point in time when the Son supposedly began to have life in Himself. Jesus' words reveal His full divinity, His eternal relationship with the Father, and His authority to grant life to creation.

The question, "When did the Father grant the Son to have life in Himself?" often arises from understanding the word "granted" literally as an event that occurred at a specific moment in the past. However, the text itself mentions neither a date nor a moment when Christ lacked life and subsequently received it. In the context of the Gospel of John, Jesus is not speaking about His creation or the beginning of His existence, but rather about His unique equality with the Father and His authority to give life and execute judgment.

“For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself.” John 5:26

Life “in Himself”: A Mark of Deity

All created life is dependent. Humans, angels, animals, and the entire universe exist only because God sustains them. No created being possesses life independently, inherently, and eternally. But the Father has life "in Himself"—meaning He is the source of life, does not receive it from anyone else, and is not dependent on creation.

Jesus asserts that the Son likewise has life in Himself. This is not a characteristic of a created being, not even the most exalted one. It is a divine attribute. That is precisely why Christ can not only teach about eternal life, but actually impart it to whomsoever He desires to make alive.

“For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.” John 5:21

Therefore, in John 5:26 Jesus is not declaring, "At one time I was without life." He is speaking of the life inherent to Him as the eternal Son of God. Christ is not merely a dependent mediator through whom life is channeled from God to creation; He Himself is the source of life, equal with the Father.

What Does the Word “Granted” Mean?

The biblical word "granted" (or "gave") does not necessarily indicate a beginning in time. In this text, it describes the eternal relationship between the two Persons of the Godhead: the Father and the Son are distinct Persons, yet the Son possesses the fullness of that very same divine nature. The Father did not create the Son, nor did He make Him God. The Son is eternally the Son, not a part of creation.

The New Testament does not explain the mechanics of this eternal mystery. It calls us to accept the revelation: the Son is with the Father from eternity, possesses His glory, and in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead. Therefore, it is inappropriate to turn the words "granted the Son" into proof that Christ had a beginning.

“And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.” John 17:5

Before the creation of the world, the Son already shared glory with the Father. This precludes the idea that His existence began in Bethlehem or that He is numbered among created beings.

The Context: Christ Gives Life and Executes Judgment

Immediately after speaking of having life in Himself, Jesus speaks of the authority to execute judgment. The Father has committed judgment to the Son as the Messiah and the Son of Man, who took upon Himself human nature and became humanity's Representative. This commission pertains to His redemptive mission, yet it in no way denies His eternal deity.

“and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.” John 5:27

In the same way, the statement that the Father "granted" the Son to have life in Himself must be read within the broader context. Christ is the One whose voice the dead will hear; He will raise people up and execute final judgment. Such actions do not belong to a mere prophet or a created angel, but to the Lord of life.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.” John 5:25

The Testimony of Scripture and Ellen White

Jesus spoke words about Himself that emphasize His pre-existence: "Before Abraham was, I AM." He did not say that He was created before Abraham, but rather revealed His eternal identity.

“Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.’” John 8:58

Ellen White wrote concerning the nature of Christ's life: "In Christ is life, original, unborrowed, underived." This does not mean that the Son is independent of the Father as a separate divine being; it means that His life is genuinely divine, eternal, and uncreated. In the book The Desire of Ages, she emphasizes that Christ did not receive His life in the way a creature receives it from the Creator.

Conclusion and Practical Application

Thus, the Bible does not answer the question "when?" with a specific date, because John 5:26 does not describe an event in time. The passage speaks of an eternal reality: the Father has life in Himself, and the Son has life in Himself. Christ was not created, had no beginning, and did not become God at some point in time. He is the eternal Son of God who came into the world to give people eternal life.

Practically speaking, this means our hope is not founded upon a human teacher or a created messenger. We place our trust in Jesus as the Lord of life. Let us come to Him daily in faith, receive His Word, and ask that His resurrecting power bring new life to our spiritual experience even now.