Jesus and the Father The blog is officially back for another year. At church last Sunday we looked at some verses from John's Gospel that give an insight to Jesus' relationship with God the Father.  Often we read the gospels in little chunks or as an overview.  However the gospels are like diamonds that dazzle in different ways when looked at from different angles.  For those of you who weren't there or would just like to spend some more time meditating on those verses here they are: Jn 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. Jn 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. Jn 1:18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known. Jn 1:32 Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. ..... he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' Jn 1:50 Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that." 51He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man." Jn 2:15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!" 3:16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Jn 3: 31b The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32He testifies to what he has seen and heard, ... 34For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. Jn 4:31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, "Rabbi, eat something." 32But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about."  ..... 34"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Jn 5:17 Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working." 18 For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. Jn 5:19 Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, 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. 20For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. 21For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. Jn 5:26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. 27And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. Jn 5:30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. Jn 8:28 So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. Jn 10: 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father." Jn 11:41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me." Jn 12:49 For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. 50I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say." Jn 16: 28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father." Some verses that indicate that Jesus was not just in sync with the Father about what to do and say - but when to do it: Jn 2: 4 "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come." Jn 4: 4 Now he had to go through Samaria. Jn 7: 6 Therefore Jesus told them, "The right time for me has not yet come Jn 11:6 Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. Jesus secure relationship resulted in service Jn13:1 It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. 2The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. Jesus relationship with the Father as recorded in this gospel also gives some insight into the sort of relationship he wants us to have with God (not exactly the same).  Consider his prayer for us: Jn 17: 20"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

David Wanstall, 28/01/2009