Like Father, Like Son

Scripture:  John 5:19-23 (Click link for scripture in Bible Gateway)

19 So Jesus explained, “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. 20 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. 21 For just as the Father gives life to those he raises from the dead, so the Son gives life to anyone he wants. 22 In addition, the Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge, 23 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. (John 5:19–23 NLT)

Jesus gives us a clue about how he carried out his ministry. In fact, he gives us more than a clue. He tells us exactly how he knew what to say and do next. “I see what the Father is doing!” There’s a slightly mystical element here friends.

Jesus said, “The Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing.” As Jesus moved from place to place, day to day, situation to situation, he wasn’t reading from a script or following a set of instructions. Jesus wasn’t waiting for orders from an external source about what to do next. Jesus looked into his own spirit, where his Father’s Spirit was, and saw what the Father was doing next.

We modern thinkers don’t like mysticism. We want logic and reason! Well, we don’t always get that in our Christian life! Like Jesus, we are learning to maintain a connection with the Father. We are making room for the Father in our thoughts, in our actions, in our decisions—in our lives. We quiet ourselves, we watch, we listen, we ask questions (lots of questions!) We ask, “What should I be seeing here, Father? Instead of looking at this person or this situation and making a judgment, how should I see this? What do you see that I don’t see? Help me out here, Father!” And we watch and listen for the Father to speak. When he speaks, it’s usually in our own thoughts and in a voice that sounds a lot like our own voice!

Sound spooky? Sound “mystical”? Sound like walking a tightrope without a net? Dear friends, that’s why it’s called FAITH!

Prayer:

Father, I know it’s called Faith! I believe! Please help me with my doubts, my questions, and my misunderstandings. Please help me to see what you see and do what you do!