09 Jul John 5:19 Father and Son #232

Do you remember the Get Off Your Mat sermon I shared? The message that Christine Caine delivered on the sick man from John 5? If you didn’t check out the post and listen to the sermon, I highly encourage it. In fact it would help you understand the verse I want to share today, which is John 5:19.

To first give some context, in John 5:17-24 Jesus responds to the critics who persecuted him for healing the man on the Sabbath. So frustrating and ridiculous that he was persecuted by the religious people, right? But, I have said this once and I will say it again, religious people don’t like healing and miracles. Whoa! Honestly, had the healing not happened on the Sabbath they probably would have come up with another reason to persecute Jesus.

Moving along to John 5:19 which says, “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.”’ Did you get that? Jesus said that he can do absolutely nothing on his own, but he can only do what he sees his Father (God) doing! Why? Not because God made him do anything, but because he had submitted his life to him; he had made the choice to follow his Father’s footsteps.

John 5:20 goes on to say, “For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.” I love what the last part of this verse says, “he will show him even greater works.” The religious leaders were stunned at what Jesus did by healing the man on the mat, but there were many more greater works to be done! 

Jesus knew the heart of his Father and desired to follow whatever his heart was. He could not act independent of the Father. So if you want to know your Father (God), then guess what? You have to know Jesus first. To know someone, you have to spend time with them right? That means the more you spend time with Jesus the more you will understand who Jesus is and the more you understand who Jesus is the more you will understand who your Father is because Jesus is a direct reflection of him!

PS. If you are going through infertility, please head over to join a faith-based support group I founded, Moms in the Making! We are having a conference October 12-13 and you are invited!

PPS. Have you picked up a copy of my book? Buy In Due Time, a 60-day devotional for hope + encouragement in the waiting.

PPPS. I created a group on facebook as an extension of my book + blog to discuss anything + everything. Women only! Come join us!

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