Father and Son Connection. John 5.19-24

“You know, Christine, I have heard people comment that there is an awful lot of talk about Jesus in the church today, and not so much teaching about God the Father.  Could you comment on that?” my dear friend Christa asked, catching me off guard at Bible study last week.  

“Uh, well yes, I suppose that’s true, isn’t it?” I profoundly responded.  But the fact is, Jesus himself teaches us that to know him is to know the Father, because he and the Father are one.  If we wish to see how God feels about the human condition, we must look at Jesus.  We saw it exhibited with the woman at the well—caught in her sin and without hope, until Jesus gave her everlasting life; we saw it with the lame man, having tried to get into the pool of Bethesda for 38 years for healing until Jesus was moved with compassion and gave his legs new life.  We glean even more now about the connection with the son and his Father, as we listen to Jesus talk about their relationship~

Let’s pray:  “Father, illuminate the pathways of our understanding that we might grow more like Jesus as we read your Word.  Amen.”

Today we have the benefit of not just holding John chapter 5 in our hands (or on our computer screens or i-phones), but all of John’s gospel, and the entire Bible for that matter!  As you read Jesus’ words today, think obedience . . . Jesus desired to do only what the Father was doing . . . that desire was born out of a heart of obedience.  And he obeyed out of a heart of love for his Father.

“So Jesus explained, [having called God his Father, making himself equal with God] “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself.  He does only what he sees the Father doing.

Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.  

For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing. In fact, the Father will show him how to do even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished.  

For just as the Father gives life to those he raises from the dead, so the Son gives life to anyone he wants.  

In addition, the Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge, so that everyone will honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son is certainly not honoring the Father who sent him.

 “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.” John 5.19-24, NLT

Do you want to know all about God?  Get to know his Son.  Do you want to see God?  Listen to the message of his Son and believe the God who sent him to supply you with eternal life.  Do you believe in God?  Of course you do!  Then, you must believe that Jesus is his son, and the only way to get to God; there are not many paths.  Do you believe in Jesus Christ?  Then, you must become a follower, rather than just a fan.  Fans believe, but stay in the safe distance.  Fans do not commit.  Followers commit, and follow through with obedience.  Jesus said ‘you are my friends if you obey me’.  Hmmm… now that is pretty clear, isn’t it.  John 15.14—look it up for yourself.  Put another way, “If you love me you will keep my commandments.” 

Obedience is not just following a holy ‘to do’ list, or even endeavoring to keep the Ten Commandments; I believe that obedience is a heart attitude of wanting to please and honor the Lord our God with everything we are – our whole being.

God places a high value on our obedience: “And through your descendants all the nations of the world will be blessed – all because you have obeyed me.”  Genesis 22.18;  “Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me.” Exodus 19.5 and John himself also wrote “And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, "I know God," but doesn't obey God's commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth.” 1 John 2.3-4    We show that we are God’s children when we obey him.

Hmmm … what a man believes is the thing he does, not the thing he thinks.^*

So obedience really matters. 

Christine

^{George MacDonald – Scottish poet and preacher}