We find in this verse that the voice of the Son of God is emphasized. In verses 28–29, the Lord Jesus speaks of another hour when all who are in the graves will hear His voice, and they will all come forth; some to the resurrection of life and some to the resurrection of judgment. We know from other scriptures that these two aspects of resurrection will happen a little over one thousand years apart. The resurrection of life will happen when the Lord comes for all His own (1 Th. 4:16–17). The resurrection of judgment will occur after the one thousand years of kingdom blessing, when all the remaining dead will be raised for judgment at the great white throne (Rev. 20:11–15).

Our verse above also speaks of resurrection, but not the physical resurrection of our bodies, but a spiritual resurrection that takes place when we hear His voice in the gospel. The Lord Jesus could say, “an hour is coming, and now is.” The hour had already begun when He was here, and there were those who heard His voice and received eternal life. And this hour continues to the present moment. Behind the voice of our parents, or the voice of the gospel preacher, or the voice of whoever may have shared the gospel with us, it was the voice of the Son of God we heard. Not audibly, of course, but in our hearts.

Many other scriptures speak of our spiritual resurrection. Ephesians 2:1–6 is one important passage to consider: we were once dead in trespasses and sins; now we are made alive with Christ. Similarly Colossians 3:1–4 brings this truth before us, and exhorts us, as alive with Christ, to now seek those things which are above.