John 5

Scripture

John 5:19

Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.

Observation - What does it say?

After healing an invalid on the Sabbath, Jesus was persecuted by the Jewish leaders for ‘working’ on the Sabbath. In his response, he said that like his Father, he is working. And he pointed to the fact that he could do nothing on his own. He could only do what he saw his Father doing. I have been struck reading the last two chapters about all that points to Jesus’ humanity. After the long journey he was “tired” (4:7), he was thirsty so asked for a drink (4:8), and here mentions that he couldn’t do anything apart from the Father.

Understanding - What does it mean?

If Jesus did all he did as a man, we are responsible to pursue his lifestyle.

Reading this, I was reminded of what Bill Johnson said in his book, When Heaven Invades Earth (P.29-30):

[Jesus] had no supernatural capabilities whatsoever! While he is 100 percent God, He chose to live with the same limitations that a man would face once he was redeemed. He made that point over and over again. Jesus became the model for all who would embrace the invitation to invade the impossible in His name. He performed miracles, wonders, and signs, as a man in right relationship with God… not as God. If He performed miracles because He was God, then they would be unattainable for us. But if He did them in as a man, I am responsible to pursue His lifestyle.

What were the distinctions of His humanity?

1. He had no sin to separate Him from the Father.
2. He was completely dependent on the power of the Holy Spirit working through Him.

What are the distinctions of our humanity?

1. We are sinners cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Through his sacrifice He has successfully dealt with the power and effect of sin for all who believe. Nothing now separates us from the Father. There remains only one unsettled issue –
2. How dependent on the Holy Spirit are we willing to live?”

Romans 8:29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

This is God’s intention for every one of his children, that they would be like his Son, thinking like Jesus, having the character of Jesus, and doing the things Jesus did.

Life Application

Pursue Christ-likeness and live in complete dependence on the Holy Spirit!

God, thank you for your intention to conform all of us into the image of your Son. Please transform our character, thinking and actions so that we will look more like Jesus. May we also experience the miracles, signs and wonders that take place when your kingdom comes. I don’t want to rely on my own strength, wisdom or understanding, but completely upon the Holy Spirit in all I do! Amen.

 

- Levi Thompson

 

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