Day 32: Everything, Through Him

Precept #3

“Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.” (John 5:19)

            In John Chapter 17, Jesus is praying to the Father. He said concerning His disciples and all that come after them, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” (Joh 17:16) We do not belong to the world, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1Co 6:20) Jesus calls us out of the world and its darkness. He separates us in His Holiness. We must live accordingly. “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”(Gal 5:24-25) As our Precept above tells us, Jesus did nothing of His own. In like manner, we can do nothing without Jesus. “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (Joh 15:5) To understand fully this concept of total dependence, we have to look to Jesus and see how He walked the earth. This is the complete blueprint used throughout this book.

            Jesus was completely in the will of God at all times. We will start with Jesus’ declaration, “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” (Joh 5:30) He depended on God to live as we are to also, “As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.” (Joh 6:57) He gave up His free will and desires by submitting to the Father, “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” (Joh 6:38) He followed God’s leading and was sent to earth, “Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.” (Joh 8:42) He never spoke His own words, ever! “For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.” (Joh 12:49-50) [See also, John 8:26, John 8:47, + John 14:2] He did not give His own doctrines and teaching, “Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.” (Joh 7:16) He never sought His own pleasure and will, “And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.” (Joh 8:29) He exemplified the following teaching, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.” (Joh 13:16) Being sent by God to the earth, He humbled himself before God, “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Php 2:6-8) In that humble obedience Jesus declares, “And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” (Mat 19:17) He also declares, “Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.” (Joh 14:28) Now we can understand completely when He said, “I can do nothing of my own.” With this example we can now grasp His words when he says to us, “without me you can do nothing” (Joh 15:5) We must obey and abide in the same manner as Jesus. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb 12:2) Look towards the joy and all Jesus is sharing with you. Keep it sealed up in your heart. Brothers and Sisters I plead with you; do that which pleases the One who died for us. I also pray we will all yearn for the One that sent Him.

            I saved one example for last. Jesus tells us, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” (Joh 9:4) I love to change the “I” to “We” in that statement. We must do what He did. Jesus clarifies for us His statement, “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” (Joh 14:10) Yes, we found the Key; it was God in Jesus doing the work. Now let’s read what Jesus says about us, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” (Joh 14:12) Yes, just like Jesus, knowing it was God in Him that did the works, it is the same for us: It is not our own power that we can do these things. It is Christ in us. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Gal 2:20) This is why it is impossible without the Holy Spirit to live this life, “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.” (2Ti 1:13-14) Guard the good deposit!

           When we walk in unity of the Spirit and rely upon Jesus, then we are in unity with the Family of God. Jesus said a prayer for this to happen. Let us read that prayer, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.” (Joh 17:20-24)

            We cannot do this work alone. We need the provision provided through the Holy Spirit to be what we are called to be. Jesus encourages us with these words, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Mat 11:28-30) As children of God we can proclaim, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Php 4:13) It is through His strength we are being transformed. For we have been given His mind and way of thinking and acting, “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” (1Co 2:16) This work of transformation will continue on until its completion, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” (Php 1:6) Be encouraged Family, it is Jesus that will see you through till the end of all things. Look to the good things provide for you, trust in Jesus to finish this work, and anticipate seeing our God and Father, face to face!

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