John 5:26-27 -- For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.
I keep being brought back to these verses. Jesus says He has the same life inside of Him that God the Father has. He stresses again having the authority to judge. Then calls Himself the 'Son of Man', which was something these religious authorities would've known from the book of Daniel, which meant He was the Messiah.
Before this Jesus said:
John 5:21 - He had the same power as God the Father.
John 5:22 - God the Father had given all judgment to Him.
John 5:23 - He said not honoring Him, is not honoring God the Father.
Take those and throw in John 5:26 and Jesus is saying He is equal to God in all aspects; however, He is quite clear they do not share the same exact identity. We see a relationship clearly outlined between them.
Why is any of this important?
To be honest, it wasn't to open some deep discussion on the Trinity or prove any theological mysteries. It jumped out and hit me...
Just how important relationship is to our God!
Jesus is equal to God in power, authority, and life, but He still clearly defines their identities as Father God and Son of God. Jesus says He can do nothing of His own accord, only what He sees His Father do and His Father loves Him so much He shows Him everything He does. There is this beautiful relationship displayed here of communication, trust, respect, obedience, giving, and love.
It's easy to see God the Father as some gruff old man behind a judge's bench holding the gavel, just waiting to bring judgment on us. Then, see Jesus as the superman of love who cared for everyone, taught nice things, gives us grace, died for our sins. So happy. So nice. BUT…. what we see in the Word is there is WAY more to them than what our human fears, desires, and reasoning try to box them into.
Jesus says He can only do what He sees the Father do and the Father shows Him everything. Jesus says honoring Him is honoring the Father. They are unique and uniquely intertwined! Now look at John 14:9-11
John 14:9-11 -- Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own, but the Father, as He remains in Me, does His works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.
Now, putting all this together, here is what is on me today:
Beloved, GOD LOVES US SO MUCH! There are things that go beyond our understanding. There are things that could be studied and debated forever. There are some questions without answers, and answers without questions. However, in the end of it all, God the Father, God the Son, and Holy Spirit have a love for us we cannot comprehend! They had a plan for us only They could accomplish, They desire relationship, and we as Christians should constantly praise, worship, honor, glorify, magnify and be repentant, humbled, and awestruck before Him! He is truly worthy of it all!
Don't take my word for it, get into your Bible and be the Berean. Search the scriptures and see Him, hear Him for yourself!
Never forget you are loved. You are prayed over. You are not alone!
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